STRATEGIST. STORYTELLER. FILMMAKER.

UN Women

BACKGROUND AND BRIEF

The MENA region ranks lowest on gender equality in a global comparison of all six regions where UN Women operates. Women and girls in the region are affected by a pandemic of violence: some surveys suggest 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of abuse from their intimate partner, yet actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
24 Hour hotlines, call centers at which affected women can get advice and referrals to further help, are quite literally a lifeline for many.  Hotlines provide counseling and support at times of highest distress and often imminent danger for women. In the MENA region, they are scarce with no country offering a comprehensive, 24-hour hotline at the national level for survivors of abuse.
UN WOMEN is asking the creative community in the MENA region to help us raise funds to establish 24-hour hotlines for survivors of domestic violence.

 

CREATIVE APPROACH

I went with a cinematic approach to create emotional buildup. The challenge was in getting a single, continuous shot to tell the story. Creating this scene in real time, with no cuts or changes in camera angles, draws viewers into the scene and gives the feeling of actually being there. The use of sound design adds another unseen dimension to the plot. Once we hear the sound of footsteps approach from behind, the rest is left to the viewer’s imagination.
My role included concept development, directing, shooting, editing and post production.