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Archive for July, 2007

Leading NGO co-produces child poverty documentary

July 15th, 2007 by Zsofia

bangladesh-family.jpgIn a half-hour documentary called “Running on Empty”, a leading NGO raises awareness about child poverty around the world, and campaigns for a change in aid culture.

The film was produced as part of a Save the Children UK project in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Myanmar, and is due to be broadcast on BBC World this autumn.

Through individual stories, the film draws attention to the hard facts about malnutrition, poverty and hunger around the world.

In her Reuters blog, Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive at Save the Children UK, suggests that instead of food supplies, donor countries should be urging low-income nations to channel cash to families in need. “People want cash because it gives them freedom to choose. It allows families to make their own decisions about what to buy now and what to save for the future.”

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Focus on African filmmakers

July 6th, 2007 by Zsofia

african-filmmakers.jpgA new creative documentary film has been completed about the Nigeria-based film industry, Nollywood. Franco Sacchi, the film’s director has been fascinated by the innovative spirit of Nigerian filmmakers, and celebrates new technologies, which he says have brought about an “egalitarian promise”.

Sacchi says African filmmakers make movies on shoestring budgets and are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. An average production takes just 10 days and costs around 10,000 dollars. According to the director, Nollywood was born out of an “epidemic of crime and insecurity of the 1980s”. Read more about this story at the VOA site.

IDFA deadline soon approaching

July 3rd, 2007 by Zsofia

idfa.jpgEurope’s biggest documentary film festival, the Amsterdam-based IDFA, is accepting applications until August 10. Every year, IDFA screenes over 250 documentaries. The organisers look for topical films which are cinematically intriguing or innovative, and stimulate the audience to reflect on the issues raised. The trailers for last year’s best films can be watched here.