Shortfilms: Women Claiming Spaces

Name: Shortfilms: Women Claiming Spaces
Start: 2026-05-29T18:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-29T20:30:00+02:00
Location: Festival Centre: Atrium Tower

29 May, 2026, 6.30 PM @ Festival Centre: Atrium Tower

In a world shaped by inequality and resistance, these short films portray women from around the globe who carve out space for themselves and others—against social norms, political pressure, and structural barriers. In Atlanta, a head of security protects an abortion clinic at the center of political conflict. In Hanoi, a tattoo artist transforms scars into symbols of empowerment. In Chennai, women drivers fight for visibility in a male-dominated world.

Following the short film screenings, a discussion will explore the theme of female perspectives in documentary filmmaking. The conversation will engage both with the films themselves and the realities of their protagonists – and with the broader question of what a distinctly female gaze brings to documentary work. How do women filmmakers approach their subjects differently? What stories get told, and which remain invisible, when an industry is still largely shaped by male structures, male networks and male gatekeepers? The panel will examine how gender influences not only who gets to tell stories, but how those stories are told, funded and seen – and what it means to build a more equitable documentary landscape.

Tickets

Media in this event

Film

Auto Queens

Mohana and Leela Rani are auto-rickshaw drivers fighting for respect and visibility amid Chennai's heavy traffic. Despite a lack of infrastructure, harassment, and prejudice, they are part of a growing movement of women taking the wheel in a male-dominated industry.

Film

They Call Me the Tattoo Witch

In Hanoi, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc turns scars from cancer and self-harm into striking works of art that symbolize strength, resilience, and new beginnings. In Vietnamese society, where tattoos are stigmatized, she helps women reclaim their bodies and tell their own stories.

Film

The Devil is Busy

In Atlanta, a women’s clinic faces mounting pressure since the right to abortion was overturned. Head of security Tracii protects patients, organizes operations, and offers crucial support. Amid growing hostility and constant tension, providing care becomes an increasingly difficult challenge.