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Rethinking African Futures in Film. In our latest DAAD Letter, we interviewed DAAD alumnus and renowned Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo. Known for his bold approach to filmmaking, Bekolo has spent over three decades creating films that challenge conventional narratives and explore alternative African futures. In the interview, Bekolo discusses how Afrofuturism allows him to imagine a world where Africa is not bound by its colonial past. His work, including Africa’s first science fiction film "Those Who Bleed", asks the question “What if?” – opening the door to new possibilities for the continent’s future. He also critiques the role of neo-colonialism in African politics and highlights the need for cinema to be a catalyst for societal change. Bekolo’s approach to filmmaking is not just about creating stories; it’s about empowering African audiences to rethink their reality and liberate themselves from the past. He continues to advocate for a cinema that takes risks and actively engages with global political issues. Read the full interview to gain deeper insights into how Jean-Pierre Bekolo is using film as a tool for transformation: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eqmdWqW7 #Afrofuturism #AfricanCinema #CulturalExchange #NeoColonialism #DAAD #DAADLetter #ChangeByExchange #VisionaryCinema

The celebration of South Africa's 30 years of democracy through film focuses on a significant milestone in the country's journey towards reconciliation and progress. The end of apartheid unleashed a surge of creativity in the film industry, providing filmmakers with newfound freedom to explore diverse narratives and perspectives. Cinema, as a powerful medium of expression, has played a pivotal role in shaping the national identity and fostering dialogue on social issues. Through storytelling, South African filmmakers have confronted the legacies of apartheid, celebrated the resilience of the human spirit, and advocated for a more inclusive society. As the nation continues to navigate its complex history and identity, cinema remains a vital tool for reflection, reconciliation, and envisioning a brighter future. #SouthAfrica #DemocracyCelebration #FilmIndustry #SocialChange #Identity #Inclusion #CinemaReflections https://lnkd.in/eVZJgu76

Standing Against Unprofessionalism and Advocating for Kurdish film industry At a recent Kurdish film meeting in Bermingham, our esteemed Kurdish director and writer Kae Bahar, faced an unacceptable and unprofessional ordeal. During his film screening, an audio-visual mismatch disrupted the intended experience for viewers. Rather than addressing this technical error professionally, festival organisers ignored his repeated requests to pause the screening for adjustment. Forced to intervene personally on stage, he was shockingly met with aggression—grabbed and pushed away as he tried to defend himself against unprovoked hostility, even sustaining scratches in the process. This disturbing event highlights an ongoing issue: too often, Kurdish filmmakers face unprofessionalism and a lack of support that impedes their representation. Such behavior not only damages individual reputations but casts a shadow over the entire Kurdish community in the UK and beyond. After nearly a week, no formal apology has been issued, underscoring a critical need for accountability. Creating a Kurdish Film Institute is not just about producing films; it’s about establishing a platform that ensures Kurdish film and filmmakers are respected on an international stage. By fostering professionalism, we aim to transform this unfortunate reality and present Kurdish narratives through dignified, capable voices. We call on politicians and cultural leaders in Kurdistan to recognise and support this cause. Let’s work together to elevate Kurdish film industry, not only as a cultural asset but as a powerful tool for global representation. This journey begins with accountability, respect, and an unwavering commitment to professionalism. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman Falah Mustafa Dr. Hemin Hawrami #birmingham_kurdish_film_event #KurdishCinema #SupportKurdishFilmmakers #KurdishFilmInstitute #CulturalRepresentation #ElevateKurdishVoices #CinemaForChange #ProfessionalismInFilm #KurdistanOnTheWorldStage #AdvocatingForCulture #AccountabilityInFilm #EmpowerKurdishArtists #KurdishCulture #InternationalFilmCommunity #RespectForFilmmakers

This honour is well deserved and it is time that the world knows about Moscovite sadism and butchery both in a contemporary and historical sense. When this film won the BAFTA not to long ago my gut instinct told me that this documentary and its team were truly a contender for an Oscar. My intuition at times has saved me from very dangerous and perilous situations. This film hit home very hard. As someone with Complex PTSD I had to stop attending rallies in support of Ukraine when air raid sirens were used to let the locals know what the people of Ukraine were experiencing regularly. This would trigger trauma from my early childhood, and anxiety would rise to levels that made getting sleep was next to impossible. As a result I was put on medical leave from where I worked. I was unable to sit through this film in a single sitting. It's graphic and I understood it may set off a few unknown triggers. So my choice was to watch it in little pieces. For those of my friends and professional contacts here on LinkedIn, please take the time to watch it here https://bit.ly/4caWZGi , rent it or buy it. I have friends who've lost children and other family members due to this unprovoked war created by a mad man by the name of Putin. This damn war will cause trauma to those who've experienced it and inter-generational trauma for the children who've been victimised by one hell-bent idiot who believes that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the last century. That KGB mad-man is wrong it was the inverse. It is now time that the diverse peoples of the former Soviet Union reclaim the freedom they had before Moscovy proclaimed that it was Russia on October 22, 1721 and it started its expansion to the east. Destroying and assimilating the many different cultures in its quest to become an empire.

