A group of arts lecturers though it would be a good idea for students to talk politics outside the classroom. Now, the lecturers organise film nights in the Harmonie building, followed by a discussion.
It is quiet in the Marie Lokezaal. Everyone is watching the projection screen intently, where a documentary about the Gulabi Gang, a female vigilante group in India, is being shown. Afterward, there is a discussion about the violence and oppression that women from the lower castes suffer in her country.
This is Cinema Politica, a platform that showcases the work of independent political filmmakers. The organisation was founded in 2003 in Canada, but now has branches all over the world. And the Groningen chapter is run by UG lecturers.
‘We tend to look at local political events such as pride celebrations and try to connect them with international filmmakers who are currently making related content, taking local politics to a global scale’, says Dan Leberg, an assistant professor in film studies.
Expert speakers
After the screening, an expert on the topic leads a discussion session, usually a member of staff or somebody involved in making the film. On Monday, that was assistant professor of international relations Donya Ahmadi, who’s an expert in gendered racism and feminist activism in the Middle East.
‘What we’re aiming for is to not have the sort of lecture where students just walk out and go home. We’d rather have the students feel inspired and want to continue the discussion amongst themselves’, says arts faculty member Marloes Viet, who’s also part of the Groningen organisation.
Directly involved
The best way to achieve that, they’ve experienced, is to involve those directly involved with the chosen topic. ‘Often when we call it a night and get on our bikes to go home, we see groups of students outside the building still discussing’, says Viet.
One of their more recent and successful screenings was a film called Faire-Part, in which two Belgian and two Congolese filmmakers document the political art scene in the Congolese capital Kinshasa and reflect on the country’s colonial history. One of the guest speakers was arts professor Margriet van der Waal, an expert on postcolonial identity.
Groningen branch
Leberg decided to start a Groningen branch of Cinema Politica because he wanted to spread awareness on political issues, he explains, as well as allow students to participate in politically charged discussion outside of a classroom environment.
So far this pilot year, there have been nine screenings, and after a slow start, evenings now attract around a hundred visitors. ‘We plan on building upon this next year’, says Leberg. ‘We’re planning fifteen screenings then.’
For upcoming screenings, check Cinema Politica Groningen’s Instagram or the Cinema Politica website.