Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - Silent Scream Trailer

SILENT SCREAM is a drama-documentary made by 27 young women who attend schools in the Bristol area. Its primary aim is to persuade the communities that the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) must stop. Over 20,000 girls could be at risk in the UK. And an estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM.

This ground breaking and compelling short film highlights the myths and misconceptions that appear to justify the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Silent Scream had a private screening on 30th June at the Watershed Cinema Bristol.

FGM is illegal in the UK and most other countries, including Egypt and Somalia. As well as the extreme pain involved, victims commonly suffer psychological and emotional trauma. Medical complications can include urinary infections, kidney failure, sterility and death.




Last year a smaller group made a radio drama-documentary called WHY which achieved wide acclaim and was featured on Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. More importantly from the young women's point of view, the radio project began a shift in perception within the communities involved: it has brought real and growing change and has given a voice to people who had previously felt unable to speak on the subject. Following the success of WHY, the young women felt they had gained the confidence and experience to make a short film on this sensitive and traditionally taboo topic.

The impetus for making this film came from the young women themselves. The project ran over five months and the young film makers worked after school, at weekends and in the school holidays to develop a story, adapt it to script then learn the skills necessary to take on all the roles involved in production. For the documentary part of the film the young women interviewed, among others, Chief Detective Inspector David McCallum, Dr Comfort Momoh MBE, Dr Sheikh Abdalla Yassin OBE and a mother who wishes to remain anonymous but whose heartrending personal story is a defining element in the film. The young women were taught and mentored by professionals from the media industry and supported by women from the community.

The young women involved showed outstanding courage and determination in addressing this issue and it is hoped their film will make an ongoing contribution to raising awareness and stopping the practice once and for all. They have been awarded a commendation from the police and have been nominated for several other awards.

Silent Scream was made with the support of Integrate Bristol and www.zed-productions.co.uk

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Nonprofits & Activism

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