Narrating for Change: The Power of Cinema Against Gender Violence
This talk is part of the activities of the FICII (Festival de Cine Iberoamericano de Irlanda). We will gather to reflect on the role of cinema in denouncing and raising awareness of gender-based violence. Joined by Icíar Bollaín, Nevenka Fernández, Lorea Lyons and Ane Inés Landeta, we will explore how cinema can be a tool for social transformation, giving a voice to those who have been silenced and raising awareness within society.
The talk, moderated by Teresa Lavina, director of the festival, will address the impact of cinema in the fight against abuse, analysing examples of films that have made a significant impact, as well as the power of audiovisual media to provoke change and empower victims.
This event offers an essential space for dialogue to understand how the stories told on screen can influence reality and contribute to the creation of a fairer world.
Biographies
Icíar Bollaín is an actress in over twenty films, including El Sur by Víctor Erice and Tierra y Libertad by Ken Loach. Since 1995, she has directed numerous films such as Hola, ¿estás sola? (1995), Flores de otro mundo (1998), Te doy mis ojos (2003), Mataharis (2007), También la lluvia (2010), Katmandú, un espejo en el cielo (2012), El olivo (2016), Yuli (2018), La boda de Rosa (2020), Maixabel (2021), and Soy Nevenka (2024). She is a founding member of the Women's Audiovisual Association (CIMA) and the Spanish Film Academy. She received the Medal of Honour for Merit in Fine Arts in 2023 and an honorary Doctorate from the University of Roehampton.
Nevenka Fernández holds a degree in Economics and Business Studies with a Master's in Auditing from the Complutense University of Madrid. She has lived in Dublin since 2003, where she has worked in the Financial and Tax departments of several multinational companies. She is currently responsible for the International Corporate Taxation division at Airbus and provides financial advice to non-profit organisations. She also teaches at Cabra Judo Dragons and Nangten International (Tibetan Yoga).
Lorea Lyons currently works mainly in communication, creation and cultural production. She has taken part in short films such as La Petite Mort (2017) and Instrucciones para caminar por la ciudad (2021), an animated short film coordinated by Begoña Vicario. She is currently part of the team of the documentary Parabolikak. In 2024 she has directed, produced and animated the short film Azkena, alongside the production company Izar Films.
Ane Inés Landeta has worked mainly in production, cultural management and as an audiovisual technician. She is currently part of the team of the documentary Parabolikak and is studying a master's degree in Film Industry Management. She has participated as an animator in the making of several short films with HauAzkena Animation Group, including Miraila (2017), En la luna (2018) or Instrucciones para caminar por la ciudad (2021). In 2024 she has directed, produced and animated the short film Azkena, alongside the production company Izar Films.
Mireia Oriol is a Catalan actress who began her acting training between London and Barcelona. She made her leap to cinema as the lead actress alongside Belén Rueda in "The Pact." Subsequently, she participated in "The Art of Return," the debut film by Pedro Collantes, "Keratyna," by Miguel Azurmendi, and "Alegre y olé," by Clara Santaolaya. On television, she made her international breakthrough with Netflix's "Alma." More recently, she starred in "I Am Nevenka," directed by Icíar Bollaín.
