“In Bloom” Is Streaming On Paramount+

In celebration of Women’s History Month and just ahead of International Women’s Day, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Paramount Global and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation presents “In Bloom,” a short film anthology focusing on gender equity.

The anthology features the creative vision of emerging female filmmakers from Nigeria (Lowladee Adeleke), Kenya (Voline Ogutu), India (Priyanka Banerjee), the U.S. (Nicole Teeny) and Brazil (Giuliana Monteiro), and produced by Arij Al-Soltan, the anthology addresses a range of issues including period poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence, HIV self- stigma, family planning and women’s economic empowerment.

The short films include English-language comedy-drama “Period,” written and directed by Nicole Teeny (U.S.): Like many of her classmates at her underserved school, Fay cannot afford menstrual products, so she sets out on a crusade to get them for free. Yasmina El-Abd stars.

In Bengali-language drama “Alta,” written and directed by Priyanka Banerjee (India), a defiant teenager refusing to come out of the bathroom forces her helpless father to seek help to reason with the girl, but things take a turn when their true relationship is revealed. Mazel Vyas stars.

In Portuguese and English-language social realist drama “Maré,” written and directed by Giuliana Monteiro (Brazil), a mother on the edge of her sanity seeks solace from a tumultuous life situation. Vanessa Giácomo stars.

In Swahili and English-language psychological horror “Kifungo,” written and directed by Voline Ogutu (Kenya), an ambitious romantic struggles with self-acceptance after finding out that she is HIV positive. Brenda Wairimu stars.

And Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin and English-language drama “Aféfé,” written and directed by Dolapo ‘LowlaDee’ Adeleke (Nigeria), follows a beautician whose life takes a frightening turn when her elderly and ailing mother-in-law moves in unexpectedly. Folu Storms stars.

The Creative Lead and Showrunner of ‘In Bloom’ is Tope Oshin.

‘In Bloom’ premierd on March 1 on Paramount+ across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Japan and South Korea.

“In Bloom” will also premiere on Pluto TV globally, and roll out across MTV international linear channels prior to its March 8, International Women’s Day debut on BET in Africa. Following that, the anthology will become available on YouTube in India and Africa.

Catch a glimpse of the trailer below: