Preventing Sexual Violence In Conflict - PSVI
The Preventing Sexual Violence In Conflict (PSVI) initiative, launched in 2012 by the United Kingdom Government, has for the first time organized a film festival aimed at combating the stigmatization of victims of sexual violence (Fighting Stigma Through Film). Alongside film screenings, the PSVI film festival displayed thought-provoking art installations and ran workshops throughout, led by prominent experts on various PSVI topics. The workshops were attended by director Barbara Vekarić.
The PSVI team decided to hold a film workshop, held from 21 to 23 November in London, for young filmmakers from countries affected by war. From Croatia, Barbara Vekarić, the director whose first feature film Aleksi premiered at the Pula Film Festival, was invited.
The focus of the workshop was on practical skills in the filmmaking process as well as other aspects of the creative process including finance, project management and the importance of the media. Workshop participants developed their skills and learned new ones.
In addition to the workshops, Vekarić also participated in a debate on the goals of the Initiative with former U.N. Foreign Minister William Hague, who launched the PSVI in 2012, along with Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie, this year's Nobel Prize winner against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, Dr. Denisa Mukwege and with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, who is Prime Minister Theresa May's special envoy to the PSVI.
Director Barbara Vekarić's participation in the festival, debate and workshop is the result of the first collaboration between the Croatian Audiovisual Center and the British Embassy in Croatia.