Movies that Matter supports the protagonists from the Activist documentaries during their stay at the festival with a networking and impact programme. We also offer them a stage at screenings and in the media. Even after returning from the festival, we continue to support the activists. With our Activist outreach and impact funding, we facilitate screenings in their home countries and create more awareness for the film and the activists’ work.
Working for the constructor of an airport on Saint Helena, Namibian Annina Van Neel hears about the discovery of mass graves of formerly enslaved people on the island. When she starts fighting for an honourable resting place, she has to take on resistance, indifference and the persistent legacy of colonialism. Screenings of the films will be organized in as many African regions as possible and with communities of descendants of enslaved Africans globally, especially those engaged in the campaign for cultural heritage restitution. The screenings will be followed by Q&A segments, roundtable discussions or other special events to facilitate substantive conversations. The goal of the campaign is to energize and inspire African descendant communities and the diaspora to express individual and collective agency as the legitimate authorities to their heritage.
Who decides when a human body is ‘normal’? The athletics federation bans women with higher natural testosterone levels from competing unless they medically alter their bodies. Examples of athletes from Asia and Africa show that this can have devastating consequences. Phyllis Ellis (Toxic Beauty) exposes an industry controlled by men putting women’s lives at risk. The plan is to organize two high profile screenings in Geneva at Sporting Chance Forum, presented by The Centre for Human Rights and Sport and the Office of the United Nation High Commissioner of Human Rights. The screenings will be followed up with talkbacks featuring the work and activism of Payoshni Mitra and Annet Negesa. These screenings will be attended by international stakeholders at the highest level of many areas of world sport as well as the influencers, decision makers, and defenders of human rights violations in sport. The goal is to use this opportunity, with so many international sport influencers in one room, to impact and influence action against discriminatory regulations in sport and to create pressure on International sport to remove the regulations from all women’s sports.
What happens when your child is gay or transgender, while you believe with your whole heart that that’s a sin? Evangelical Christians Kimberly and Sara make a brave transition into loving ‘Mama Bears’. Meanwhile, young Tammi struggles with self-acceptance and with her own mother. Heart-warming documentary about love’s victory over hatred. Through a curated series of church screenings, the plan is to bring film to the most conservative parts of the country with pending legislation. Mama bears, their children, other LGBTQ people, and affirming pastors and theologians will be invited to engage with audiences in “compassionate conversations” to jumpstart and keep these vital conversations going. Additionally, screening guides will be created that allow audiences to hold their own discussions around the film. The goal is to galvanize parents of LGBTQ+ people not only to love and accept their children unconditionally but to show their love through their votes against harmful legislators and legislation.
Following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, France declared the state of emergency. This set in motion an exit from the rule of law, with Muslims as the first, but not the only victims. Urgent, philosophical and visually interesting plea in defence of civil liberties and equality. The plan is to screen the film in working-class neighborhoods, cinemas, social centers and media libraries and specifically to the population targeted by state-sponsored violence. The screenings will be attended by activist Yasser Louati, director Joseph Paris, the researchers who contributed to the film, and activists from partner associations. The aim is to inform, explain and raise awareness on state racism and police violence as well as to provide intellectual tools for political resistance.