SXSW 2025

Cinematic Resistance: Filmmakers Speaking Truth to Power

Description:

Since Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925), filmmakers have used their medium to combat and expose authoritarian regimes the world over. What challenges do activist filmmakers face today and in what way/shape/form do they come? Our discussion will emphasize the enduring power of film as a medium for social change. Despite the significant challenges faced by activist filmmakers, their work continues to inspire and mobilize audiences around the world, contributing to the ongoing fight against authoritarianism and for a more just and equitable society.


Other Resources / Information

We held a similar panel in June at the Oslo Freedom Forum,
Find the panel listed here (entitled The Power of the Moving Image) -
https://oslofreedomforum.com/event/oslo-freedom-forum-oslo-2024/interactive-programming-at-off-2024/


Takeaways

  1. The power of visual storytelling. Film’s ability to illuminate, evoke empathy and humanize political struggles. Film as a tool for activism.
  2. Activist filmmakers are not only building upon but also setting a precedent for future generations to challenge authoritarian regimes through film.
  3. The resilience of filmmakers in the face of oppression underscores the importance of freedom of expression and the arts as a form of resistance.

Speakers


Organizer

Adam Kahan, Senior Project Manager, Human Rights Foundation


Meta Information:

  • Event: SXSW
  • Format: Panel
  • Track: Film & TV Industry
  • Track 2
  • Level: Advanced


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