Project aims to promote intercultural dialogue among high school students by using documentary film as a tool for sharing their socio-cultural background. 12 students interested in documentary film-making, and belonging to different ethnic groups in Serbia (Hungarian, Albanian, Slovakian, Romanian, Rusyn & Serbian) will attend a film workshop and create short films on their everyday life through the ethnic lens. Apart from public viewing, films will also be free to download and use in classes.

Belgrade, Serbia

We are addressing lack of critical approach to nationalism and ethnocentricity in Serbian society that is becoming more tolerant to different forms of violence in everyday life. This is critical among the youth, as the studies show rather high level of intolerance of “the Other”. We believe that differences should be used to improve mutual understanding and find common ground for discussing problems that are mostly common to all ethnic groups (lack of life opportunities, deprivation etc.).

Project will promote tolerance and appreciation of cultural diversity among the youth. By motivating high school students to create, discuss and think about social issues presented in short films which will be free for in-class use, Project will foster understanding and inclusion of ethnic minorities and their cultures and raise their visibility and perspectives. Also, Project will open a space for sharing experiences of social reality by different ethnic groups and thus finding common ground.

We plan to increase intercultural tolerance by using film as triggering tool for debate on social issues, in following steps:
Jul- August: Preparations/ planning and organization of workshops; September 2016 - recruitment of students for documentary film workshop;
October- December 2016- Realization of the workshop for 12 selected students; January - February 2017 Shooting, editing and finalization of 6 films in total, addressing students’ everyday lives through ethnic lenses; February-March 2017: public screening & debate in Rex Cultural Center and dissemination activities that are crucial for this project as it is important that films reach as many students as possible.

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Beside 12 young filmmakers who will get the opportunity to gain technical skills and engage in intercultural dialogue during the film workshop, main target group is broad audience of high school students. Namely, around 25.000 of them who will be reached in dissemination process through already established networks our organization has with high schools across Serbia. Indirect target groups are teachers who will be provided with free innovative material to use in civic education classes.

What makes this project special is giving voice to young people to speak and represent themselves through creative engagement. Multicultural teams among Serbian students are still rare, and we believe that gathering young people from different backgrounds will inevitably affect creative process and thinking of the team as a whole. Moreover, once the films are done, they will represent a unique innovation in learning methodology (peer to peer learning), and will be free for in-class use.

Office expenses 4.700,00 EUR Travel, accommodation and substance costs 14.520 EUR Event costs – 1720, 00 EUR Film professionals, educators, translator’s fees – 10.300 EUR Public relations costs – 10.500 EUR Unforeseen costs – 2350 EUR Personnel Costs – 16.000 EUR

We would like to receive ideas and advice from organization who might have implemented similar projects on which ever aspect they find needs improvement.