Jamaica Film and Television Association (Jafta), Unicef Jamaica, and the Spotlight Initiative — as part of the celebrations of International Human Rights Day (December 10) — premiered two new films at the Carib 5.

Spotlight grant awardees Neisha-Yen Jones and Mezan Ayoka showcased their works — Not By Will and Let’s Talk About Consent respectively — to a mixed audience of creatives, survivors of gender-based violence, and executives of corporate and government entities.

Speaking at the premiere, Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, said: “Gender-based violence is not a ‘fowl fight’ that ‘cockroach’ should no longer be a part of. Government has been and will continue to support and create the necessary policies and laws to protect victims and survivors… As a society, must be more vigilant and help to remove the stigma that victims face and provide assistance because it may result in the saving of lives.”

Jafta thanked Spotlight Initiative and Unicef for their financial and technical support in the creation of the films in just nine weeks.

As the project and its funding comes to an end, Lesley-Ann Wanliss, business development chairperson, Jafta, said: “It is important that corporate entities invest in films that bring important societal issues to the fore through art, because art has been the proven successful medium for people to grasp sensitive topics which results in positive action being taken after being exposed to the creative piece.”

Both films are based on true stories of actual survivors of gender-based violence. In a panel discussion, subsequent to the viewing of the films, the films’ directors spoke about their process and goal.

Neisha-Yen Jones, who directed Not By Will, said: “I wanted to ensure I tell the story accurately, because speaking truth in these spaces from a woman’s perspective is paramount to changing the way in which society views the issue and responds to it.”

The film tells the story of female siblings who were victims of sexual abuse by their uncle.

Mezan Ayoka’s Let’s Talk About Consent features a main character going through therapy in an effort to deal with the psychological trauma that resulted from the non-consensual violence against her body.

Under the Spotlight Initiate, Unicef Jamaica has taken a multi-partnership approach to address the social and cultural norms that influence gender-based violence and child abuse at the community and family levels.

The films premiered can be viewed on Unicef’s YouTube pages and by request of Minister Grange plans are being made for the films to also be shown in communities across the island.