violence
Dark Suns + Q&A
Shot in stark monochrome, Julien Elie‘s epic documentary Dark Suns chronicles stories of some of the many thousands of women, journalists, students, and activists who have disappeared in Mexico since the 1990s, and the insidious culture of cartel violence and state corruption behind them.
The Changing Nature of Women in Extremism
Although women have been among the leaders and followers of terrorist organisations throughout modern history, the mass media typically depict female terrorists as interlopers in a male domain. There is currently a blind spot in our understanding of, and reporting on, the role of women in extremism: how and why women are being recruited and what tools will best work to prevent radicalisation. What role does the media play in influencing the decisions female extremists make and how can journalists better cover the issue?
Death Squads and Diplomacy: Drug War in The Philippines
After a campaign that promised to cleanse the country of drug crime, the new President of the Philippines Rodriguo Duerte has launched a brutal and unrelenting mission to expunge drug dealers from the country. Since he took office in July 2016, there have been nearly 4,000 extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users at the hands of police and vigilantes. Will President Duerte be held accountable for the mass killings taking place in the Philippines? How did the disturbing killings currently sweeping the country begin, and what does it teach us about impunity, power and the spread of violence?
Investigating and Reporting on Sexual Violence in Conflict
The Frontline Club is collaborating with the annual Trust Women Conference to present a discussion focused on investigating and reporting on sexual violence in conflict. With a focus on Syria our panel will be mapping out what is being done to help individuals and societies affected by sexual violence, and discuss ethical practices for journalists reporting on the topic and engaging with survivors.
U.S. Under the Lens: Under the Gun + Panel Discussion
This screening will be followed by a panel discussion with director Stephanie Soechtig and others.
Under the Gun examines the events and people who have kept the U.S. gun debate fierce and the progress slow, even as gun deaths and mass shootings continue to increase. Through the lens of families impacted by the mass shootings in Newtown, Aurora, Isla Vista and Tucson, as well as those who experience daily gun violence in Chicago, the documentary looks at why politicians are finding it difficult to act and what is being done at the state and local levels. The film is executive produced and narrated by Katie Couric and directed by Stephanie Soechtig.
Screening: Cartel Land + Q&A
In this double Sundance winner, Matthew Heineman takes us deep into the world of Mexican drug cartels by embedding himself with two vigilante groups on either side of the US-Mexico border.
Screening: Shades of True + Q&A
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Alexandre Westphal.
Hutu women as well as men took up arms and went amok killing their neighbours during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In Shades of True eight female perpetrators, who have been imprisoned for taking part in the genocide, recount their experiences with clarity and a shocking lack of sentimentality.
Screening: 12 O’Clock Boys + Q&A
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Lotfy Nathan.
Pug, a wisecracking 13 year old living on a dangerous Westside block in Baltimore, has one goal in mind: to join the 12 O’Clock Boys, the city’s notorious urban dirt bike gang. Director Lotfy Nathan followed Pug for three years over the course of the film’s production, documenting his transition from a witty and energetic boy to a teenager eager to find comradeship in a gang that prides in its recklessness and disregard for authority.
Gun Baby Gun: A Bloody Journey into the World of the Gun
By Will Worley On Wednesday 22 April 2015, the Frontline Club welcomed investigative journalist and director of policy and investigations at UK charity Action on Armed Violence, Iain Overton for a discussion on his latest book, Gun Baby Gun: A Bloody Journey into the World of the Gun. The event was chaired by ANC former politician and author Andrew […]
Preview Screening: We Were Rebels + Q&A
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Florian Schewe.
We Were Rebels tells the story of Agel, a former child soldier who returns to South Sudan to help build his country. The film accompanies him over a period of two years – from South Sudan gaining its independence in 2011 to the renewed outbreak of civil war in December 2013.
