adminLance Chigodo Sunday Leisure Reporter
THE International Images Film Festival for women (IIFF) has embarked on a tour of Matabeleland and will be presenting short films with the aim of addressing the plight of women through film. The films are expected to bring to the fore some of the issues affecting women in the different societies that they live in so that women are empowered to take action when they face challenges such as domestic violence and other forms of abuse.
They also aim to create peaceful family and community co-existence and national unity from an informed society.
Domestic violence has been viewed as one of the major problems that women face in society and festival director Yvonne Jila said in an interview with the Sunday Leisure that the films aimed to promote national healing and unity through arts and would be in line with the theme, “From peace in the home to peace in the world.”
She said due to the immense pressure and economic problems that were being experienced in society, men sometimes take their frustrations and anger into their homes, resulting in domestic violence with women on the receiving end.
“Research has shown that sometimes gender violence in the home is influenced by anger triggered by social and economic factors. Men can actually take the violence and conflicts they experience in society to their homes causing domestic violence,” said Jilla.
Two Villages Apart is one of the films that portray women as peaceful and advocates of peace in society.
IIFF is presenting films that promote women development and positive relations all over Zimbabwe. The organisation is focusing on Matabeleland and has so far covered Bulawayo, Gwanda and Binga. The films are presented at venues where locals come to watch and give feedback.
Some of the films that have been on demand are Two Villages Apart, Strength in Fear and A walk to Shillor which was written by Bulawayo based writer Mgcini Nyoni. The films are also meant to be presentations that dovetail with the 12 days of activism as they cover the issue of gender based violence.
Strength in Fear encourage victims to report sexual abuse and rape as soon as possible while A walk to Shillor goes further to point out that besides reporting abuse or violence one should recover and move on in their lives.
IIFF is a brain child of Women Film Makers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ) which was founded in 2002. WFOZ has been active in the women and girl child campaign since 1996 through short films and is also registered with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter