The president of the Women Film Producers and Audiovisual Media Association, Cristina Andreu, expressed a firm belief that the Spanish Me Too movement is gathering momentum as more people step forward to report abuses.
She shared this during an interview with Europa Press, ahead of a discussion on free audiovisual applications scheduled for this Wednesday at the San Sebastian Festival. The focus was on abuses tied to sexual, gender, or power dynamics within the industry.
Cristina Andreu urged unity in condemning women as a collective, noting that it is difficult to address a complaint from a single victim. She encouraged organizers to use these discussions to help women connect with others, stressing that predators often operate against multiple people, not just one individual, and that shared experiences strengthen the response.
She added that once the floodgates open, the conversations will become incredible in scale. She emphasized that victims should never be left to face the burden alone, as courage to report can be hard to find.
Andreu indicated that CIMA has urged women to join forces under a clear objective to end sexual and power abuse. She acknowledged that when a woman approaches her with an abuse report, it is rarely possible to view her as representative of all women, underscoring the importance of collective action.
She stated that the aim is to prevent any woman from bearing the entire burden of abuse. In addition to being a survivor, she is often subject to persistent scrutiny. The goal is to build common grounds that empower many voices rather than a single narrative.
As president, Andreu expressed confidence that sexual and power abuses exist across the audiovisual sector and that some workers face exclusion and even job loss. She noted that while the Me Too movement in the United States highlighted the collective impact of many cases at once, the same unity should be pursued elsewhere.
On a critical note, Andreu criticized laws she described as patriarchal and a society she called deeply patriarchal. She argued that justice has historically been guided by men, but she remained hopeful for change that requires active participation from both men and women.
Action protocols
One measure Andreu described is the inclusion of contract clauses to guide women who face attacks, ensuring they know who to contact for support and protection.
She stressed that rigorous protocols are essential on all shoots and in every audiovisual setting, creating safe spaces for women. The most recent edition of the Goya Awards saw the Film Academy implement an action protocol that defined restricted and secure zones and clearly marked access for relevant personnel.
Andreu also focused on privacy coordinators. She argued for telling sexual and gender dynamics from multiple perspectives, pushing beyond the male viewpoint and acknowledging diverse experiences and aspirations.