There is no shortage of stories about child brides in Turkey and the Middle East, but what happens to the girls after they marry?

Growing Up Married offers a unique insight into the lives and experiences of four former child brides in Turkey. Filmed, directed and produced by Dr Eylem Atakav, the documentary recollects their memories as adults, exploring what happened to the women after their marriages as adolescent girls.

Here are some of the comments from academics, journalists and filmmakers who previewed the documentary:

“Absorbing, shocking and beautiful all at once!” 

“These women’s stories really make everything else in the room stop.” 

“Very moving, incredibly powerful, and beautifully shot”

“Its straightforward simplicity with space for the women to speak makes the film so powerful”

The voices of victims are rarely heard and there has been little research into the issue, which is often buried under the sensationalism of the coverage its garners in the West or left untouched in the affected societies due to the tacit support such traditions have. By making their experiences visible, director Dr Atakav believes these former child brides will contribute to the debate around this significant, complex and emotionally charged human rights issue.

Following the film’s debut London screening at the historic Phoenix Cinema in Finchley, Dr Atakav will take questions on her documentary and the wider issue of child brides. The Q&A will be moderated by Dr Julia Wagner, who teaches and writes about Cultural Memory, documentary and autobiographical filmmaking. She holds a PhD in Film Studies from UCL, writes for the Huffington Post, and is a film reviewer for the Jewish Quarterly journal.

About Dr Eylem Atakav

Born in Turkey, Dr Atakav is a Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia where she teaches courses on women and film; women, Islam and media; and Middle Eastern media. She is the author of Women and Turkish Cinema: Gender Politics, Cultural Identity and Representation (2012). She frequently writes on issues around gender and culture for the Huffington Post (UK). She has recently contributed to a House of Lords report on Religion and Belief in British Public Life.

Screening details

Title: Growing Up Married & Q&A

Date: Sunday 30 October 2016

Venue: Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Road, East Finchley, London N2 9PJ

Starts: 2pm, screening and Q&A lasts 90 minute

Admission: £7 (£5 concs).

More info and tickets: visit Phoenix Cinema