“Looking into Olivia’s huge brown eyes, full of hope despite everything…There is no gore here, and no on-screen violence, but this is in every way a horror movie.” – The NY Times
In December 2012, Olivia Zinnah, age 12, died of septic shock from a bowel obstruction. Her death was a result of complications from surgeries intended to repair the extensive injuries she sustained when she was raped at the age of seven. This is her story.
Small Small Thing begins at JFK Hospital in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, and urban center of this West African country. Olivia Zinnah is 9 years old, severely malnourished and handicapped. Her condition is life threatening. Believing her injuries to be the result of witchcraft, Olivia’s mother had been hiding her in their village for years.
The doctors conclude her condition is the result of a brutal rape that took place when Olivia was 7 years old. When pressured to reveal her rapist, Olivia names her cousin.
This diagnosis has severe consequences. Originally from deep in the Liberian jungle, Olivia and her mother are shunned from their tribe for seeking outside help. They are left stranded in Monrovia at the mercy of President Sirleaf’s government, facing the most difficult decision of all. What price are they willing to pay for justice?
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER
Jessica Vale is an accomplished non-fiction director, narrative producer, and editor, working freelance for over 12 years. Originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, Jess graduated from the film program at Temple University and moved to NYC. Her long-term clients include NBC News, CBS News, The Weinstein Co., and more.
Her feature directorial debut was the documentary Small Small Thing: The Olivia Zinnah Story about a young Liberian rape victim. Small Small Thing opened at The Quad Cinema in NYC, and had its worldwide television premiere on Al Jazeera English. The film won over 12 festival awards and Jessica received substantial media attention including appearances on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris Perry Show, Huffington Post Live and WABC NY’s Weekend Morning Show. The film was a One World Media Award finalist.
She is currently producing the feature narrative “LIV,” starring Catherine Eaton, Teddy Sears (The Flash), Harris Yullin (Scarface), and Frankie Faison (The Wire). “LIV” will premiere in 2016. Jessica is also directing and producing her second feature documentary The Limits of Dissent, in mid production, about female radical activists. Jessica is on the programming team in the NYC chapter of Film Fatales.
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Nika Offenbac is a Creative Producer who is equally comfortable managing the demands of multiple departments, or ‘shooting from the hip’ in the field; her award-winning body of work spans documentary, animation, and experiential design - from film to television and digital content.
Nika thinks storytelling can change the world and is not afraid to put herself on the front lines. Along with director Jessica Vale, Nika produced and shot the hard-hitting documentary feature film ‘Small Small Thing’ about child rape in Liberia.
Her other short films have screened internationally at The Lincoln Center, The Independent Film Channel, The Kunsthaus Graz (Austria), The Museum of Popular Art (Rome) The LACMA , and are included in the permanent collection of the San Francisco MOMA.
In 2015, she executive produced and directed , a 6 part documentary series about the global evolution of electronic dance music for MTV World. Nika continues to make social justice films including a short for the 2014 “Not So Super” Super Bowl campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking, and most recently a documentary on housing court and the right to counsel.