Lottie Dunkley crowdfunding with University of Essex

Short film on femicide, conncting women in grief and solidarity

our project

The Orange Keepers is a poetic short film about femicide, grief, and resistance. Through movement and imagery, it honours those we’ve lost, empowers those still here, and calls for change. Commissioned by Zonta International and inspired by the global Orange the World campaign, it transforms silence into solidarity and sparks urgent conversation against gender-based violence.

Who are we?

Brought together by writer/ director Sunny-Lee van Dijk, we are a collective of East 15 students and alumni dedicated to uplifting marginalised voices and creating connections of solidarity and community.

The Orange Keepers was created by a collaborative team of creatives from East 15 Acting School (University of Essex), together with a group of talented external collaborators. East 15 students and alumi involved in the project are as follows:

Sunny-Lee van Dijk – Writer / Producer / ActorEllie Mather – ActorMaria Tzougkaraki – ActorJessica Nlabu – ActorJessica Liu – ActorLuke Walden – ActorRebecca Tozzoli-Clozza – ActorFranziska Szinovatz – ActorAlana Dare – ActorLottie Dunkley – ActorSanja Babic – ActorTatu Arminen – ActorEmily Carrington – Actor

External collaborators:Caleb Fung – Cinematography / EditingEnoch Li – Sound / LightingKevin Chu – Camera Assistant / Lighting Support

our story

The Orange Keepers is more than a short film. It is a poetic act of remembrance, resistance, and hope.

The film stands against femicide and gender-based violence, shining light on the silenced stories of women and girls who never made it home. Through powerful imagery, movement, and symbolism, it speaks to the collective strength of women rising together, transforming grief into solidarity, silence into ritual, and loss into a call for change.

At its heart, the project is rooted in Orange the World, the global campaign to end violence against women, and commissioned by Zonta International. It honours those we have lost, empowers those who are still here, and invites audiences everywhere to take part in the urgent conversation for a world where safety, dignity, and equality are not exceptions but rights.