Teaching Democracy through Cinema

ongoing

"Most young people, regardless of their country of origin, watch films and TV series. They do it effortlessly because it is an activity they like and it is part of their lives. At the same time, these young people are growing up in a world in which democratic ideals are in crisis. Democracy is a tree with many branches. For it to work, it needs peace, it needs respect for diversity, it needs gender equality, it needs a sustainable environment. The love of young people for cinema and the need of the times to strengthen democratic consciousness is the combination that led us to the proposal of CINEMATOMEDIA. The aim of the project is to build the capacity of youth workers to strengthen democratic consciousness among young people through cinema, either from the position of the spectator or from that of the creator. Films and series affect people on a deep level, cognitively and emotionally, create empathy, inspire and nurture. It is a form of informal education with great impact. CINEMATOMEDIA will organize discussion based on film screenings, seminars, face to face and online, to teach young people democratic values through cinema and the art of filmmaking in order to spread democratic ideals. Then the young people will become the creators and make short films to express themselves and disseminate the themes of CINEMATOMEDIA through film festivals. The method of CINEMATOPEDIA is going to be conslidated in one document entitled ""Teaching Democracy through Cinema"". Democratic empowerment is essential in all participating countries, both from Europe and the Middle East, and dialogue and cooperation between young people from different cultures is the key to empathy, understanding and development."