Exposing the Misery of Child Marriage and Obstetric Fistula

In the small but growing community of African filmmakers who are pushing boundaries and stunning the world with world-class productions, Stephanie Linus stands out for her ability to grip her audience’s attention with intense scenes and poignant dialogue. Her movie Dry, with its themes of underage marriage and fistula, is an anthem for girl-child rights that has garnered awards from Lagos to Los Angeles.

With Dry, she deftly channels a social justice theme with just the right mix of entertainment and creativity to drive home an important message. And the world is listening. With screenings in countries including the USA, Canada, England, Nigeria, Gambia, and Zambia, Dry has caught the attention of leaders and policymakers as it makes its case for improved maternal health and policies that protect girls and women. It is no wonder that the movie was screened for a second time at the recently concluded Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles this February.

Dry won the Programmers’ Award for Narrative Feature during its 2016 screening, and Stephanie was given a special recognition award from the Los Angeles City Council during the official Blacks in Cinema presentation. In a recent interview for Radiant Health, journalist Adeola Adeyemo sat down with Stephanie Linus to discuss the message behind Dry and why it is still so relevant five years after its release.