Yanaya Gender Film and Dialogue Festival – dealing with issues around gender and women’s issues in relation to society – showcases films mainly by women filmmakers looking at women and children’s issues around violence, silencing of women, and challenges women and children face. While it is beneficial for women filmmakers to talk and engage with women and other members of society to conscientize them about protecting themselves and knowing what their rights are and how women and society can access the rights and make the constitution work for them, it is critical that society at large becomes involved in discussions pertinent to the subject through collaborating with the existing CBO’s and NGO’s initiatives that are effectively serving the course through advocacy and activism. During this pivotal time in the country’s history where we are experiencing serious gender and race backlash and social upheaval in the education and service delivery, we need better social cohesion and nation-building which can be facilitated by the arts in terms of dialogue and dialogue outcomes and workshops using film festivals to reach underserviced areas and people of our society
The three-day film festival has a full programme of film screenings, masterclass, film panel discussions, and a workshop. As part of this year's pilot programme, film students from Nelson Mandela University will screen their own films alongside those by more experienced filmmakers. The work of the CWGS (The Centre for Women and Gender Studies), continues to highlight the necessity of people seeing themselves reflected in all spaces including the academy, arts and heritage.
