Lights, Camera, Anti-Corruption: The Power of Film for Good Governance
CIPE’s Anti-Corruption & Governance Center (ACGC) and Onion Films Nepal (“Onion Films”), a filmmaking production company, facilitated a filmmaking workshop in Kathmandu called “Lights, Camera, Anti-Corruption,” where young filmmakers learned not only technical aspects of filmmaking and storytelling, but also key concepts in the anti-corruption space. The participants ultimately produced five films: Dust to Disclosure, Phera/Whirl, Threshold, Nirdesh, and Chyumia — all of which are available now on the Onion Films YouTube Channel. Each video explores instances of corruption in different sectors of Nepal. Since their release at the end of July, the films have received over 15,000 views.
Both domestic and international audiences are receiving the films warmly. Four of the films between them have been selected for inclusion at 15 national and international film festivals, including the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival and the Nepal European Union Film Festival. With the films now available on YouTube, viewers around the world can access them.
Taking the Show on the Road
Following the premiere of the films, Onion Films took the films on tour, hosting 15 screenings at secondary schools and universities across Nepal and facilitating conversations about corruption as they went. More than 800 people attended these events. Organizers from Onion Films noted that audiences were consistently engaged, observing that members of the audience shared examples of petty corruption they had experienced in their daily lives. Many noted that the films effectively depicted the nuances and impact of corruption on communities in Nepal. A common theme brought up in the panel discussions and Q&A sessions was the desire for more transparency and accountability.
The tour aimed to reach youth and arranged for expert panelists to attend screenings and host Q&A sessions following the screenings. In focusing on youth, marginalized communities — particularly in the Terai region — and rural areas that have insufficient access to the internet, Onion Films made discussions around anti-corruption topics more equitable and opened space for various communities to discuss issues related to corruption. The expert panel discussions and Q&A following the films allowed for an empowering exchange of ideas between panelists and the audience.
Hoping to leverage the medium of film to precipitate conversations around anti-corruption, ACGC and Onion Films collaborated to equip young Nepali filmmakers with the tools necessary to ply their craft and with knowledge about anti-corruption in the context of Nepal. During the workshop, filmmakers heard from journalists and anti-corruption experts about corruption issues as well as from veteran filmmakers and storytellers in Nepal.
Next Step: Multimedia Inspired by Anti-Corruption Report
ACGC’s work with Onion Films is the second iteration of its anti-corruption multimedia messaging efforts — its first being the collaboration with Contraband Art Collective in Sudan. These multimedia efforts seek to use alternative mediums and trusted messengers to spur conversation around anti-corruption and empower grassroots organizations to drive positive change. As Onion Films completes its work, ACGC is now looking ahead to its next multimedia effort, involving music and comics, which will take place in the coming months. Findings from the How-To Guide to Anti-Corruption Messaging will be incorporated into the campaign.