Academy Award® Winning Actor Geena Davis’ Instituteto Launch Global Symposium on Gender in Media at the first FICCI FLO Film Festival
New Partnership between Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and FICCI FLO Film Festival
October 27, Mumbai: The first FLO Film Festival organized by FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO), Mumbai Chapter,the women’s wing of FICCI, today announces a new partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media that will see the Festival host the Institute’s first Global Symposium on Gender in Mediain Mumbai, India inFebruary 2016. Speaking about the partnership, Academy Award®-winning actor and Founder and Chairman, Geena Davis said “Media images have a huge impact on our perceptions, and on our social and cultural beliefs and behaviours. Our new global study, explores how global films may be reinforcing negative gender stereotypes with movie audiences of all ages.” The Institute is the only research-based organisation working within the media and entertainment industry to engage, educate, and influence the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment.
Archana Garodia Gupta, National President, FICCI FLO Film Festival, said, “FLO has been working to empower women, and erase gender stereotypes for three decades. Films are a very powerful medium, and have a major role to play in our perception of the world. They can help redress the balance or reinforce negative gender images. We are very excited to bring this issue to the fore in the Film Capital of the world, and hope to improve the image of women in Indian films.” At the 3rd Global Symposium on Gender in Media, the Institute will present new global research which explores the influence of film audiences in the UK, India, Nigeria, France and Brazil funded by the Oak Foundation. The Festival will open with the Symposium, (the Symposium is sponsored by Independent Television Service Inc- ITVS), which will convene eminent entertainment content creators, business leaders, actors, directors, media personalities, policy makers, to engage in dialogue around the ìnstitute’s global researchalong with two panel discussions from leading entertainment industry personalities, content creators, along with gender in media related subject matter experts.
Madeline Di Nonno, CEO, Geena Davis Institute said, “We are honoured to be partnering with FICCI FLO Film Festival. They have been working for the education of the girl child, mentoring women entrepreneurs and many initiatives to empower women since the past 32 years. Our Symposium and the Film Festival are great platforms to discuss the depiction and representation of women and girls and how films can influence social and cultural views and beliefs. We are also very excited to continue our long partnership with ITVS. Mrs Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, Member of the Advisory Panel, FLO said, “Films are an integral part of our culture. The Movies have made us laugh, cry, they have inspired us and have been an important constituent in the cultural evolution of our society. “Objectifying” women in films should be done away with and be replaced by the characterisation of strong women, which will create a very positive subconscious impact on the society as a whole.”
Falguni Padode, Chairperson, FICCI Ladies Organisation said, “The FICCI FLO Film Festival hopes to create an impact that will mobilize and inspire audiences to bring about a paradigm shift in their perception towards crucial female-centric issues in India and across the globe.” The films, national as well as international, features, shorts, documentaries, animation and digital films will focus on Women Empowerment spanning subjects of Skilling and Vocation, Educating the Girl Child, Hygiene and Wellness, Self Esteem and Economic Independence, Mental Health and Sexual Exploitation. Leading media and film institutions across the globe such as Whistling Woods International, Women Make Movies, ITVS, Population First, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Point of View come together with a series of strategic workshops to focus on skill development and social impact, thereby raising awareness through the medium of films and aimed at mooting for policy changes. A special screening of the acclaimed movie – He Named Me Malala was also held during the event. With a presence in 14 locations across the country and over 4,000 members, FLO boasts of some outstanding work in the field of women empowerment.
FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO) is the Women’s Wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Established in 1983, FLO is a national body with the prime objective of women empowerment through the promotion of entrepreneurship and professional excellence, with 13 chapters and almost 4000 members across India. Today, it is an extremely dynamic organisation working across all spectrum of women, in skilling, nurturing women entrepreneurs, building toilets for women, prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace (POSH), training women drivers and lobbying actively for policy changes.
Geena Davis Institute Founded by Academy Award- winning actor and advocate Geena Davis, the Institute is the only research-based organisation working within the media and entertainment industry to engage, educate, and influence the need to dramatically improve, gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment.
