This Short Film Shows the Gruelling Reality of Abuse and Exploitation against Women

With the 25th of November, director Zornitsa Dimitrova chose the most fitting day to release her stunning project 'A Dark Moment Of Faith'. 

The date has marked 'The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women' since 1981.

It shines a light on the powerful role of women’s rights movements in preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, while mobilising more people to support this topic and to push back against the rollback on women’s rights. 

Zoris short film 'A Dark Moment of Faith' deals with the exact topic.

It tells the story of Vicky, a young woman desperate to make enough money to pay for her deceased mother’s funeral. Through her frantic quest to meet these financial needs, she starts to sell herself and experiences several abusive encounters along this path. Her situation seems hopeless until she meets Vasco.

The film is filled with emotion from the very start. It is sad, it is romantic, it is unsettling in just the right way.

Zornitsa takes her audience on a journey, that convinces with stunning visuals, an exceptionally well played out true story and leaves them shook with the ending.

'A Dark Moment of Faith' gives an insight into the sad and gruelling reality of abuse and exploitation that many women face around the world.

The short film has garnered several well-known awards like Berlin Commercial, YDA, Porsche Awards, CLIO and 1.4 Awards, as well as numerous nominations (D&AD, EMEA Shots, Ciclope – to name a few).

The project was developed as part of Zornitsas education at the Film Academy Baden Württemberg. 

She was faced with plenty of unexpected challenges (like a global pandemic) but mastered them with a very committed crew.

TW: The film contains signs of sexual assault, abuse, sexism and misogyny.