Film Festivals and Activism: festivals as platforms for community adcovacy
Leshu Torchin and Dina Iordanova’s book Film Festivals and Activism (St Andrews Film Studies, 2012) is an excellent example to show how forms of exhibition and distribution are essential to the nature of activist filmmaking. Though not a guide per se, it is a valuable resource for filmmakers and academics as it offers insight on the relevance of festivals as platforms for activist filmmakers as they cultivate spaces for engaging with communities.
As an example of the book’s ‘guidance’ nature, the chapter by Mariagiulia Geassilli on human rights festivals as tools for advocacy networking describes key aspects of activist festivals such as a focused programme, artistic merit, association to cultural and educational (non-)governmental institutions, and volunteer behind-the-scenes action (38). Furthermore, reflecting on the One World Festival, Igor Blažević distinguishes human rights film festivals from other festivals for having a central mobilizing goal engaged with the celebration of the medium – exemplified through efforts of bringing discussions into schools (111).
Torchin and Iordanova end with tables of existing festivals, leaving readers free to further engage with the topic as they wish. This extends to readers the goal to depict festivals’ involvement in processes of raising awareness and initiating conversations. With reflections from a range of practitioners, it describes festivals’ engagement techniques while also encouraging readers to reflect on future festival experiences.
Bibliography
Iordanova, Dina and Leshu Torchin. Film Festivals Yearbook 4: Film Festivals and Activism. St Andrews: St Andrews Film Studies, 2012.