- Q&A with Copwatch Director: Camilla Hall Camilla Hall’s latest documentary, Copwatch, tells the story of WeCopwatch, an organization whose mission is to film police activity in order to create accountability and deter violence against their communities. Armed with only cameras, knowledge of their rights, and a deep appreciation for their communities, Jacob Crawford, David Whitt, Ramsey Orta, and Kevin Moore are […]
- Interactive Documentary “Points of View” Showcases Citizen Video in Gaza and the West Bank POINTS OF VIEW uses an interactive documentary format to showcase citizen video shot by Palestinians working as part of the Camera Distribution Project, an initiative organized by B’Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories).
- The Square’s Jehane Noujaim on Filming a Revolution An interview with filmmaker Jehane Noujaim whose "The Square" is nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary.
- Documentary Films I’d Bet On To Get An Oscar Nomination Based on social buzz, colleagues’ input, reviews, watching the shortlist films, and media/PR coverage below are my picks to get an Oscar nod (views are my own, not WITNESS').
- Dear Mandela: Putting a Documentary to Work Impact does not happen in a straight line: you make the film, show it, and things change. We spent four years shooting Dear Mandela, but it wasn't until we finished that we fully understood where our audience would be.
- Watching, Documenting, or Participating: A Documentarian’s Ethical Dilemmas When is it okay to watch? When is it okay to shout with the crowd? Filmmaker Chris Kelly explains his bright line between observing and participating. Do you agree? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
- The Rise in Tibetan Video Activism By Dechen Pemba. Dechen, a UK born Tibetan, is spokesperson for Filming for Tibet, a non-profit organization supporting Tibetan filmmakers, and has been closely involved with “Leaving Fear Behind” since 2007. She is also is the editor of the website High Peaks Pure Earth that monitors the Tibetan blogosphere and translates Tibetan blogs into English. Leaving […]
- New Film Captures the Trials and Triumphs of Housing Activists in South Africa Less than two decades ago, South Africa joined the ranks of democracies around the world as years of agonizing civil struggle and violence gave way to the moment so many had fought for: the end of apartheid, and the beginning of a government representative of all its people.
- New Documentary Film Aims to Prevent Another Genocide Michael Kleiman and Michael Pertnoy co-directed The Last Survivor. To find a screening of the film near you or to host a screening of your own, visit the website for more information.
- The Ethical Engagements of Human Rights Social Media The explosion of digital media on human rights pushes us all to rethink how documentary film ethics apply in a more networked, social media-driven era.
- Moving Pictures at the Tribeca Film Festival Our good friends at the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation invited WITNESS to be a part of the Good Pitch at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. A commercial pitch forum brings filmmakers, funders and distributors together sort of parliamentary debate style.