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„I wish I have never made this film" said the Ukrainian director of the Oscar winning documentary Mstyslav Chernov, when he thanked the Academy for choosing his movie "20 Days in Mariupol“ as the best film in this category. It was a very touching moment and I am deeply impressed by all the sentences that followed. Especially one of his observations stuck with me: „Memories form history“... What kind of memories do we currently „generate“ for us and the future generations? After years and decades of peace, we witness the Russian invasion on Ukraine, Israeli-Palestine war, post-war crisis and acts of violence in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Kongo, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Sudan and South Sudan, to name just those I am aware of. (At this point, I am sorry if this list is incomplete). All the people involved in these acts of violence will pass stories and untold stories (emotions of the traumatic events) on their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren one day. The next generations will struggle not only with the consequences of the climate change, social injustice, the consequences of the rise of populists but will also inherit the emotional luggage of everything their parents and grandparents went through... Future is not a space we enter, but a space we co-create. Already now, we co-shape memories that will hugely impact ourselves and the future generations. With our ignorance, missing action, avoidance of difficult conversations, we sustain the toxic systems, in which those in power dictate the narrative for years and decades to come. Memories, however are more persistent than propaganda. Stories matter. Your stories matter. If you are in the place where you have no clue, how to act, look around and see how you can make a difference in your surrounding. Maybe joining a conversation where the majority is xenophobic (and driven by phobia towards diverse groups) and you share your story to show the other side of the coin could be a first step. Please note, all the wars started with prejudices, verbal attacks and acts of discrimination. As much as this spiral of negativity was born in human minds, as much the vision of the peaceful world starts with thoughts and words. Sometimes those words are tiny acts of courage, sometimes they are silenced and acts follow, sometimes they matter to one person out of 100. And still if your story matters to just one person, who can relate to your experience of feeling discriminated and feels empowered by your openness, it is worth sharing. https://lnkd.in/e7kBnKvA Thank you Victoria Spashchenko for attracting my attention to this speech. #storytelling #storylistening #oscars2024

There is a common denominator that unites Amr Gamal's films "Ten Days Before the Wedding" and "The Exhausted ones", which is the presence of the wounded city of Aden in his two movies. It is still too early for the war in Yemen to become part of the history, in the sense that we can talk about it in the past tense. Therefore, we find Amr Gamal’s tendency for the place to play a fundamental role as a living witness to the sequences of the war in Yemen. My last article on Khuyut in English

#Orientalism is rooted in #racism and white supremacy culture. 🧞♀️ I was asked if I had a pet tiger like Jasmine as a child. I was flattered. Jasmine was beautiful, edgy, and unlike other Disney princesses in attitude. 🐯 Rawr. Little did I know that an "exotic" hyper-sexualized brand would follow me my whole life -- starting as young as seven years old. And that's a relatively milder form of racism that I've been somewhat lucky to experience as a fetishized woman of color swimming in a sea of #racist tropes targeting all those "othered" from the parameters of #whiteness. To take back the reigns in storytelling and control our narratives is empowering. The #Hollywood machine has served primarily as a propaganda mouthpiece to serve state-sponsored agendas - parroting ignorant tropes that platform #antisemitism, #islamophobia, #xenophobia, and always centering the narratives of #colonizers and settler colonialists. This is, of course, no accident. That's where the big money has been made - through theft, genocide, and the violent expansion of empire. 💰 This cannot be achieved without the people's manufactured consent, which the U.S. media machine proudly and shamelessly churned content out to placate. I am SO here for the gradual decline of legacy media. 👏🏽 I am SO here for the disruption of networked traditional media gatekeepers. 👏🏽 I am SO here for the continued #Internet and #technological revolution to shake up establishment industries as we know them. 👏🏽 I am SO here for democratized #storytelling. 👏🏽 #freepalestine #arabamerican #internetculture #genzforchange #humanrights #antiracism #useyourvoice #bethechange

This is a rampant issue in countries like India and Bangladesh. Well done bringing this to the global limelight. However, it would've been better if the context of this story is shown already in the beginning. Initially the story felt like it talks about issues pan-India, then towards the end shows only Tamil Nadu, whereas AP, TS, MH, GJ, & JH are also into textile manufacturing and export. Would've been great if it's been provided an overview of the sub-continent's issues. Similarly, the actions against such human rights violations could've been spelled out further. I truly understand the pain of reporting on such stories and have been deeply disturbed by the victims/survivors of these attacks. However, the emotions got more weight than the facts and outlook. Nevertheless, great efforts went into this filmmaking, storytelling, storyboarding, and scripting. The sketches are compelling and relatable/provocative. Kudos to the team! #humanrights #garments #garmentindustry #india #apparels #apparelindustry #sexualharassment #workplaceabuse #workplacesafety #childlabour #childlabor #wages #wagetheft #caste #occupationalhealth #mentalhealth #psychologicalsafetyatwork #modernslavery #forcedlabour #forcedlabor

Watch this documentary of the time before 1948, what realy happened: Palestine 1920. The other side of the history. Documentary film. Aljazeera world documentary. https://lnkd.in/dkqyyMdu