Civil society and film-making in Afghanistan – Panel discussion for the Democracy Without Borders initiative

domingo, 05.08.2018 – domingo, 05.08.2018

Öffentlicher Anlass

A smiling Afghan woman wearing a traditional yellow headscarf leans on a door frame.
Laila, mother of the drug addicts and a symbol of civil society participation in Afghanistan. © Laila at the bridge

As part of the Democracy without Borders initiative, on 5 August 2018 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will organise a screening of 'Laila at the Bridge' at the Locarno Film Festival, followed by a panel discussion on the topic of 'Civil society and film-making in Afghanistan'.

Lugar: Spazio RSI Magnolia, Locarno

What role can civil society play in a country beset by war and insecurity? What does freedom of speech and the press mean in Afghanistan? What challenges do artists and film-makers in Afghanistan face because of the conflict and a lack of government support? And what contribution can civil society and international cooperation make to peacebuilding in Afghanistan?

These and other questions will be addressed in a panel discussion following the screening of 'Laila at the Bridge'. The panel will be comprised of the film's director, Elizabeth Mirzaei and Derek Müller, director of the SDC's South Asia Division, as well as an expert on Afghanistan and a young film-maker from Kabul. The film will be introduced by Pio Wennubst, assistant director general of the SDC, and the panel by Marco Solari, president of the Locarno Film Festival.

The SDC is organising the event in cooperation with Open Doors as part of the Democracy without Borders initiative.

Please note that the event will be held in English only.