The power of film

"A lot of people in the community get caught in the burdens they carry in their hearts. But when they share their stories, those burdens become easier to bear."

Frieda, Samfya Women Filmmakers

If you were given the opportunity to speak out for the first time in your life, what would you say? Twenty-three women from rural Zambia were given a video camera, some training and the chance to tell the world about their lives. The result is Where The Water Meets The Sky, a poignant and uplifting film showing for free at Edge Hill University's Rose Theatre on Wednesday 2^nd February 2010.

Penelop is an 18-year-old orphan from Samfya, one of the poorest towns in Zambia. She lost both her parents to AIDS and struggles to bring up her siblings in desperate poverty. She has never seen a video camera before and has had little exposure to television or films. Yet Penelop and 22 other women learn how to make a film as a way to speak out about their lives, and confront the traditions that have, until now, kept them silent.

In a community blighted by the legacy of AIDS, in which women traditionally have no say, the novice filmmakers find the courage to speak about the unspeakable and become an unexpected force for change.

Narrated by Academy award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, and written by Jordan Roberts (March of the Penguins), Where The Water Meets The Sky follows the women's remarkable journey as they realise the power of their own voices to challenge the age-old beliefs of their community.

What begins as a filmmaking workshop and a desire to tell Penelop's story, becomes a transformational experience as the women find the friendship, humour and resilience to defy the long tradition of silence surrounding the devastating legacy of AIDS. Many of the women lacked conventional literacy and most had never had the opportunity to learn beyond the home. But, given the tools and the encouragement to tell their story, the women find the courage to change their lives and the determination to change their entire community.

Where The Water Meets The Sky was produced by Camfed (the Campaign for Female Education), an organisation dedicated to fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by educating girls and investing in economic and leadership opportunities for young women.

In 2003 Camfed initiated a filmmaking training programme for young girls and women in Ghana. After the success of this project, and the transformation of the women involved, the idea of filming the next project in Zambia was raised. With the consent of the participants, a documentary filmmaking team was invited to chronicle the new programme. The result was one of the most powerful and moving films about AIDS to come out of Africa.

The women now call themselves the Samfya Women Filmmakers and, since filming ended, many have started school or taken up careers for the first time. Their film, I've Found My Way, has been shown to over 3,000 people across their community and they are currently working on their next film about child marriage.

Where The Water Meets The Sky is testament to the power of filmmaking to transform lives and its potential as a catalyst for social change. All funds raised through the film will support Camfed's work.

Sometimes a single story can unite an entire community. Come and be inspired.

• Screening starts at 7.30pm.
• Tickets: Free.

For further information contact the Box Office: 

• The Rose Theatre, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584480