Persister: Women speaking up and being heard

Three young teenage girls break away from their daily lives of domestic drudgery and familial abuse by joining a local surf club in the town of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Under the wing of a devoted coach invested in seeing the girls excel at their sport, they discover a rare and precious avenue of freedom as they fearlessly ride the tallest of waves with unimaginable skill and dexterity. Navigating daily hardships, stifling families and the oppressive judgments of their community, the girls coax and cajole their way to a few hours on their surfboards every chance they get. But when their coach makes the decision to leave the club and the girls are left to advocate for themselves, their odds start to seem insurmountable. A touching coming-of-age story of resistance, Bangla Surf Girls will have you cheering for every wave and hurdle these young women overcome. Mariam Zaidi

Co-presented with Regent Park Film Festival

Persister program presented in partnership with Oxfam Canada

MEDIA COVERAGE

• POV Magazine - INTERVIEW with director Elizabeth D. Costa 
• La Estatuilla - "A story of resistance that offers visibility, generates empathy and inspires to look for that wave that makes a difference"