- Features Bundesliga Football player Gina Chmielinski and actor Jürgen Vogel
- Available on IMMAF Facebook, Youtube and IMMAF.TV
Today, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation launches the short film “You Are Strong” featuring 2018 IMMAF World Champion, Julia Dorny, across IMMAF platforms. Created by Berlin-based director Lasse Buchhop, and featuring Bundesliga Football player Gina Chmielinski and actor Jurgen Vogel, the 90-seconds film promotes women’s self-empowerment, as Dorny confronts the prejudices and social pressures she has had to overcome to become a fighter.
Dorny is a professional MMA fighter at PFL Fighter, and the number one ranked woman in her weight division in her home country, Germany. She boasts winning championships in three martial arts disciplines (judo, MMA and sumo wrestling) and is the first German woman to become MMA European Champion and World Champion in the IMMAF featherweight division. At amateur level, she won 7 medals – 2 golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronze. Dorny is also a TV presenter and host of the ‘Women Hit Harder’ podcast.
Dorny said: “I like to think of myself as a catalyst. It fulfils me to devote every aspect of my life to inspire and strengthen people, especially women.”
Commenting on the film, Lasse Buchhop said: “When Julia approached me, a year and a half ago, with the idea for the film I was inspired by her ‘You are strong’ message and with her developed the narrative that ‘you can be everything’. I was triggered by the contrast between outdated MMA stereotypes and her statements and we wanted to challenge that. However, I decided to include multiple characters to represent strength in all its versatility. In presenting this film we hope to inspire people to reconsider previous prejudices they might hold, but more importantly for this film, as women watch it, we want them to feel ‘I am valid; I am strong; I am not alone.”
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown commented:
“IMMAF is proud to present this unique film driven by IMMAF veteran Julia Dorny, as an organisation committed to the advancement of women’s sport. Our dynamic Women’s Commission has been at the forefront of enabling the establishment of women’s MMA commissions around the world, while we have seen year-on-year growth in women’s participation. We are also proud to have been the driving force for first-time participation of women in MMA and combat sports in a number of our member counties, including Russia, Tajikistan and in the Middle East. While amateur MMA is an inclusive sport, we do not underestimate the ongoing challenges presented by prejudice and discrimination, and the personal strength required to overcome it. We are pleased to give voice to Julia’s experience and message on the IMMAF platform, which will reflect the experiences of and hopefully inspire many others”.
Watch now on IMMAF channels: Facebook, Youtube and IMMAF.TV.
