MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Paramount Global, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have joined forces to produce 'In Bloom,' a groundbreaking short film anthology that shines a spotlight on gender equity. The anthology, directed by emerging female filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, India, the U.S., and Brazil, delves into a spectrum of critical issues such as period poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence, HIV self-stigma, family planning, and women's economic empowerment.
As part of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation's commitment to using storytelling as a catalyst for change and Paramount's 'Content For Change' initiative, 'In Bloom' aims to amplify new voices and spark conversations that challenge systemic injustices in alignment with the U.N.'s gender equality objectives.
The creative helm of 'In Bloom' is steered by Tope Oshin, a renowned Nigerian TV and film director and a board member of U.N. Live. The anthology comprises a diverse range of shorts, including the English-language comedy-drama 'Period,' the Bengali-language drama 'Alta,' the Portuguese and English-language social realist drama 'Maré,' the Swahili and English-language psychological horror 'Kifungo,' and the Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English-language drama 'Aféfé.'
Set to premiere on Paramount+ on March 1 across various regions including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, and South Korea, 'In Bloom' will also debut on Pluto TV globally on the same day. The anthology will subsequently roll out across MTV international linear channels before its International Women's Day premiere on BET in Africa on March 8. Following its initial release, the anthology will be available on YouTube in India and Africa, with Paramount distributing rights to third-party platforms through its Global Content Distribution arm.
Wame Jallow, executive director of MTV Staying Alive Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the impact of 'In Bloom,' highlighting the importance of community partnerships in driving meaningful change. Crystal Barnes, executive VP of corporate social responsibility and environmental, social, and governance at Paramount, underscored the initiative's commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and addressing gender-based issues through the lens of talented female creators.
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 'In Bloom' is a collaborative production between MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Paramount Global Content Distribution, poised to spark crucial conversations and foster greater awareness around gender equality on a global scale.
