Thematic Approach
Traditional forms of social development have generated certain cultural constructions that have contributed to the proliferation of certain stigmas, stereotypes, myths, and taboos related to gender, which have ended up marginalizing, segregating, and affecting the lives of many people, given their differences with canons preconceived in relation to these issues. Hence the importance of promoting knowledge about gender studies in order to create a social conscience that enables respect for diversity and is projected against the various forms of gender discrimination.

This acquires greater relevance in the case of audiovisual producers, given the inestimable influence of the mass media in the construction of social imaginaries and the proliferation of ideologies. It is a creative medium with a great impact on the most diverse audiences, hence the great responsibility that concerns the filmmakers. Awareness of gender-related issues is the only way to gain awareness about gender-based commissive issues that sometimes are not even aware of. Even with the best of intentions, an audiovisual producer can make multiple errors in the treatment of gender. 

The Latin American Context, marked by social conflicts at different scales, by the traces of colonial thought and action, where the film industry is growing in the shadows of North American majors, interesting perspectives towards films and gender are showing up. By inviting different Latin American Scholars and filmmakers to share their experiences, this series of conferences aims to contribute to the knowledge of audiovisual producers in order to increase their awareness of gender, as well as their abilities to implement and analyze the treatment of gender in audiovisual creations.

Program
(Time: Amsterdam, NL – find your timezone here) 

15.oo-15.15
General & Panel A Introductions: Konstantinos D. Karatzas, PhD – Eduardo Rencurrell, PhD

A.Theoretical Perspectives around Gender and Films Studies
15.15-16.00
– Theoretical Perspectives on Gender Studies. 
    Iwona Koscielecka (Ph. D Candidate) (in English)
– Towards a Gender Perspective through Audiovisual grammar.
    Karina Paz Ernand (Ph. D Candidate) (in Spanish)
– The representation of gay characters in fiction films.
    Angel Pérez (M. A Student) (in Spanish)
16.00-17.00 Discussion

17.00-17.20 Break

B.Reflections on Film created by women
17.20-17.35 Panel Introduction: Konstantinos D. Karatzas, PhD – Eduardo Rencurrell, PhD
17.35-18.20 Presentations
–The representation of gender violence in Interactive Documentary films made by Latin American women.
   Andrea Vaca. (Ph. D. Candidate) (in Spanish)
– Exploring the expression of female sensitivity in documentary film.
    Eduardo Rencurrell (Ph. D.) (in English)
– Developing film training programs with the primary focus on the marginalized groups (ethnic-gendered themes): Experiences from the “Filma” Project and the International Laboratory “Filma Mujer”.
    Tatiana Canro (B.A.) (in Spanish)
18.20-19.20 Discussion

19.20-19.40 Break

C. Women filmmakers share their experiences
19.40-19.55 Panel Introduction: Konstantinos D. Karatzas, PhD – Eduardo Rencurrell, PhD
19.55-20.40 Presentations 
– Gender treatment and symbolism in the conception process of the n fiction film La Rabia. 
   Daniela López (B.A) (in Spanish)
–Documentary films made by women in the context of the armed conflict in Colombia.
Carmen Viveros (Ph.D.) (in Spanish)
–Purity. Sexual discrimination, international migration, LGBTQ political conflicts, and documentary film conception.
Susy Pena (M.A) (in English)
20.40-21.40 Discussion

21.40-22.00 Final Remarks: Konstantinos D. Karatzas, PhD – Eduardo Rencurrell, PhD

Workshop Lingua francas Organization Forms
English & Spanish
Panel Formation
-Each speaker will present for about 15-20 minutes
Discussion
+Q&A: Participants are welcome to share their thoughts and opinions in the discussion sessions.
Format
Due to geographical limitations the roundtable will take place virtually via Google Meet.

Due to the restrictions of Corona Crisis our event (for the time being) will take place VIRTUALLY
All participants comply with the Code of Conduct of GIRES

Iwona Koscielecka (Ph.D Candidate, University of Gdansk. Poland) – GIRES Operations Board Member
Iwona Kościelecka is a Ph.D. candidate at Faculty of Philology, at University of Gdansk in Poland. She is assigned to the Institute of Culture Studies, Institute of Film and Audiovisual Culture and he dissertation is entitled: The Notion of Visual Pleasure in Film Theory and Practice: Laura Mulvey Revisited. She has an MA  by the Institute of English and American Studies by the same university and a second Master’s degree on European Studies by the Pultusk Academy of Humanities in Poland.Iwona is the recipient of several prestigious grants among which are a European Union grant NAWA PROM for PhD candidates to run lectures in Havana University of Arts, Cuba – second semester of academic year 2019/2020 and several scholarships from the University of Gdansk – among which is the award for the Best Quality Research Scholarship from  2017 till 2019.Iwona has been active in publishing and her articles have hosted by academic journals in Poland and Cuba. She has been guest speaker in several conferences around the world while her her scholarly interests focus on the evolution of the gaze in screening sexuality in mainstream cinema, the representations of corporeality and sexuality in visual culture, the female gaze and visual pleasure category in psychoanalytical context, the gendered theories of visual perception and identity and the theory of fetish and visual arts.

