BFI London Film Festival to host Global Symposium on Gender in Media

The BFI London Film Festival is collaborating with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (GDI) and Women in Film and Television (WFTV), to host the Institute's first Global Symposium on Gender in Media outside the US on 8 October 2015, the day after the festival opens with Sarah Gavron's Suffragette.

Geena Davis will be the opening keynote at the Global Symposium, to be held at BFI Southbank, and commented Media images have a huge impact on our perceptions, and on our social and cultural beliefs and behaviors. Our new global study explores how global films may be reinforcing negative gender stereotypes with movie audiences of all ages.

Founded by actor and advocate Davis, the Institute is a research-based organisation working within the media and entertainment industry to engage, educate, and influence the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment.

At the London Global Symposium, the Institute will present new global research which investigates the influence of international films on diverse film audiences in the UK, India, Nigeria, France and Brazil. The Global Symposiums and research are funded with the generous support of the Oak Foundation.

I can't think of a more perfect or important discussion to be having at this year's BFI London Film Festival than the issue of gender equality in film, TV and the media, said Amanda Nevill CBE, BFI CEO. I am very proud we are partnering with The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and Women in Film and Television and feel extremely lucky to be working with such extraordinary and talented women to shine a light on these issues.

Madeline Di Nonno, CEO, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, commented We're thrilled to be partnering with the BFI and Women in Film and TV UK. Geena and I are extremely grateful to the Oak Foundation for their support of this new study and our mission.

Clare Stewart, festival director, BFI London Film Festival said It's absolutely fitting to combine forces with two committed, engaged and women-led organisations for this Global Symposium the day after Suffragette opens the BFI London Film Festival.

www.bfi.org.uk

www.seejane.org

www.wftv.org.uk

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