Cumbrian filmmakers create women’s safety at night video for Crimestoppers
A Kendal-based FILM company has created a video that highlights some of the sexual harassment women face every day for a new Crimestoppers campaign.
The film was shot in Cumbria by Film on the Brain, directed by Mathew Wood and Giuseppe Abba and directed by Em Humble who all met at school in Kendal.
The film shows a young woman experiencing four separate incidents of sexual harassment during her day, each increasing in severity.
It’s part of a campaign Crimestoppers has been running in the county for three months that exposes the behaviors of those who make women and girls feel unsafe and urges the public to report criminal incidents anonymously to the ‘charity.
The campaign funding was provided following a successful bid by Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall to the Home Office’s Safe Women at Night (SWAN) Fund.
Giuseppe Abba of Film on the Brain, Kendal, said: “We have really enjoyed our work with Crimestoppers as it has been a great opportunity to work on a project that fits our purpose as a business.
“The whole process was very collaborative, and it was a pleasure to work with Crimestoppers and our entire team to deliver this important message.”
Director, Em Humble, said: “As a woman, working on this film was extremely important to me.
“The discourse around sexual harassment must evolve to focus on those responsible for the crimes they commit, while providing support and solidarity to the victims.”
Gary Murray, North West Regional Director of the charity Crimestoppers, said: ‘The campaign’s important messages have reached a wide audience of men and women, with over 100,000 people in Cumbria seeing our posts on social networks and more than 4,000 clicking for more information. .
“We have also seen a 16% increase in reporting on all crimes in Cumbria and I am sure this new film will be widely shared.
“Cumbria is one of the safest places in England, however unfortunately many women experience sexual harassment in its many forms and many of them do not report it.
“The film and campaign encourages victims to seek help and support from specialist agencies in Cumbria, and aims to increase anonymous reporting of those who commit crimes involving sexual harassment and, importantly, to bring men to question their behavior towards women.
“I would like to thank Film on the Brain – they are talented young local filmmakers who have produced very thoughtful and impactful work that will not just be seen in Cumbria but across the country. The feedback we have received so far has been very positive and has already sparked a lot of discussion. »
If you have information about those responsible for criminal sexual harassment, you can remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimesstoppers-uk.org.
Due to Crimestoppers’ guarantee of anonymity, it cannot take information about victims.
Victims should contact the police directly or seek help from the following organisations:
Bridgeway Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Penrith – 0808 118 6432
4 Women’s Gateway, Carlisle – 01228 212 090
Victim Support – independent charity in England and Wales which provides specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime on 08 08 16 89 111
