Mov(i)e Activism: Unlocking the Activist Potential of Film Festivals
Mov(i)e Activism is, in its organisers own words, an ‘International Activist Documentary Film Festival’.
Launched in Serbia in 2016, the festival travels around the world screening documentaries by activists from various nations. This festival provides a useful example for those interested in the activist potential of film festivals. Measuring its success by ‘Engagement into decisional processes, improvement of quality of life in one’s community, and harmonious coexistence’, the festival eschews concerns of commerce and prestige in favour of ‘(showcasing) practical examples’ of activism for others to learn from.
As such, it is organised in a way that seeks to remove barriers to access for both audiences and filmmakers. Screenings are ticketless and open to all, while filmmakers submit their work to the festival over the online service FilmFreeway for just a dollar, with submissions being sought over the festival’s Facebook page.
Discarding the traditional model focused on elite attendees and auteurs, Mov(i)e Activism creates a festival centred on bringing audiences and filmmakers together into an international community that can effectively share strategies for action. Through its democratised structure and focus on achieving a practical impact, Mov(i)e Activism provides a pertinent case study for scholars interested in how film festivals might serve as fertile ground for activism.
Plenumovie (Croatia), screened at Mov(i)e Activism festivals.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
‘Mov(i)e Activism’ accessed 27/11/2018
‘Movie Activism’ on Facebook, accessed 27/11/2018