Dear friends. Cinemas are closed in many parts of the world – including the Netherlands. However, the covid pandemic won’t break our spirit and dedication. If people can’t come to the big screen, we bring the films to their homes!

It is amazing to partner with so many dedicated and creative people from all over the world, who use cinema to spark debate on human dignity and rights. Their work inspires us to find other ways, to move forward, to continue showing movies that matter. No Matter What.

Movies that Matter supports film screenings in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Are you organising film screenings about urgent social issues and human rights? And are you still looking for funding? Apply!  The deadline of this year’s first selection round is 17 May.

We encourage all organisers that are scheduling a film event in 2021 to submit their proposals now. Check our website for more information about our two types of grants, selection criteria and how to apply.

The Movies that Matter Festival 2021 will take place online, from 16-25 April. We present 50 feature films and high-profile documentaries with an extensive in-depth programme, available for people in the Netherlands. Our extensive shorts programme will be available to watch worldwide. Check out the full film programme.

This year the festival hosts a great variety of workshops, panels, webinars and masterclasses, available for everybody around the globe. Themes include producing ‘green’ films, views on international law, challenging the western perspective on Africa, making films in refugee camp Moria and international solidarity with colleagues in Myanmar and Belarus.

We are honoured to partner with many organisations, and to welcome many renowned guests, including Oscar-nominated producer Julie Goldman and IDFA director Orwa Nyrabia. Everyone is invited to join!

It’s fantastic to witness the energy and creativity of our colleagues from all over the world in adapting to COVID-19. Online festivals were started from scratch in Russia (Side by Side), Kazakhstan (Qara) and Venezuela (Miradas Diversas), to name a few.

In Colombia, Impulsos Foundation launched a new streaming platform for human rights films. Another partner, Cine Vagabundo, organised many well attended events on Facebook, and arranged for the broadcast of human rights films on Colombian TV.

The current lockdown is also used well to build local capacity for organising film screenings. For example FiSahara set up a training programme for Sahrawi women in Algerian refugee camps on how to organise film screenings and debates.

Have a look at our (new) website for more info about our international work and the festivals we supported in 2019 and 2020. Or stay up to date by following us on Facebook.