Why Democracy?

This initiative is participatory and intercultural, in that its production process involves youth from various countries working together to use the media of documentary film/video and computing/the internet to share ideas about the issue of democracy/governance. The commissioned films were selected from over 600 submissions on the strength of their engagement with questions such as the following: Is any society in the world truly democratic? What does democracy mean if you live below the poverty line? Is capitalism good for democracy? What kind of democracy can we build in the 21st Century? A key strategy in the selection process involved, firstly, not centring the film around any specific country or event but - rather - focusing on democracy as an idea. In addition, the films that were selected are, according to organisers, not overtly prescriptive. As the organisers express it, "These are not films by experts, about experts, telling us what 'the situation is' in Iraq, or Chile, or South Africa, or Iran...They are human stories, providing more questions than answers, but speaking a language that everyone understands."

Specifically, 10 one-hour films focused on contemporary democracy were broadcast in over 200 countries and territories worldwide on October 8 2007 with the participation of 45 broadcasters on all continents; these broadcasts reached an estimated audience of a minimum 300 million viewers. The films were crafted by independent filmmakers from different countries around the world, including Bolivia, China, Denmark, India, Japan, Liberia, Russia, and the United States. In addition, 18 short films (5-12 minutes in length) that address personal, political, and rights human issues have been produced under the theme "What does democracy mean to me?"

Information and communication technology (ICT) is central to this project not only because of its focus on filmmaking, but because of its use of a website to share details about the films and spur reaction to them, and dialogue about them. Information about all of the films (as well as other details about the project) are available on the interactive Why Democracy? website. This website was designed and moderated for a 4-month period by a group of young people from all over the world associated with the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Steps International who were living and working together in a "democracy house" in Cape Town, South Africa.  Selected short films have been uploaded on the website for educational purposes. The website also provides forums, chatrooms, and blogs that are open to all. There are also interactive polls designed to get people talking about democracy and governance issues.

Following the broadcast, the focus shifted to outreach. With the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), organisers are producing a 5-language (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili) DVD edition for use by organisations working in the field of democracy, human rights, and governance. This will be accompanied by a facilitator's guide in the same languages, with issues raised, questions, and activities for users. This edition will be available beginning in April 2009, and will be distributed throughout Africa. The films are also being screened at many festivals, as well at community forums, universities, and other venues.

Democracy & Governance.

The Why Democracy? Project was nominated for the Adolf Grimme TV Prize (Germany, 2008), and the website was nominated for One World Media Award. Several Why Democracy? films have won awards; to cite only some of the honours bestowed upon one film, "Taxi to the Dark Side": Best Documentary, Tribeca Film Festival (2007), Oscar for Documentary Feature, Academy Awards (2008), Peabody Award (2008), Best News Documentary (Monte Carlo).