Three Million Women Are on a March in Malcolm Green's Films for The UN and UPS

Malcolm Green has written and directed three new films to celebrate and promote the SheTrades Movement, a global initiative of the United Nations and International Trade Centre. The programme is designed to help three million more women around the world create their own businesses or achieve boardroom positions within existing companies.

The films were backed by the international shipments company UPS.

Shot in Vietnam and Mexico through Burning Reel Productions (London), the films are centred around three different entrepreneurs, each of whom are succeeding in male dominated societies. They include Anselma, a Mayan Healer and ‘Bee Queen’.

The introductory film also debuts a specially-written track - ‘3 Million Women Mean Business’, performed by the UK female Grime artist, Melissa Moore.

Renowned Sculptor Gary Betts created a specially-commissioned Artwork entitled ‘Not Fragile’ which features throughout each of the films.

"Shot with minimal crew, Green describes the films as ‘an experiment in creative constraint. This was a production of agility, energy, passion and sheer hard work on my team’s part.

"But nothing compared to how the featured women spend their daily lives, building businesses, balancing families and fighting against every obstacle that men and society try and put in their way. I think all of us came away humbled and inspired by these incredible women. Added to that, the work the SheTrades team are doing, with limited resources, deserves every ounce of our support. I love projects like this, where we can help viewers can see the world through the eyes and experiences of others leading very different lives."

Edited by Flaura Atkinson, and with an original soundtrack by Kevin Pollard, the films will be screened at global events as well as paid and organic media, Anna Claudia Zaleski Mori of International Trade Centre said ‘‘ITC and UPS are thrilled to launch three inspiring films to highlight 'Faces of SheTrades', written and directed by Malcolm Green, a passionate and dedicated director. These three stories represent the three million women entrepreneurs ITC SheTrades aims to connect to markets by 2022.

‘Tea Bags from Vietnam’ zooms in on the lives of Helen Phung and Nguyen Thi Hien. In her rural village, Helen runs ‘Happy Hands’, manufacturing bags and other accessories with her team of craftswomen. Nguyen Thi Hien strives to preserve traditional Vietnamese tea culture, operating her business sustainably, protecting the natural environment and boosting the local economy by advancing women’s economic empowerment.

'The Bee Queen' tells the story of Anselma Chaleuan, a Mexican honey producer. Producing and exporting special Melipona honey from her small village of Xcunyá in the Yucatan province, Anselma’s strongest sense of purpose lies in preserving the endangered native Melipona bee population and empowering other women in her community.