Asia, Africa, Latin América.

Background

In many ways, South Africa must be viewed as an emerging democracy with an aspirant human rights culture that needs to be nurtured and promoted through a variety of mediums. One of the most powerful ways to foster a human rights culture in this country and transmit positive messages about democratic values is through popular cultural and in particular through the visual medium of film and video.

Film and video that is socially relevant can also serve as a popular mechanism for transferring positive messages around democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. Crucially, film and video can also serve a vital role in insuring and restoring historical memory around struggle, oppression and denial of basic freedoms and inalienable rights. In this way, film can inform younger generations about past hardship experienced in prior eras, and in turn, conceptualise both the democratic gains and enduring hardships experienced in these times.