An all-female Ugandan film on gender-based violence has won an award at the London Art House Film Festival.
“Bed of Thorns” (Tosirika) took home the Africa Focus Award at the festival for its dramatization of acts of gender-based violence in Africa. Directed and produced by Eleanor Nabwiso, the film tackles the subject of gender-based violence by weaving together the many tales of abuse within a circle of women as they prepare for their friend\’s wedding—not knowing that she is being abused by her soon-to-be-husband.
The film also featured an all-female crew for the first time in Ugandan history, including comedian Martha Kay and media personality Malaika Tenshi, who made their film-acting debut.
Nabwiso said \”This is the first ever all-female made movie from Uganda. That means the director of photography, the producer, the sound engineer—everyone is female.\”
The film was premiered in March to support the month celebrating women and to help enact meaningful changes that prevent gender-based violence. Nabwiso plans to make more films around gender-based violence and its diverse forms including cyber-bullying and emotional torture. She wants to show the detail and consequences this type of violence has on society and the female psyche. Watch the trailer here.
