A MAKERS of a short film around the subject of menstruation are celebrating after picking up an Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards.
Period. End of Sentence took home the award for Best Short Documentary at the star-studded gala event at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, the film centres around a village in India and the deep-rooted stigma attached to periods in the rural community outside Delhi.
It’s a stigma that has stopped young women and girls from gaining access to further education, worshipping in religious temples and basic sanitary products.
A powerful portrait of a group of women who are working tirelessly to give future generations the chance at greater independence, the film has won rave reviews since its release with one critic describing it as “rousing and brave”.
The academy evidently agreed, with Zehtabchi taking to the stage to accept the award and express her shock at winning
“I’m not crying because I’m on my period, or anything,” she said.
“I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!”
Zehtabchi isn’t the only one likely to likely be shocked by the Oscar win.
The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed how one academy member, who asked not to be named, wrote the following in his anonymous Oscar ballot:
“[I'm not going to vote for] Period. End of Sentence — it's well done, but it's about women getting their period, and I don't think any man is voting for this film because it's just icky for men.”
You can watch Period. End of Sentence on Netflix right here.
