What is FGM? FGM stands for female Genital Mutilation. Award winning, Silent Scream, Female Genital Mutilation drama-documentary, was privately screened on 30th June at the Watershed Cinema Bristol. Silent Scream also won the Young Voice Award at the BFI on the 5th March 2012. Silent Scream is drama-documentary made by 27 young women who attend schools in the Bristol area, with the support of Zed Productions and Integrate Bristol. Its primary aim is to persuade the communities that the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) must stop. Over 20,000 girls could be at risk in the UK. And an estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM. This ground breaking and compelling short film highlights the myths and misconceptions that appear to justify the practice of female genital mutilation. FGM is illegal in the UK and most other countries, including Egypt and Somalia. As well as the extreme pain involved, victims commonly suffer psychological and emotional trauma. Medical complications can include urinary infections, kidney failure, sterility and death. The impetus for making this film came from the young women themselves. The project ran over five months and the young film makers worked after school, at weekends and in the school holidays to develop a story, adapt it to script then learn the skills necessary to take on all the roles involved in production.
