Article
UNESCO fosters inclusivity and diversity on and off-screen in Southeast Asia
YOGYAKARTA, 03 August 2023 鈥 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Indonesian Film Board (Badan Perfilman Indonesia - BPI) organize a regional workshop on 1-3 August 2023, in Jogjakarta, to integrate gender and social inclusivity in filmmaking and strengthen the regional film networks in Southeast Asia. The event is part of the project 鈥淢obilizing Film Professionals for Regional Cooperation in Asia,鈥 launched in 2019 in Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, to promote inclusivity, equality, and diversity in the film industries.
The workshop gathers audiovisual sector representatives from five participating countries : Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
As the UN Organization responsible for safeguarding and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions for sustainable development, UNESCO brings together regional stakeholders during the groundbreaking workshop, to foster collaboration among film councils, filmmakers, and film industry stakeholders in Southeast Asia, and to ensure inclusivity and representation on- and off-screen.
Indonesia is at the forefront when it comes to reflecting on how to integrate under-represented voices in the audio-visual sector. At the same time, women are under-represented in creative decision-making roles in the film industry. They represent only 20% of scriptwriters, 19% of producers and 7% of directors.
Participants will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and achievements in ensuring inclusive film content in the region. The agenda also includes discussions on tools and strategies, ranging from inclusive film school curriculums to crew and talent management, and accessibility and engagement of persons with disabilities. Moreover, avenues for future cooperation among the national film councils in the region will also be explored.
This project has made important strides in promoting inclusivity, equality, and diversity in the Southeast Asian film industry and beyond. UNESCO is proud to co-host this workshop, and is committed to forging the region's cinematic ties and creating a platform for the exchange of good practices and experiences.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) guidelines and syllabi for Indonesian film schools and film professionals were developed and tested through a series of workshops in 2022. The resulting modules offer a range of ideas on intervening in the formal education of future film professionals with the goal of cultivating filmmakers who are aware and responsive to gender inequalities, so that they may prioritise social inclusion within their work to foster a diverse film industry.
When being given opportunity, more guidance, access to film funding at a level that is sufficient to support projects, short films can reach further.
The project activities undertaken in Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam included the production of Gender Equality and Social Inclusivity guidelines for film schools and film workshops. They contribute towards a sustainable audiovisual industry in the region. The project also used existing networks and platforms to strengthen the film industry in Southeast Asia by building the capacities of filmmakers, film educators as well as scholars, and film policymakers for more sensitive gender equality and social inclusion awareness in cinema.
Media contacts
Public Information Officer - Eliana Bantchev e.bantchev@unesco.org
- Director - Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa m.hayashikawa@unesco.org