First Wednesday Screening: India’s Daughter + Panel Discussion
In 2012, the brutal gang rape on a Delhi bus of a 23-year-old medical student, who later died from her injuries, made international headlines and ignited protests. India’s Daughter is an impassioned plea for change, paying tribute to a remarkable and inspiring young woman. The film explores the compelling human stories behind the incident and the political ramifications in India.
Following the screening we will be joined by director Leslee Udwin and others to discuss the international reactions to the film, the aftermath of the Indian broadcast ban, and the greater issue of gender based violence.
UK Premiere: Born in Gaza + Q&A
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Hernan Zin.
Filmed during the 2014 siege of Gaza, which left 507 children dead and 3,598 wounded, Born in Gaza follows a group of young children growing up in a war zone. The film examines the widespread psychological trauma experienced by adolescents coping with injury, fear, and the loss of loved ones. It is estimated that 400,000 children in Gaza are in desperate need of psychological support.
Screening: All Things Ablaze + Q&A
In November 2013, the protests in Ukraine began peacefully but eventually, after much confusion and chaos, drums, bagpipes and European flags seamlessly turned into bloody resistance. When the first casualties fell on both sides, no matter how black and white it seemed from outside, the line between good and bad blurred. This collective project by Ukrainian filmmakers Oleksandr Techynskyi, Aleksey Solodunov and Dmitry Stoykov, offers a powerful insight into the way the events unfolded in Kiev. This screening is in partnership with Open City Docs Fest and will be followed by a Q&A with director Oleksandr Techynskyi.
Architectural Violence: A closer look at the West Bank
By Lizzie Kendal As part of this year’s Summer Season exploring walls, barriers and borders today, the Frontline Club hosted a preview screening of The Architecture of Violence on Wednesday 13 August. It was followed by a Q&A with director Ana Naomi de Sousa and protagonist, architect and activist Eyal Weizman, moderated by filmmaker Olly Lambert. The film […]
The Engineer: “Cases worse than horror films”
By Caroline Schmitt On Monday 28 October, the Frontline Club screened The Engineer, a documentary uncovering the extent of gang violence in El Salvador directed by Mathew Charles and Juan Passarelli. The Q&A that followed was chaired by Stephen Jukes, Dean of the Media School at Bournemouth University. The Engineer portrays the work of Israel Ticas, […]
Preview Screening: The Engineer + Q&A
Israel Ticas is the only criminologist working in one of Latin America’s most dangerous countries, El Salvador. He owes his nickname, “The Engineer”, to his combination of forensic skills and his background in system engineering. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with directors Mathew Charles and Juan Passarelli moderated by Stephen Jukes.
Peace Talks: War and Peace in Journalism – Does the Devil Have the Best Stories?
This event is organised by International Alert, in partnership with Sussex University’s School of Global Studies.
In the media, lead coverage is often given to stories and images from the front lines. As the old newsroom saying goes: “If it bleeds, it leads”. But what happens when a conflict fades from the headlines and the long path to peace begins? Can the power of the media be harnessed to highlight positive stories of peacebuilding, reconciliation and change? Join us to explore how the media depicts the stories of both conflict and peace.
Analysing Kenya’s election results
Despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, on Saturday Uhuru Kenyatta won election as Kenya’s new President. Join us as we discuss what Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory means for Kenya?
Iraq: Escalating violence and sectarian division – Part 2
By Lizzie Kendal In the past few months a fresh wave of violence has swept through Iraq. The 23 July saw the worst of these attacks when a string of coordinated bombings and shootings in 15 cities across the country left over 100 people dead and many more injured. But do these recent events really […]
Sneak Preview Screening: The Price of Kings – Yasser Arafat
Mixing a rich collection of archive footage with the candid and poignant memories of his family, friends, colleagues, and peers, Richard Symons creates an insightful, intimate, and well documented account of the life and controversies of Yasser Arafat.
Robbed in São Paulo
Even though I live in one of the most violent cities in Latin America, I had never been robbed – until today. But there is a first time for anything. And unfortunately being robbed is part of the day-by-day in São Paulo, a city of 10-million inhabitants. Some people even carry extra money – say […]