ANIMAFEST PRO | ANIMAFEST SCANNER XII | PANEL 4: NASILJE U ANIMIRANOM FILMU

Animated Testimonies: Documentary Animation as a Tool for Addressing Violence Against Women - MARIE-JOSÉE SAINT-PIERRE

PANEL 4 - NASILJE U ANIMIRANOM FILMU
04/06 SRI 14:35-15:05 KIC

Violence against women remains deeply entrenched in patriarchal power structures, persisting despite legislative advancements and feminist advocacy. This research examines how documentary animation contributes to the visibility of gender-based violence while ensuring ethical storytelling and victim protection. For survivors, sharing their experiences publicly can be retraumatizing and even dangerous, particularly in live-action documentary formats that may struggle to guarantee anonymity. Documentary animation offers an ethical alternative, visually representing trauma while safeguarding survivor identities and providing a space for testimony without fear of recognition or retaliation. Focusing on Survivors (Sofian, 1997), Repetition Compulsion (Lee, 1997), Passages (Saint-Pierre, 2008), Girl in the Hallway (Barnhart, 2019), Letter to Colleen (London, 2007) and Everything was life (Land, 2004) this study explores the artistic strategies employed in these films to depict violence. Through in-depth film analysis, the research examines how animation visualizes psychological trauma, translates lived experiences into evocative imagery, and fosters empathy in audiences. By blending personal testimonies with symbolic and metaphorical representations, these films create a powerful narrative space where survivors’ voices can be heard without exposing them to further harm. The methodology integrates a qualitative approach combining film analysis, feminist theory, and trauma studies. A content analysis focuses on visual metaphors, narrative structures, and animation techniques that convey the psychological aftermath of violence. A comparative approach contrasts animation with live-action documentary strategies to assess the effectiveness of different visual storytelling methods. Ethical considerations address how animation safeguards victim anonymity while ensuring authenticity in testimonial narratives.By demonstrating animation’s capacity to represent difficult subjects with sensitivity and impact, this research highlights its role as a vital tool for advocacy, education, and social change in the fight against violence. Through its ability to provide both protection and emotional resonance, documentary animation emerges as a crucial medium for amplifying survivor voices and challenging systemic silencing.

Dr. Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre is an internationally recognized animation filmmaker, professor, and researcher specializing in documentary animation and feminist film studies. She is an Associate Professor at Laval University in the School of Design, where she teaches animation theory and practice, feminist animation, and documentary animation. She is the author of the book Women and Film Animation (2024). Born and raised in Canada, Saint-Pierre has been active in the animation field since 2004, establishing herself as a leading voice in research-creation. Through her production company, she has directed, written, and produced several award-winning films that have been showcased in over 150 international festivals, earning her around 60 global awards, including two Jutra Awards, a Gemini Award, and a Canadian Screen Award. Saint-Pierre’s work is characterized by a hybrid approach to documentary filmmaking, blending traditional documentary storytelling with experimental animation techniques. Her acclaimed filmography includes Passages (2008), McLaren’s Negatives (2006), Jutra (2014), and Femelles (2012), among others. Her films not only challenge conventional documentary aesthetics but also push the boundaries of testimony and memory representation in animation.