Living in a post-truth modern world, it has become vital to educate ourselves on some of the most critical issues facing planet right now. Additionally, there is a need to ensure that our sources are credible so that we know that the information we are being fed is authentic and worth believing.
The way that recent events across the globe are being obtained, filtered, and shared with the world has required bus to take a step back and seek out the authentic sources behind the information of specific world events and figure out exactly what is going on around us.
This is where documentary films come in. They are an informative and in-depth resource that create the ideal platform to develop dialogue. As such, they serve as a powerful tool to bring crucial subjects to light in a captivating way that can spark conversation and even initiate social movements. Feature-length and character-driven documentaries are focused on stories based on real events and people, putting a human face on many global issues that would otherwise seem unrelatable or even distant.
Being able to see and hear these real experiences via the work of documentary filmmakers can help us to relate to the subject matter’s circumstances, giving the viewer a chance to experience life in other people’s shoes, and assist in creating a bridge of empathy in our world that is currently in dire need of our compassion and engagement.
Documentaries – Opening Doors to Opportunity
One of the most remarkable attributes of documentaries is that they can provide an opportunity for people to connect and understand our world in a myriad of ways. Documentaries also provide an ideal way to help gather friends to engage with a particular issue – helping people to become aware of the concerns the world is facing.
The benefits of watching documentaries are vast, including discussion about the issues they present with others which can have significant impact on communities. Moreover, having face-to-face conversations are often much more productive and informed after viewing a documentary, and can bring about valuable results that can lead to effective changes in our world.
A prime example of this can be seen through the work done by Empowers Africa, a revered American public charity under IRC Section 501(c)(3) that supports programs in the areas of human empowerment, land conservation, and wildlife protection in sub-Saharan Africa. Empowers Africa is an influential nonprofit that has worked together with some of the most effective organizations on the ground in Africa that are creating sustainable and lasting change.
Over the years, Empowers Africa has produced a number of valuable educational documentaries. Currently, it has produced seven short film documentaries regarding matters that are related to lion and elephant collaring, rhino anti-poaching efforts, education, small business development, and female empowerment.
Many of their members have even participated in local and international film festivals and their films have won awards, including the London Independent Film Awards, the Independent Short Film Awards, the Crown Wood International Film Festival, and many more. Moreover, they have been involved in two full-length documentaries, “Edge of Existence” and “The Last Horns of Africa” – bringing much emphasis on the need for people to further engage with documentary content and initiate a change for a better tomorrow.