The Fundacion de Neuvo Cine Latinoamericano launched a production that took place in no less than 14 countries and revolves around one single universal story: the power of community effort.

Recent ground-breaking research has revealed how community cinema was produced and disseminated by documenting the experiences of 55 communities in 14 countries in Latin America. The study was devised by Cuban-based non-governmental organization Fundación del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, with support from UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity.

The study revealed a varied and dynamic world of audiovisual production, with communities creating documentaries, feature films, television programmes and much, much more. Likewise, it was found that dissemination was diverse through networks, film clubs, cultural centres, churches, unions, festivals, showcases, special events, schools and other educational spaces, electronic means, DVDs, and websites.

“Community cinema reflects the intimate relation between communication, culture and social change,” stressed Alfonso Gumucio Dagron, a leading expert in Latin American Cinema. 

In terms of impact, the study revealed that community cinema invigorated communities’ identity and organization, often improving their sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. Community cinema also reaches beyond the groups themselves. It enables a wider public to identify with and value the stories of life not included in mainstream media.

The study also concluded that public policies and laws promoting communities’ rights to communicate were urgently needed across the Region.

The countries involved in the research were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.