screenings
available to stream globally
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UPCOMING SCREENINGS
Please reach out if your local cinema or film festival would like to screen the film.
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PAST SCREENINGS
SOLD OUT - Sunday 5th March at 3pm – Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford
SOLD OUT - Wednesday 8th March at 8pm – The Garden Cinema, London
SOLD OUT - Thursday 9th March AT 6:30PM – Curzon, London Victoria
SOLD OUT - FRIDAY 10TH MARCH AT 6:15PM - BAFTA Screening, Run Run Shaw 195 Piccadilly, London
Saturday 11th March at 3:15pm - QFT, Belfast
SOLD OUT - Sunday 12th March at 6pm – The Rex Cinema, Berkhamsted
SOLD OUT - Sunday 19th March at 2:30pm – The Castle Cinema, London
(in partnership with We Are Doc Women)
MEMBERS ONLY - MONDAY 20TH MARCH AT 1PM - BAFTA Screening, Run Run Shaw 195 Piccadilly, London
ONE WORLD FESTIVAL - PRAGUE
FRIDAY 24th March AT 8:30PM , Directors Q&A
Saturday 25th March AT 3PM , Q&A with Kyrgyz journalist Perizat Saitburkhan
Monday 27th March AT 8:30PM
SOLD OUT - Monday 27th March at 6:20pm – Lexi Cinema, London
SOLD OUT - Saturday 1st April At 5:30pm – GFT, Glasgow
friday 28th april, 7:00pm – The Ritzy, Brixton
saturday 10th june AT 1:45PM – The Towner Cinema, Eastbourne
monday 12th june at 6:40PM – The Lexi Cinema, London
tuesday 13th June at 8:10pm – The Garden Cinema, London
thursday 15th june AT 4:30PM – The Towner Cinema, Eastbourne
tuesday 20th June at 6:45pm – The Castle Cinema, London
friday 21st july at 7:30pm – The Gateway Theatre, Seaton Devon
SOLD OUT - wednesday 9th august, 6:30pm – The W Hotel Film Club
saturday 23rd september at 11:00am – Oxford's Meeting Minds Conference 2023
saturday 21st october at 5:30pm – Bath Film Festival 2023
Friday, 24 November at 5:30PM – Verzio Film Festival, Budapest
tuesday, 28th november at 4pm – Verzio Film Festival, Budapest
Monday 25th March at 7:30pm – Centenary Theatre, Berkhamsted School
SYNOPSIS
Cat and Hannah, two British women in their twenties, take on the gruelling 3000km drive along Central Asia's Pamir Highway - the second highest international road on Earth. It runs from southern Uzbek deserts, through Tajikistan's Pamir mountain range, climbing over 4600m, into Kyrgyzstan and all the way to its vibrant capital, Bishkek.
Their route brings them to the doorsteps of women from all walks of life, revealing a women's movement that's had as many ups and downs as the drive itself. A 78 year-old gynaecologist recalls the turbulent transition from Soviet rule to independence, and testimonies of domestic abuse, 'bride kidnapping' and religious extremism expose the region's complex attitude to women's rights.
But despite the evident patriarchal oppression in these countries, it's certainly not the whole picture. Stories of female empowerment against all odds emerge, from a group training Tajikistan's first ever female trekking guides to a feminist collective running workshops on sexual pleasure.
This is a story of female emancipation and solidarity across different cultures that have a lot more in common than they might have thought.
"In an age of Skyscanner and Ryanair, Haigh and Congdon have accomplished a vanishing feat: a true adventure"
★★★★
THE INDIEPENDENT
"A journey of womanhood, diversity and human emotion in its purest form"
★★★★
THE UPCOMING
"A reminder of our commonality and what it means to be young and curious; to treat people with kindness and treasure the kindness they showed us in return"
THE NEW ARAB
"An ode to the quiet revolution, little acts of militancy and resistance, small cafes, small hubs, small communities...a bona fide documentary, bridging cultures and people, giving voice to the daughters of a neglected part of Asia"
ASIAN MOVIE PULSE
"A portrayal of genuine women in every ounce of their flawed glory"
SCREEN QUEENS
"Two engaging unknowns have the ability to ask pointed questions of those that they meet and make us feel that we are going along with them like lucky travelling companions"
★★★★
FILM REVIEW DAILY
"A celebration of the shared experiences of womanhood"
★★★★
CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL
"Continuously compelling"
DAILY INFO
FESTIVALS AND awards
In March 2019 Cat and Hannah received a John Brabourne Award, which recognises emerging UK talent in film and television. In July, the film was selected as the winner of the 2019 Edinburgh International Film Festival's Work in Progress Pitch.
In August 2022 Women Behind the Wheel premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival, where we were delighted to sell out both our screenings. The film has also been selected for One World Festival in Prague and No Man's Land Festival in Denver.
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support
This film has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Film and TV Charity, iWoman TV, Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Lady Eleanor Holles Talent Fund, and countless individuals who contributed to our crowdfund along the way. You know who you are and we couldn't be more grateful.
If you'd like to discuss other ways to get involved with the film get in touch with us at catandhan@yahoo.com
community
We worked closely with a range of charities across Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the making of this film. We are committed to using the documentary to raise awareness for their determined efforts to support women across the region. Click on the links below to check out their stories.
If you would like to make a direct donation, one of the women that features in the film - Jamilya - is looking to raise funds for the women's refuge she has set up in her rural town of Karakol. The refuge is currently housing at least three families that have been forced to flee their homes due to domestic violence.
