Creating an effective documentary is a decidedly difficult task; one must carefully consider both the story and its intended audience, and along the way, balance the variety of perspectives that comprise the finished product. In 2009, documentary filmmaker...
Four of our ten trainees submitted story ideas in response to a request for proposals for TV content geared toward “countering extremist voices.” All four of them won contracts. This was an unanticipated, but very positive, outcome of the capacity-building originally...
"Transformative" "Eye-opening and Disturbing" "The first time in ten years I've actually heard an Afghan's voice" "I've made a film in Afghanistan. I've seen the results of other trainings. Nothing compares to what your trainees have accomplished." Those are a few of...
The United States Institute of Peace's PeaceMedia initiative has highlighted Majid's short Water Ways. You can see it and learn more about USIP and Peace Media at PeaceMedia.
To my surprise, a few of the art students in the evening didn’t believe the authenticity of the work – primarily because from their point of view the war is not mentioned or shown at all. When I tried to explain that the film’s intention is to present outsiders a view of Afghanistan beyond the battlefront it became clear that the western media has created such a strong impression of Afghanistan being only about war, terror and extremism, that viewers can not trust a representation that does not include these things.
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The completion of our October/November 2010 production training is only the beginning of our work. With your support we plan to extend our work to focus on guiding and supporting our trainees and other afghan filmmakers as they seek to submit production proposals and earn work on commissioned films.
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Community Supported Film (CSFilm) amplifies local voices in under- and mis-represented communities so that they can effectively communicate their lived realities through documentary filmmaking.
We believe that if people learn about the world’s challenges from the local perspective they will be better able to demand the right actions from their governments and to support effective humanitarian responses.
Michael Sheridan, Director of CSFilm, on the impact of local perspectives
Excerpt from Haitian filmmaker Bichara Villarson’s Owned and Occupied, part of the Owning Our Future: Haitian Perspectives in Film film collection.
Excerpt from Afghan filmmaker Aqeela’s The Road Above, part of The Fruit of Our Labor: Afghan Perspectives in Film film collection.
These films are made to stimulate dialogue. Here is an excerpt from a New Immigrant and Refugee Visions Screen&Discuss event.
CSFilm wants to help your community tell their stories. Let’s explore how our model of training, filmmaking and public engagement can redefine the public’s understanding of your issues.
Screen&Discuss campaigns inspire new thinking and action among diverse audiences. See documentation from previous events and learn how you can organize your own.
News and views on the people, places and topics of concern to Community Supported Film and our project partners.
Donate and get involved today to support CSFilm’s training, filmmaking and public engagement work.