Reel time

In the digital era when breaking news is available at the touch of a button, gone are the days when film was purely for entertainment's sake, as the reality of different society's mores has become intrinsically intermingled. Cinema currently has become increasingly socially aware on a wide variety of issues that affect various echelons of society. Directors and actors from all over the world have turned politically active, using their commercial clout to make films that raise awareness about today's moral and political issues such as social injustice, repression and Third World deprivation.

Inspired by locally produced Il-Gaġġa and international films of the likes of The Dreamers and The Edukators the idea dawned on Żminijietna Left Youth to launch a film festival, the first edition of which is entitled Social Reel Festival.

The film festival aims to attract students from different faculties on campus. "The idea behind this festival is to bring to the fore a reflection on societal issues ranging from the quality of life, social injustice and the environment taken from a local perspective as well as a global one. We fervently believe that film can be the right medium to project these messages," Chris Cutajar, public relations coordinator for the festival said.

Mr Cutajar does not hesitate to add: "We are organising this festival on campus to put forward the idea that university students should take pride in taking part in an educational activity that does not go hand in hand with curriculum activities. Even the campus space should be more frequently used for real cultural activites that attract people from all walks of life and not just run-of-the-mill parties which cater simply for the priveleged and commercial devices".

The festival is not just limited to students on campus. It is a great opportunity for amateur and professional film-makers to exhibit their cinematographic skills, all the while putting forward the socialogical discourse that promotes a stimulating debate on something that is rarely pondered upon. This festival is open to entries which are not longer than 20 minutes in duration. Furthermore, all video can take various guises such as a documentary, fiction or even a music video. Only the best projects deemed as original and of a strong social message would go through to the final of the competition, which is to be decided by a panel of appointed judges.

I quizzed Mr Cutajar about the choice of the logo on the posters, viz the visuals of award-winning film Little Miss Sunshine to promote this event. The characters are shown running in the attempt to catch the Volkswagen.

To this he quipped "this symbolises social mobility: each time we travel from one place to another we are contributing to the fact that people in society ‒ thus society itself ‒ are always on the move.

"This sums up what is happening in our increasingly globalised and interdependent world especially since Malta, being part of the EU, is commemorating the Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Hence we welcome films from locals and foreigners alike that seek to build bridges within different communities and overcome divisions among diverse Europeans."

Film-makers have been given this opportunity to touch upon various social issues that unify people worldwide. This first edition of the Social Reel Film Festival aims to be part and parcel of Malta's cultural calendar, with the sole difference that the organisers are not only looking for established film-makers but also encouraging new talent to leave their mark. Local and foreign film-makers will have a field day, as this will be the right platform to exchange ideas and promote their work to a film-hungry audience eager for more.

• The Social Reel Festival is being held at the Students' House (Common Room) of the University of Malta on April 26. Those interested in submitting material may obtain more information online: www.zminijietna.org/zzx/