An actress, reluctantly cast as the voice of the main character (a powerful warrior queen) in a smash-hit video game, becomes an unlikely heroine for female gamers around the world – and uncovers the battles unfolding in their lives.
SYNOPSIS
At home, I’m Dolya Gavanski - actress, filmmaker and mother to a son whose gaming obsession drives me crazy. But for over 35 million people, I’m the voice of Zarya – the “strongest woman in the world” from the smash-hit game Overwatch. What began as a job to pay the bills thrust me into the strange world of fans and fan conventions, which I cared little for until I was invited to join a campaign against the abuse faced by young female gamers online. Learning about all this misogyny made me question the world I’d lent my voice to, and think about the millions of women choosing to inhabit it. I reached out to them and they invited me - or rather Zarya - into their lives.
Travelling from England to Finland, Germany, Bulgaria and the USA, I was overwhelmed by their stories. For these women, gaming is more than a hobby – it’s a lifeline. Battling cultural, societal and family pressures, they’ve been ‘othered’ by a world that doesn’t fully see them. The game helps them rewrite their narratives, form connections, fall in love, and find empowerment. I realised Zarya had become an avatar for their resilience. But to what extent can they channel that strength offline?
At the heart of this story is a long-distance love affair that takes place entirely online for years before the two lovers finally get to meet in real life.
Director Statement
As an actor I’ve made a profession of imagining I’m different characters. But I’ve been left amazed and humbled by the power of these women to transform their lives through their fantasies.
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Director/Producer Dolya Gavanski
An award winning filmmaker and actor, whose work spans stage and screen - from the West End through to feature films, documentaries, TV, radio plays, podcasts and video games. Her last multi awarded feature documentary she directed, wrote, produced and narrated Women’s Day has been distributed internationally actors theatrically and on TV. Dolya runs an independent production company Thea Films founded in London, UK, and later Bulgaria, that produces feature documentaries, as well as fostering social and educational projects.
Producer Martichka Bozhilova
Martichka Bozhilova is a producer of Agitprop. Her high-end author driven films have been awarded at many notable festivals, such as Cannes, Berlin, IDFA, Toronto, Sundance, Tribeca, Pusan, and are broadcasted all over the world. Some of her works include Touch Me Not (Golden Bear at Berlinale), Georgi and the Butterflies (Silver Wolf at IDFA), The Mosquito Problem and other stories (Cannes), Omellete (Sundance). Winner of EPC and Netflix Award for series development for Best Female Producer, Venice Film Festival. Jury member, lecturer, mentor at EWA Network, commissioner at Re-Act and Malik Bendjelloul Fund. Director of Sofia DocuMental FF. Member of the European Producer's Club.
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