Released by Lief on World Book Day (1st March 2018), and proudly supported by the National Literacy Trust, comes this moving, fantastical tale of female empowerment through literacy: a two-minute film with a powerful message.
Written and directed by director Leonora Lonsdale, the film follows the ever-wild journey of two young sisters, bold and brave. Focusing on the power of books to harness a child's imagination, the film brings a positive message to the statistic that 493 million women worldwide still can’t read.
Made for girls, by girls, the film was created with an all-female crew, from storyboards to the final sound mix. In its creation alone, 'A Girl Who Reads...Can Dream' emphatically communicates the significance of empowering women worldwide – in all roles of filmmaking.
Leonora comments: “The books I've read have helped shape the person I am. The worlds I visited, the adventures I witnessed became just as real as my friends and family. I found stories that helped me; books that inspired me to see what could be - lives, careers, loves. Reading allows a child to see they can be anything, anyone. How remarkable. And yet there are still so many women around the world who can't read, whose opportunities are limited by their circumstance.”
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, said: “At the National Literacy Trust, we know that a love of reading can dramatically change a child’s life story. We’re delighted that ‘A Girl Who Reads… Can Dream’ highlights the powerful impact that books and stories can have on a child’s life. Our research shows that 1 in 8 disadvantaged children in the UK don’t have a single book of their own at home – but by shining a light on this issue and raising money for our work, we can help transform the future for these children.”
Full Credits
Production Company: Lief
Older Sister: Grace Taylor
Younger Sister: Kira Mackay-Smith
Mum: Stephanie Compton
Voice Over: Freya Slipper
Written & Directed by: Leonora Lonsdale
Producer: Sophie Brooks, Margo Mars
Production Manager: Francesca Willcock
DOP: Rina Yang
Focus Puller: Kate Molins
Camera Assistant: Sonia Rodriquez Steadicam Operator: Svetlana Miko
Sound Playback: Annie Needham
Boom Operator: Jen Annor
Gaffer: Josie Williams
Electrician: Jenny Dyson
Electrician: Sabrina Corda
Trainee: Christine Alexander
Production Designer: Lou Corcoran
Art Assistant: Harriet Plaskitt Prop Buyer: Rosie Paynton
Stylist: Ms George Buxton
Wardrobe Assistant: Julia Gunning
Wardrobe Assistant: Connie Rosenthal
Make Up: Holly Fowles Pazdro
Runner: Ellie Cook
Runner: Eleri Shone
Storyboard Artist: Virginia Lipinski
Voice Over Copy Writer: Laura Bradford
Title Design: Jamaica Dyer
Motion Graphics: Aislinn Clifford at Dizzy Zebra
Editor: Sally Cooper at Cut+Run
Assistant Editor: Jo Lewandowska at Cut+Run
Colourist: Yoomin Lee at Jogger Studios
Sound Design & Final Mix: Tess Ludlow & Beckie Thornton at GCRS