Pink Popcorn, a Facebook group exclusively reserved for women, celebrated its second anniversary a few days ago.
The Facebook Pink Popcorn group was created on April 1, 2021 by a cinema enthusiast (myself) who wanted to offer a space dedicated to women to discuss their favorite films, series and actors and explore new cinematographic horizons. Since then, Pink Popcorn has attracted around 5,600 members of various backgrounds, who share their ideas, their opinions and their criticisms on a wide variety of films, genres and styles.
Pink Popcorn works in different ways. The administrator sometimes suggests films or series to watch together, followed by discussions and analysis on the group.
But that’s not all, themes are also regularly offered to explore different cinemas or subjects, such as women, exile, love, children or countries such as Morocco, India, Tunisia and Iran. The members are invited to offer films or series related to this theme, to share their opinions on these works and to discuss what they have retained.
Before the start of the month of Ramadan, which is traditionally devoted to debates on the Ramadanesque serials of the year, a different theme had been proposed: being a fan or admirer. The members had thus been invited to share their passion for actors or actresses, explaining why they appreciate them and describing how this love or craze manifests itself. This theme “fans” also allowed some to have more information on artists they already liked, and even discover new actors and actresses from distant countries, Like Indian Shah Rukh Khan.
In addition, Pink Popcorn organizes virtual meetings related to the films or the themes offered, allowing members to exchange with directors, film critics or specialists from different subjects. These meetings have already brought together personalities such as directors Nejib Belkadhi when he released his film CommunionAbdelhamid Bouchnak to talk about his film Butterfly and its soap opera Ken ya my kenchor film critics, the Tunisian Khemais Khayati and the Egyptian Nahed Saleh. Likewise, specialists from various subjects such as Yosra Fert, member of the Tunisian Association of Women Democrats, are invited for enriching exchanges. Members can thus benefit from in -depth discussions and various points of view on the films or the subjects covered in the group.
Exchanges on films, series and themes within Pink Popcorn also allow members to discover new cultural horizons and to expand their cinematographic knowledge. For example, the discovery of the Indian film Toilets, a love story (2017) Directed by Shreya Narayanallowed members to discover a culture and traditions they did not know. The film, inspired by a true story, has also highlighted violations of women’s rights in certain countries, including their basic right to go to the toilet at any time of the day, and has shown that they must continue to fight again and again to acquire these rights.
The group also allows members to keep up to date with cinematographic news, especially some major festivals such as those in Cannes or Cairo.
The choice of an exclusively feminine group is not trivial. It is by no means a deliberate exclusion of men. In reality, many groups of mixed moviegoers already exist and creating one more is of no interest. There was a different group that responds to a need.
Indeed, some women prefer to express themselves between them, especially when some films tackle sensitive or intimate subjects. They feel more free, more confident and dare to open up even more and express themselves. Without forgetting that unfortunately, on these virtual spaces, some men can sometimes be intrusive, unpleasant or flirtatious, and submit women to derogatory comments and inappropriate behavior, which can prevent some of them, especially the most shy, to share their ideas and to fully engage in the discussion. Pink Popcorn thus offers a secure, benevolent and comfortable environment for all its members.
Pink Popcorn’s success is undeniable. More and more women are joining this group to share their passion for cinema and series. The exchanges are rich and varied, and the members help each other to find the best works to look at.
Thanks to the publications and comments of the members, some have even developed a passion for cinema, becoming wise criticism and thus contributing to the richness of the group.
Pink Popcorn has also allowed many women to reconnect with the cinemas and discover new horizons. The members sometimes come together to go together to the cinema, and were able to discover films that they would never have thought of watching without the help of this group. Several members have been for example to see the very beautiful and very particular Iranian film Bi Roya (Without Her)produced by Arian Vazirdaftari, Scheduled in the Cinema of the JCC 2022 world cinema.
This shows the positive impact that an online community can have like this.
Pink Popcorn is much more than just Facebook group. It is a community of women passionate about cinema and series, who support and enrich each other thanks to their exchanges. It is a place where diversity is celebrated, where each can express themselves freely and share their experiences, opinions and emotions.
Three weeks ago, some members even met “physically” to discuss cinema, and this meeting will become monthly. If this experience succeeds in Tunis, it could be taken up in other cities. This is a new step for this group, which shows that virtual exchanges can also materialize in real life.
For women (and only women) who would like to join Pink Popcorn, Just make a request here. Anonymous Facebook accounts are not accepted.
Neïla Driss
