Project story · Agnieszka Bekalarczyk
“Violence Feeds on Silence” is a social campaign created for the Women's Rights Centre Foundation. The project combines a film with promotional materials and campaign communication, highlighting the importance of reacting to violence.
I was responsible for the idea, script, direction, cinematography and post-production of the film, as well as the promotional materials and campaign website. Content development and partnerships were led by Aneta Pierzchała-Tolak of the Foundation's Gdańsk branch.
Violence is not limited to physical marks. It is also humiliation, intimidation, control, taking away independence and access to money. The campaign shows that fear, shame or withdrawal are not the fault of the person experiencing violence — they are the consequence of the harm done to them.
I wanted to combine the emotional power of film with a concrete social message. Photographs and visuals accompany a story about dignity, boundaries and the right to safety. It is not about judging a woman or asking why she doesn't leave. It is about noticing what is happening to her and about the responsibility of those around her.
The guiding idea is the role of the witness: violence is not a private family matter. When we look away, the person experiencing violence is left alone. Reacting, offering support and reporting danger can help break the cycle. The campaign slogan is an invitation to act: don't stay silent, don't pretend you can't hear.
The campaign website extends the story with educational materials: forms of violence, the difference between conflict and violence, harmful myths and the cycle of tension, violence and remorse. It also lists helpline numbers and guidance on where to find support. Podcast conversations with experts add psychological and social perspectives.
The public task was co-financed by the Pomeranian Voivodeship Government in 2025. The campaign received patronage from local government and public institutions; media patrons were Polskie Radio Gdańsk and TVP3 Gdańsk.
