Paper short abstract:

The film follows the experiences of four young women as they experiment with using an unusual combination of fencing and poetry to challenge stereotypes and define themselves without the weight of anyone else’s expectations.

Paper long abstract:

Although initially sceptical and somewhat demotivated, throughout the ‘Muslim Girl’s Fence’ educational workshops they support each other to discover their own individual voices, finding the space to express themselves and the tools to confront racism, sexism and islamophobia.

Discussant: Film Producer, Anna Sowa. Anna is a documentary film producer and Founding Director of Chouette Films which focuses on producing films for social change with the smallest possible environmental footprint. Based at SOAS, Chouette Films, a green film production company committed to using film as a tool to bridge the gap between academic research and the public. Alongside being featured at many film festivals, including Al Jazeera Documentary Film Festival, Chouette Films’ prowess in using film to advance research and impact projects has been commended on numerous occasions, including: BAFTSS, AHRC, One World Media, SIMA and IBC.