A cyberviolence documentary premiering Friday in Toronto follows four women who say they have been attacked, vilified and threatened for choosing to speak their minds.
Hail Bitch: Misogyny in the Digital AgeWhere Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age in English, explores online violence and hate faced by women and girls around the world.
The original version of the film in French, directed by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist, premiered in the fall in Quebec. It received critical acclaim and broke box office records for a documentary film.
Mme Maroist says the aim of the documentary, produced by La Ruelle Films, is to raise awareness of online misogyny and give a voice to victims, who she says have little recourse to turn to.
She adds that the idea for the film came after Mme Clermont-Dion suffered online threats in 2015.
In December, M.my Maroist and Clermont-Dion presented an online petition with around 30,000 signatures to the National Assembly, asking the government to take specific action to combat cyberviolence, including requiring police officers to complete a mandatory training program on the online harassment.
They also want the Quebec government to pressure Ottawa to pass legislation requiring social media companies to crack down on hate speech on their platforms or risk heavy financial penalties.
The film will be screened in its original version with English subtitles at the Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto, with screenings in other cities to come.