Eduardo Rencurrell (Ph.D,Cuban University of the Artes) – GIRES Advisory Committee Member and Head of the CMFS
Eduardo holds a Ph.D of Arts (Awarded as the Best Ph.D thesis of  2019) from the University of the Arts (ISA) of Cuba / Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA). From the same schools he received his Bachelor’s on Audiovisual Communication with Summa Cum Laude and a Master’s degree on Film Production with Distinction.He has extensive professional experience in Mass Media as filmmaker/ film director and also works as a university professor, specialized in film direction, theory and practice on documentary film, screenplay writing, thesis advisement and academical curriculum coordination.Eduardo has collaborated in filmmaking projects for prestigious institutions, organizations and film producers such as: UN, British Council, Tiger Nest Films Productions, Firesoul Media, Páramo Films, BBC, ITN Channel 4 News, Unreported World, Cuban Institute for Radio and TV (ICRT), Enterprise for Audiovisual and Informatic products for Education (CINESOFT), among others. He has also partake in teaching, working as a professor  for the Faculty of Mass Media Arts of the Cuban University of the Arts (ISA), the Department of International Workshops of the School for Cinema and TV of San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV), the Cuban Centre of Radio and TV Studies (CERT), The Cuban Association for Social Communicators (ACCS), among others.
He has published several term papers on Documentary film theory, Gender studies, Film criticism, Education, Heritage and cultural studies… for academical books, magazines and digital spaces in Cuba, Mexico, India, and Colombia. He has also participated in international events in Cuba, México, Colombia and China and won several scholarships awards such us IBERMEDIA Scholarship for Film Afro International Documentary Workshop, CARIBBEAN TALES INCUBATOR, International Joung Forum III and World Largest Lesson and SDGs Festival.He has served on the jury for international and national contests such as: Caribbean Tales Incubator Habana, Low Budget International Film Festival, IMAGO Film Festival and the National Event for Cultural Research (ALBUR).

Karina Paz Ernand (Ph. D Student at Havana University. Cuba) – GIRES Research Board Member
Cuban film critic, audiovisual script consultant, essayist and teacher. She has a degree in Art History from the University of Havana and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Art Sciences from the same university.
Her work as a teacher, researcher and audiovisual critic has revolved around gender studies. She is a professor at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, of the University of the Arts of Cuba, as well as the Study Center of the Cuban Institute of Radio and TV (CERT). In addition, she works as a script consultant for Cuban Television.
Karina actively participates in national and international competitions related to audiovisual theory, criticism and production, has published dissimilar texts in academic sources around the world and has coordinated events related to audiovisual for various educational and cultural institutions, within and outside Cuba. She is currently developing research on the mainstreaming of gender studies in audiovisual language, as part of her doctoral training process.

Angel Pérez (M.A. Student, Cuban University of the Arts. Cuba) – GIRES Research Board Member
Angel Perez (San German, 1991), is  a literary critic and audiovisual media expert. His texts and essays appear in books, anthologies and national and international periodicals; among them, Temas, La Gaceta de Cuba, Cuban Cinema, La Siempreviva, La Noria, Islas Magazine, New Latin American Cinema, The Informer, The Eye that Thinks, among others. He compiled and prefaced with Javier L. Mora, Long Playing Poetry. Cuba: Generation Zero Years (Casa Vacía, Richmond, Virginia, 2017), and with Jamila Media, Passport. Cuba: poetry of the Zero Years (Catafixia, Guatemala, 2019). He has won the UNEAC Caracol Film Criticism and Essay Award (2017, 2019 respectively), the Essay Giver Creation Scholarship (2018), as well as the International Essay Award from the magazine Temas (2019) and the Pinos Nuevos Award. essay (2020), awarded by the Cuban Book Institute.
He is a member of the Hermanos Saiz Association (AHS), the Cuban Association of Cinematographic Press (ACPC), and the International Federation of Cinematographic Press (FIPRESCI). He has published the book Bad Words. Approaches to the Cuban poetry of the Zero Years (Casa Vacía, 2021) and, in editorial process by Letras Cubanas, Burlar el cerco. Aesthetic conflicts and historical negotiations in Cuban cinema (Pinos Nuevos Award, 2020). He currently works as a Programmer for the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema and Specialist for the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. He has taught various subjects related to audiovisuals at the University of Havana and the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños. He is a member of the editorial staff of Rialta magazine.

Andres Vaca (Ph.D Student, Cuban University of the Arts, Ecuador) – GIRES Research Board Member
Ecuadorian audiovisual producer. She has made more than 15 audiovisual works, developing as director of photography, sound, script and direction. He has won international awards, including: Official Selection of Cuban Cinema in Germany (2016), award from the Ludwin Foundation of Cuba and the Serrana Television Award 2015 and 2016. In addition, he worked as a digital communication analyst at the Ecuadorian embassy in Cuba, she was a volunteer in the Network of Cultural Managers of Latin America. She has participated as a speaker in various international events on gender and audiovisual and collaborated with the University of Seville, as well as with the network of educators in Latin America. Currently, she is developing a research project on sound narrative.

