Imagine art after: OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS & FILMMAKERS

The open call for artists & filmmakers closed on 1 July 2008. We received applications from artists & filmmakers from 30 countries, and we thank all organisations and persons who have assisted us in distributing our open call around the world.

We are currently in the process of selecting artists & filmmakers to participate in the 2009 dialogues, and will announce and introduce the artist pairs as and when they are all confirmed.

www.imagineartafter.net

Curated by Breda Beban, imagine art after is a multi-stage project for internet, gallery & broadcast that brings together artists and filmmakers who made a home in London with those who stayed in their country of origin.

For its second edition, imagine art after is looking for artists and filmmakers from the following places, who either live there, or in London.

Afghanistan | Albania | Algeria | Angola | Bangladesh | Cameroon | China | Colombia | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Former USSR | Gambia | Ghana | India | Iran | Iraq | Ivory Coast | Jamaica | Kenya | Libya | Nigeria | Pakistan | Palestinian Authority | Romania | Serbia | Sierra Leone | Somalia | Sri Lanka | Sudan | Syria | Turkey | Uganda | Vietnam | Zimbabwe

Click here for application pack

For more information and an application pack, go to www.imagineartafter.net, or email [email protected]

DEADLINE 1 JUNE 2008

Fitna removed from LiveLeak

Controversial short film Fitna has been removed from video-hosting site LiveLeak after threats were made against staff. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has summoned the Dutch ambassador in order to register protest against the film. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has published an article in the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, calling on people ‘to keep their head[s] cool and relations warm’.

See Liveleak’s statment here.

PAST EVENT: Freedom of Expression Awards 2008: the nominees

The shortlists for the 2008 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards have been finalised. The awards will be presented on 21 April in London

The T R Fyvel Book Award

The Loser by Fatos Kongoli, Seren.
Holy Warriors: A journey into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism by Edna Fernandes, Portobello
The Art of Political Murder: Who killed Bishop Gerardi? by Francisco Goldman, Atlantic Books
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, Penguin

The Guardian Journalism Award

Arat Dink (Turkey)
Huang Liangtian (China)
Iqbal Athas (Sri Lanka)
Manana Aslamazyan (Russian Federation)

The Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award

Lydia Cacho (Mexico)
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Pakistan)
U Gambira (Burma)
Yetaai Vs China Telecom (China)

The Economist New Media Award

AJ Nakasila/Channel 4 New Media / Truevision (UK)
Ethio Zagol (Ethiopia)
Wikileaks (International / US)
Iran Proxy (Iran)

The Index Film Award

Battle For Haditha Dir: Nick Broomfield, 93 minutes, UK (2007)
Ahlam (Dreams) Iraq (2006), 110 Minute Running Time, Language: Arabic, English Sub-Titles
Black Gold Dir: Nick Francis and Marc Francis, Running Time: 78 minutes,
12.08 East of Bucharest (A Fost sau n-a fost?) Dir: Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania, 2006 / 89 Mins / In Romanian with English Subtitles

Malaysia: elections usher in hope

Abdullah Ahmad BadawiThe change of government owed a great deal to Internet activism, with bloggers even taking parliamentary seats, writes David Jardine

Malaysia’s stunning election results of 8 March, which have seen the 40-year-long two-thirds majority of the ruling BN (Barisan Nasional/ National Front) coalition blown away, have hugely important implications for freedom of expression in the former British colony where draconian British-devised legislation has been a significant prop of state power.

The opposition to new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will include five bloggers, including the internationally known Jeff Ooi and the media reform advocate Elizabeth Wong. One Malaysian media commentator has observed that their presence is particularly ‘galling’ to BN.

Blogging, which also played a role in the ‘reformasi’ (reform) movement of the late 1990s that coalesced around the protests against perceived state persecution of the former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has been a highly successful means of circumventing the state-controlled and ruling party-directed media. Anwar, although until next month officially barred from running for office himself, is the de facto leader of Keadilan, and his election rallies drew large crowds even in small towns.

(more…)

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