Centrefold

Over the past decade, female genital cosmetic surgery has increased by a staggering 500%. Centrefold is a unique animated documentary that takes an innovative and balanced approach to this controversial topic. Created by award winning filmmaker Ellie Land and funded by the Wellcome Trust, the film follows three women, aged 24 -41 through their different experiences of labiaplasty (surgery to trim or remove the labia). The research question explored in the making of Centrefold was concerned with how to represent scientific information and create a balanced viewpoint of labiasurgery, using animation and narrative techniques. The discussion points explored are: body anxiety, the manufactured body, normality, physical complaints, and feelings after the surgery. Land has used animation devices through characterization and acting and emotive use of music, to steer a more balanced viewpoint. Secondary, ongoing research around this project focuses on using online distribution, ’How can online methods stimulate and encourage new audiences for animated documentary?’ Is labiaplasty anti-female ‘pornification’, or an empowering personal choice? Centrefold provides the facts. You decide. To find out more and join the debate go to www.thecentrefoldproject.org