A look back at the 19th TERRE DES FEMMES Filmfestival Women ’s Worlds in Tübingen
With more than 25 films from over 25 countries the Filmfestival Women's Worlds took place successfully for the last time in Tübingen from Nov 20 to 27 2019; from 2020 on it will take place in Berlin.
With over 4300 spectators with less screenings than in the last years the filmfestival reached the best result regarding audience numbers in the 19 years of its existence.
Spectators were especially interested in the focus "Exit from Prostitution - Now!". The activist and future lawyer Sandra Norak, survivor of the "Loverboy"-method who spent 6 years in prostitution, as well as Police Inspector Simon Häggström who reported first hand about his achievements with the enforcement of the ban on buying sex as part of the "Nordic Model" in Sweden received great attention.
Also the stimulating conversations with audiences at cinema and school screenings created an intense exchange with the international guests, among them activists, film directors and experts.
Audience favourites were the opening film "God exists, her name is Petrunya", the "honour"killing drama "A Regular Woman" with reknown guest Sandra Maischberger, the Austrian comedy "What Have We Done to Deserve This?", the episode feature film from various South Sea Islands "Vai" and as well three Oscar candidates 2020: "Adam" for Morocco, "The Perfect Candidate" for Saud-Arabia and "The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão" for Brazil.
The Filmfestival Women’s Worlds 2019 – Impressions
Review wiith images of the Festival
Mashup Women’s Worlds
A look into our diverse film program
Filmhighlights and Guests
In „God exists, her Name is Petrunya“, jobless Petrunya challenges her patriarchal orthodox-catholic community in northern Macedonia; the 16 times awarded feature film by director Teona Strugar Mitevska was nominated for the Golden Bear at Berlinale 2019 and is based on a true story.
Another film inspired by true events is “Nur eine Frau – Only a Woman”; the feature film about the “honor” killing of a young German-Turkish woman named Hatun Aynur Sürücü will be accompanied at the festival by producer Sandra Maischberger.
In the moving thriller “Stitches” – Šavovi", Ana uncovers the true scandal of abduction of children on a massive scale in Serbia; Producer Milena Garfield will introduce in Tuebingen the ten-times award winning film which premiered at Berlinale 2019.
©Rotlichtaus
Key Topics
Two issues that have gained importance in TERRE THE FEMMES’ work over the last years will be the focus of this year’s film festival: Forced prostitution and Prostitution Due to Poverty as well as the options for abolishing it and the way Religious Fundamentalisms undermine women’s rights within different religions.
Focus “Religious Fundamentalisms”
Apart from
the film highlights presented – God exists,
her Name is Petrunya; Only a Woman; The Perfect Candidate; Adam;
What Have We Done to Deserve This?, – other moving films
will shed light on this key topic.
Focus “Exit from Prostitution - Now!”
This key topic will be highlighted particularly in our special
events. With respect to the issue of prostitution, it is extreme
to what extend myths are circulating in the minds and also the
media, which disregard the severe forms of violence experienced
by women forced into prostitution. So it seems urgent to confront
these myths with different reality checks by the ones who are
grappling with exactly these structures and relations of power
and violence on a daily basis. In panel conversations experimented
participants will examine the complex connections between the
prostitution market, gender relations in general and exit options.
School Screenings
Also this year Women’s Worlds offers school screenings around the time of the festival in November for the younger audience. The films may deepen contents from the curriculum and complement the regular subject matters or serve as an introduction to new themes and raise awareness about Women’s Rights. After the screenings the students have the opportunity to have an exchange with filmmakers or experts about the films and the topic issues.
