AFTER an outcry by International Images Film Festival (IIFF) audiences over the negative portrayal of men in most of the productions showcased at the annual festival, organisers have said they will be screening more films that show men in positive light as role models to promote social change.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The outcry was raised during the recently ended 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, during which the IIFF outreach team travelled to Bulawayo, Gwanda and Binga to screen films on GBV.
After each screening, a discussion ensued with audiences calling on IIFF to take films down to village level, as film is a language that everyone understands and will go a long way in challenging behaviours and attitudes that promote violence against women.
IIFF director Yvonne Jila told NewsDay that next year they will be portraying more positive imaging of men.
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“Whilst many of the audiences appreciated the films that highlighted the effects of GBV in communities during our outreach programme, they challenged us to screen more films on men who are positive role models so that they can learn how to behave,” Jila said.
After the main festival, screenings will take place in Bulawayo, Binga, Gwanda and Chipinge while regionally, IIFF will travel to Kenya, Malawi, Somalia and Uganda.