A FILM about the illegal practice of female genital mutilation, which was made by a group of young Bristol women, has been premiered at the Watershed.

Silent Scream is a 12-minute drama-documentary made by 27 girls aged 14 to 17, who attend City Academy, Colston's Girls' School and St Brendan's Sixth Form College.

One of their big supporters, musician and Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon, was there to see the film when it was shown yesterday.

It aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM), a cultural practice carried out in more than 28 African countries, particularly Somalia, Egypt and Sudan, plus some in Asia and South America, where part or all of the genitalia is removed from girls.

The girls behind the film said: "The film focuses on the legal and medical implications of the practice as well as the common misconceptions behind the religious rulings.

"FGM has been on the increase in the UK with an estimated 2,000 girls at risk here in Bristol."

The film includes interviews with Chief Detective inspector David McCallum, who explains the legal position on FGM, Dr Comfort Momoh, who talks about the physical, psychological and emotional effects the procedure has on women and children and a Somali woman who tells her own story of FGM.

The project ran over five months and the young film makers worked after school, at weekends and in the school holidays to develop a story, adapt it to script then learn the skills necessary to take on all the roles involved in production.

At the film premiere yesterday, the girls received the Chief Constable's Special Commendation for their work. The film, funded by Awards for All and First Light Movies and is produced by Integrate Bristol and Zed Productions, has already attracted a lot of attention, including messages of support from MPs and members of the House of Lords.

Ms Dixon told the Evening Post: "The girls approached me a while ago about this and I really wanted to help them. I won't stop until FGM is the subject of national debate – for too long it has been a taboo subject and swept under the carpet."

Other celebrities are also rallying behind the young women, including former international supermodel, Waris Dirie, who immediately embedded the trailer on her website.

A trailer for the film can be found on YouTube.

The film will soon be available for use in schools and communities – contact Integrate Bristol via their website www.integratebristol.org.uk for more information.

Christine Townsend, co-founder of Integrate Bristol, who helped make the film, said: "Making this film is about empowering the girls, to help them to speak out against FGM.

"It is a particularly important issue in Bristol because the city has a big FGM-practising community."