Susy Pena (MA,  Central University of Venezuela, Venezuela) – GIRES Research Board Member
Susy is a Venezuelan sociologist and filmmaker. She grew up in Caracas and studied at the Central University of Venezuela where she graduated with a master’s degree in sociology. From the age of 24, she worked as a Producer and Director for a youth cultural public TV channel. The first program she created and developed was an Experimental Touristic Reality TV Show that was run successfully for several years becoming one of the hits of the channel. Susy was also part of the team that created the first feminist daily show on Venezuelan TV, where she worked as the General Producer and Studio Director. After working for three years in the Venezuelan TV channel she moved to the UK to learn English and to study for a Master’s Degree in Documentary at Royal Holloway University. During her time in London, she has also worked as the Art and Education Project Coordinator in a charity to help Latin American families and children to integrate into British Education System. Right now, she is eager to document Venezuela and its citizens living through the country’s biggest crisis. Susy believes there is a lack of representation of women in mainstream media, and her aim is to work with women as her central characters.

Carmen Viveros (Ph.D, candidate, University of the North, Colombia)
She is an audiovisual producer, professor, and researcher born in Barranquilla,. She is a graduate of the Systems Engineering program with an emphasis on Project Management from the Universidad del Norte in Colombia (1995) and a master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Creative Documentary at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2001). She served as coordinator of the same master’s degree (2001-2012) in which she had the opportunity to produce the documentaries made by the students. These have been broadcast by different television channels, in addition to being exhibited and awarded at international festivals. In this context, she was the editor and producer of the commercial DVD 10d10, which includes a sample of ten documentaries made by the Master’s students throughout its first decade of existence. Since 2014, she has been working as a teacher-researcher in the Department of Social Communication and Journalism at Universidad del Norte. Her doctoral thesis project “Identity and post-memory in the Colombian autobiographical documentary made by women and related to the armed conflict”, allowed her to be a beneficiary of the Colciencias Scholarship (2016) and obtained an honorable mention from the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the Scholarship Film and Audiovisual Research (2013). In 2017 she was a jury member of the Proimágenes Film Development Fund, in the category of documentary feature film development. In 2018 she did her research internship at the Cinema du Réel Department of the Haute École d’Art et de Design in Geneva. Since 2019 she has been a visiting professor at the Chair of International Workshops of the International School of Film and Television of San Antonio de Los Baños in Cuba (EICTV) and of the Film Program of the Universidad del Magdalena. Within the framework of her intellectual production, she is the author of various academic articles on topics such as cinema, documentary, and memory.

Tatiana Canro (BA, University of Andes- Director ““Cine en las Aldeas”, Colombia)
Colombian and Venezuelan director, producer, photographer, and cultural manager. Bachelor of Audiovisual Media from the University of Andes in the specialty of Cinematography. She also studied Executive Production and Transmedia Narratives at the International School for Film and TV (EICTV) of San Antonio de Los Baños as well as Community Documentary at “Televisión Serrana” (Cuba).
She currently works as the director of the Film Producer Enterprise “Cine en las Aldeas” based in Colombia and as the Coordinator of International Relationships for the Specialized School “Cinema Faculty” in Mexico City. Her audiovisual products have participated in the Film Festival of the New Latin American Cinema in Havana, among many others around the world, they have also been screened on TV and web platforms such as UNESCO, cubainformación.tv, and many others which have stored these films in their online libraries. 
Tatiana has been director of Audiovisual exhibitions, Film Festivals and Formation Events such as the “Festival de Cine Under 1000 metros bajo tierra”(Venezuela) and those from  “Proyecto Filma” (“Filma LGBT”, “Filma Mujer” y “Filma Afro”). She has also been a jury member for Film Festivals and Cinematographic Industry Events such as the Fund for Cinema Development in Colombia (FDC).

Daniela López (BA, National University of Colombia, Colombia)
Film and Television Director graduated from the National University of Colombia. In 2016 she was co-director of Five Pilgrim Tales, a series of short films about the plebiscite for peace in Colombia, screened as part of the 57th edition of the FICCI. In 2018, she was part of the crew for the Making of Tantas Almas, directed by Nicolás Rincón. Her thesis degree El corral (2019) was premiered at the Oberhausen Short Film Festival and officially selected at other film festivals such as ZINEBI, Entreveus Belfort, Havana Film Festival, International Documentary Film Festival of Bogotá-MIDBO, among others. That same year, she directed the short film Guacheneque, which won Second Place at the Rally DocsRupestre (2019). In 2020, he produced Quebranto, a short film that won the “Big Stories” stimulus from Smartfilms. She is currently working on the production of the feature film Selva and the short film Tigers, both winners of development incentives of the Colombian Film Fund (FDC).