Vania Barbara Turner
Directing
Biography
Vania Turner is a Greek-British documentary filmmaker and cinematographer. Over the past decade, her work has explored themes of trauma, loss, survival and conflict. As a video journalist she covered humanitarian crises across the Middle East, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, before deciding to shift her focus to observational documentary work. She holds degrees in English Literature and Political Theory. "Girlhood", a 30-minute deep-dive into the world of teenage girls in the 2020s, which she co-directed, won several awards and accolades, screening at some of the world's most important film festivals for children, like the 38th Chicago International Children's Film Festival and the 24th Olympia International Children's Film Festival. "TACK" is her feature-length directorial debut.
Known For
If there weren’t any buses, would there be films? In March 2020, the window of my gaze narrowed down. City life almost ceased. Non-essential movements were prohibited, and cinemas closed. I don’t know what I miss the most, cinema or a non-essential movement.
Non-essential Movement
When Sofia courageously reveals her rape by a powerful figure within the Hellenic Sailing Federation, it sparks shockwaves and ignites the MeToo movement in Greece. Amalia reaches out to Sofia for support—she was raped by her coach from the ages of 11 to 13—leading them on a path toward justice. In a milestone trial, Amalia faces grueling courtroom proceedings, intense victim-blaming, and attempts to discredit her. Sofia stands firmly by her side, providing support and crucial testimony. The statute of limitations on her case has expired, preventing her from having her day in court.
Tack
Girlhood follows the story of three seventeen-year-old girls in a neighborhood in the center of Athens as they go through the difficult period of transition to adulthood while in quarantine isolation. Christina, Nefeli and Vera experiencing sexism, dream of their independence and try to learn to love themselves. With their faces glued to a screen, they take refuge in each other and await to finish school.