In anticipation of International Women’s Month, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Paramount Global, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have joined forces to create “In Bloom,” a captivating short film anthology focused on gender equity.
Directed by five talented female filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, India, the US, and Brazil, “In Bloom” comprises five powerful short films. These films delve into the core of female resilience and empowerment, presenting diverse narratives that tackle pressing issues such as period poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence, HIV self-stigma, family planning, and women’s economic empowerment. Spanning different countries and cultures, each film offers a unique and poignant perspective on the challenges women face worldwide.
This anthology is a key part of MTV Staying Alive Foundation’s mission to use storytelling as a tool for change, as well as Paramount’s ‘Content For Change’ initiative. Through these films, the series aims to amplify the voices of emerging filmmakers, spark meaningful conversations, and contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal Number 5: Gender Equality.
The five films are:
Aféfé, by Dolapo “LowlaDee” Adeleke (Nigeria), featuring Folu Storms
Period by Nicole Teeny (USA), featuring Yasmina El-Abd
Alta by Priyanka Banerjee (India), featuring Mazel Vyas
Maré by Giuliana Monterio (Brazil), featuring Vanessa Giácomo
Kifungo by Voline Ogutu (Kenya), featuring Brenda Wairimu
