Monashay is being screened at the Colchester Campus

Romanian Film Studies student Elena Dirstaru will see her award-winning documentary screened at the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus at 7pm on Wednesday 13 November in LTB10 in the Lecture Theatre Building.

Monashay won the Award of Merit in the ‘Women Filmmakers’ category at this year’s Indie Fest and will be presented by the Essex Transitional Justice Network (ETJN) as part of the Centre for Film Studies’ autumn film season. The screening is free and open to everyone.

• Watch a trailer for Monashay on vimeo

Elena is studying in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies (LiFTS) at Essex and will be present to talk about her film which will be introduced by Dr Sanja Bahun from ETJN and LiFTS. Other ETJN members will be taking part in the event and the screening will be followed by questions and discussions.

The film’s official website said: “Monashay follows the personal stories of Romani women of different generations in rural Romania and how their lives are shaped by the daily discrimination they face. Filled with warmth and humour that shatters stereotypes, it gives these women a chance to tell us their views about themselves and society, including their hopes for their children’s future.”

ETJN organised the film screening to stimulate debate on the measures that can be taken to alleviate both the exclusion of the Roma and the prejudice against them. It is a feature of many ‘traditional’ societies that women’s voices are not heard: Monashay addresses both issues, as it features Roma women speaking about their own lives.

Monashay premiered on 9 October at the Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre in London.