Bleeding Free & Bleedin Saor

Bleeding Free is a documentary about period poverty, period dignity and Scotland’s role in challenging the stigma of menstruation. The film follows Scottish students campaigning and creating change, while meeting inspirational community leaders, policy makers and educators at home and in Uganda where gaining access to menstrual education and resources can be life changing.

The film was produced by Edinburgh Napier University staff and student collective, Bleedin’ Saor and tracks the development of Scotland becoming the first country in the world to legislate for free access to period products for all women, girls and menstruators. We are formed from many subject areas and programmes –Film, Television, Design, Journalism, Marketing, Acting, Music and Events. Inspired by the progress of Monica Lennon’s Free Period Provision Bill, we formed in 2019 to champion menstrual myths and break the silence of menstruation in order to create a long-lasting impact for young people and their communities.  
 
Napier product design students were tasked with designing product dispensers for sustainable period product supplier Hey Girls, while the film team documented their process along with wider research about menstruation, period poverty and gender equality. As well as their work in Scotland, the project team visited Uganda where they met organisations who are working for better period product provision and menstrual education. We met inspiring organisations such as the Girl Up Initiative, Irise International, Days for Girls and Women. 
 
In Scotland as well as hearing from students and young people, we also met footballers from Hibernian’s Women’s football team, campaigning schoolgirls from Glasgow and also hosted Bloody Big Brunches on all 3 campuses to raise awareness of period poverty and give visibility to our campaign.
 
The film is being distributed across schools, colleges and universities in Scotland. If you would like to host a screening or just get in touch please email us at : bleedingfreedistribution@gmail.com and for more information visit the film’s website: https://bleedingfree.wordpress.com/

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/RO_wyWHRzdc
@bleedinsaor
Kirsten MacLeod: Producer Bleeding Free

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