Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu giving the keynote address. Photo credit: Violaine Beix

More than 1,000 people attended the Geneva Forum on Social Change, co-presented by ITVS.

The Geneva Forum on Social Change was a whirlwind two-day international event that paired 10 ITVS International documentary and social issue films with six panel discussions, three keynote speakers—including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and two workshops on the strategic use of film in public affairs and education…and if that sounds like an action-packed couple of days, well you don’t know the half of it!

The event attracted more than 1,000 people––principally from Geneva’s corps of international NGOs and IOs—including United Nation agencies like the World Food Program, IAEA, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNESCO and others. Students from Geneva University also came out in strong numbers, notably for the films, and even more notably for the Golden Globe winner WALTZ WITH BASHIR. The event drew from beyond Geneva’s close circle to include documentary filmmakers and broadcasters from around Europe and America, and a number of special guests who really made for an amazing two days of engagement, international exchange and excellent movie watching.

Stealing the show was the hour long and clearly extemporaneous keynote address by Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose message focused on the need for people to be engaged in projects like this one. “You are all wonderful human beings who bring God’s gifts to the world,” he told the audience.

Another highlight included the closing address by filmmaker Nick Francis, who detailed his continuing work on international trade issues through his landmark film BLACK GOLD, which aired on PBS’s Independent Lens in 2008. Check out the video below where Nick discusses the impact of his film at the forum.

Rounding out the main speakers was the passionate Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, general secretary of the World YWCA, whose remarks hammered home the need for a continued focus on human rights and empowerment for women—a perfect match for the launch of ITVS ‘s brand new Classroom product, International Edition Vol. 1: Women’s Empowerment, which was unveiled and distributed during ITVS’s film and education workshop the same day as Gumbonzvanda’s rousing remarks.

Other ITVS filmmakers attending and presenting at the event included Daniel Junge (IRON LADIES OF LIBERIA), Brigitte Brault (AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED) and a surprise visit from Danny Hakim, who flew in from Israel to introduce his film SHADYA.

The event was a collaborative effort by ITVS, the Naval Postgraduate School, the U.S. Mission to Geneva, and the incredibly talented and committed students of the University of Geneva’s International Organizations MBA Program, who really worked hard to make the forum such a great success. In particular, our thanks go out to the organizing committee; Patrick Huber, Marshall Sitten, Violaine Beix, and Catherine Siegel, who shouldered a huge burden to deliver such a great success.

Beyond the great films and probing discussions, the real success was in bringing together so many people from so many diverse backgrounds to discuss pressing issues and develop better answers. I’m not sure if we found any, but the inaugural Geneva Forum on Social Change definitely made a contribution to some of the ongoing conversations among the people who are in a position to make that change, and ITVS was very much at the table.

-Dennis

Want to know more about the impact of ITVS International films? Watch the video interview below with Nick Francis, who’s film BLACK GOLD aired on PBS’s Independent Lens in 2008 (TRT: 6:00 minutes).

The program will include 10 documentary films from ITVS International filmmakers, along with six issue-based panels, two workshops and three keynote speakers––including, from South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The Geneva Forum is an excellent opportunity to connect our award-winning international documentary content with the world’s leading NGOs and other organizations who can use these media tools in powerful and creative ways. Geneva’s unique place in the world of diplomacy and international public affairs makes it the ideal place to build and expand partnerships around the use of documentary film in many issues of global importance.

The Geneva Forum grew out of a collaboration between ITVS and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), where a similar event, “Windows on the World,” was produced on the NPS campus in Monterey, Calif., in October 2008. Windows on the World included a similar mix of ITVS International’s documentary films along with high-level panels and speakers.

The Geneva Forum on Social Change is free and open to the public. Registration will take place on-site beginning at 8 AM both days. Online registration for individual sessions is encouraged.

Find more information about the program, including the latest updates, additional speakers and previews of the films >>