Last year the London Eco Film Festival saw more than 3000 films submitted, bringing together over a thousand people, at Rich Mix in London, to celebrate acts of hard work and collaboration in the fields of environmentalism and humanitarianism. We ran workshops and facilitated talks on knife crime and the role of youth clubs, with significant contributions from the Africa Centre, Minority Rights Groups, and a particular focus on issues surrounding refugees and the work of Survival international and the Women’s Environmental Network. We also brought people to the event from across the world to talk on issues such as conservation, mental health, addiction and homelessness.
In 2020/21, COVID-19 has impacted different communities in very different ways. COVID-19 is divisive, not only in its physical impact on different sections of society- black and other ethnic minorities, the poor, the disadvantaged, the old etc. but also its financial impact and, critically for society, in perceptions of how society has responded to it. They are our front line workers, they use public transport knowing its dangerous, they have poor pay and with little if any safety net to fall back on and yet they are now our public ‘heroes’- our nurses, care assistants, transport workers, security guards, shop workers.
It is important for inclusivity that people can share their stories and be facilitated in forming responses to the virus, that will have taken so many from their communities, on a shared and very visible platform.
Film is one of the most powerful story telling tools we have. Film makers can introduce new narratives, voices and information. They can create cultural moments and provide opportunities for people to make new connections. By telling the true stories of real people, film can play an important role in helping audiences making the connection between broader issues or ideas and people’s lives.
By telling their own stories people can be empowered through developing important skill sets from story telling to communication and film making to being given a voice; boosting self esteem and a sense of worth. They can become part of the solution to problems rather than just their subject. By giving people voice from different perspectives on a shared platform we can facilitate a conversation that can start the process of healing wounds and bringing society together again.
In 2020/21, COVID-19 has impacted different communities in very different ways. COVID-19 is divisive, not only in its physical impact on different sections of society- black and other ethnic minorities, the poor, the disadvantaged, the old etc. but also its financial impact and, critically for society, in perceptions of how society has responded to it. They are our front line workers, they use public transport knowing its dangerous, they have poor pay and with little if any safety net to fall back on and yet they are now our public ‘heroes’- our nurses, care assistants, transport workers, security guards, shop workers.
It is important for inclusivity that people can share their stories and be facilitated in forming responses to the virus, that will have taken so many from their communities, on a shared and very visible platform.
Film is one of the most powerful story telling tools we have. Film makers can introduce new narratives, voices and information. They can create cultural moments and provide opportunities for people to make new connections. By telling the true stories of real people, film can play an important role in helping audiences making the connection between broader issues or ideas and people’s lives.
By telling their own stories people can be empowered through developing important skill sets from story telling to communication and film making to being given a voice; boosting self esteem and a sense of worth. They can become part of the solution to problems rather than just their subject. By giving people voice from different perspectives on a shared platform we can facilitate a conversation that can start the process of healing wounds and bringing society together again.
COVID-19: Perspectives from the Margins of Society
LEFF 2021 will focus on the stories of those affected by COVID-19, with an emphasis on our successful Intelligent Conversations approach; canvassing film from the margins of society, in whatever form it takes, including but not limited to; gender, ethnicity, religion, age and sexual orientation.
Our focus is very much with young people and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and especially the ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged.
Within this the key platform will be:
This platform will have a number of benefits:
Our focus is very much with young people and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and especially the ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged.
Within this the key platform will be:
- Ordinary Lives - Making a Difference: Giving a voice to 'ordinary people' of their experience of COVID-19 and giving particular voice to leaders in their communities who have shown leadership in supporting, protecting and forwarding the interests of their communities during the pandemic, setting examples and showing ways forward.
This platform will have a number of benefits:
- Reducing anger, frustration and bitterness through providing a method of talking about the issues
- Broadening the understanding amongst different elements of society and facilitating social recovery
- Identification of ideas and methods that have proved effective in managing the problems created by the pandemic
- Providing inspiration from community leaders who have made a difference through their efforts.
the highlights
- To give voice to individuals on the margins of society on the impact of COVID-19 on their life and the lives of their communities
- To facilitate the development of their film making, story telling and communication skills
- To use LEFF 2021 as a platform to share their experiences in a way that helps restore societal cohesion and identifies possible strategies to move forward with
COVID-19: Perspectives at LEFF 2021
- Three cinemas over one long weekend including films, workshops and conversations.
- The top 50 films, as judged by our panel, will be recognised and honoured
- The top 20 will be shown at RichMix
- The top 4 films will get awards AND scholarships for film course tuition
If you want to make a film - we will supply:
- On-line tuition in using cameras for filming
- On-line mentoring support for film production
- Dedicated Youtube/ Vimeo channel.
- Scholarships to those wanting to take their social filming further
For more information on submission or to apply for equipment donations please email us today.