Short film screening planned for International Women's Day 2021

This story was originally published behind Murray Bridge News’ paywall. Paywalled stories are unlocked four weeks after publication. Can’t wait that long? Subscribe here.

Three female South Australian filmmakers will be celebrated in Murray Bridge on International Women’s Day.

Soroptimist International Murray Bridge will present a free screening of four films at the Cameo Cinema from 7pm next Thursday

Two of director Jeni Lee’s works will feature: Kabaddi for Empowerment, about girls in India who use sport to escape child marriage and other controlling traditions; and Still I Rise, whichfocuses on a sex trafficking survivor who aims to reclaim her dignity and rights.

The relationship between housing and wellbeing is explored in Lara Damiani’s A Place to Call Home, about one man’s journey to change the way we deal with mental illness.

Finally, Ayen’s Cooking School for African Men, written by Cathy Beitz, tells the story of a Sudanese-Australian health worker who challenges thousands of years of custom and culture by teaching refugee men how to cook.

The women’s choir of the Maori Evangelical Church of South Australia will also perform.

Soroptimist Carol Bath said she hoped the evening would shed light on issues that were relevant here and now – and maybe even spur some action.

Child trafficking was a problem in Australia, she said, and brides were brought from overseas “not always under the right circumstances, shall we say”.

As to the story of Sudanese men living on takeaway food, and older women struggling to accept that the gender roles they grew up with were not suited to modern Australian society: “that happens here in Murray Bridge”, Ms Bath said.

She hoped attendees – men and women – would learn something new about the issues which affected women, or just about women’s cultural contributions.

“I’m staggered by the number of amazing South Australian women in the film industry, and the films they’ve been able to make,” she said.

“I (tried) to find ones that weren’t too confronting, but would raise issues.”

The evening session was about two-thirds booked at the time of publication.

• Tickets: www.trybooking.com.