In the little town of Kumba, Cameroon, there have been no convictions in spousal abuse cases for 17 years. But two women determined to change their community are making progress that could change their country. This fascinating, often hilarious documentary follows the work of State Prosecutor Vera Ngassa and Court President Beatrice Ntuba as they help women fight often-difficult cases of abuse, despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent.

Six-year-old Manka is covered in scars and has run away from an abusive aunt, Amina is seeking a divorce to put an end to brutal beatings by her husband, the pre-teen Sonita has daringly accused her neighbor of rape. With fierce compassion, the two feisty and progressive-minded women dispense wisdom, wisecracks and justice in fair measure, handing down stiff sentences to those convicted. A cross between “Judge Judy” and “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” SISTERS IN LAW has audiences cheering when justice is served.

Directed by Kim Longinotto
104 mins
2005

The Hunger Season follows two years of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in one small African nation Swaziland, and uses this example to ask why, in spite of our incredible agricultural productivity, in spite of the Millennium Goals and a massive UN food aid programme, are we failing to solve the problem of hunger?

As commodity prices have risen by 50%, the UN Agencies have barely half the budget they need to meet the needs of millions of hungry people they are currently feeding. We could be facing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of all time if governments do not commit more resources. It is time to examine the system of food aid and question the extent of our commitment to ending hunger.

It is the story of an orphanage, unlike one you’ve ever seen before, and of the drive of these remarkable young singers and their teachers to make it to London for a series of concerts.

Life has not been easy for 12-year-old Slindile, her siblings and her friends at the Agape Orphanage in South Africa, where most of the children have lost their parents to AIDS. But they are still kids and teenagers, bashful around boys, squabbling with each other. And when they lift their voices in song, something extraordinary happens.

As the kids at Agape orphanage continue to train for what they hope will be their big break, Slindile and her siblings are hit with more hard news – their oldest brother Sifiso, who has been sick for months, has AIDS. With unforgettable kids, soaring music and a plot full of surprises, We Are Together arrives as a stirring and uplifting theatrical documentary.

Directed by Paul Taylor
2006
83 mins

On the outskirts of Nairobi, Silva’s home and business in Africa’s largest squatter community are being demolished as part of a United Nations slum-upgrading project. In the rural countryside, Jackson’s farm is being flooded by an American investor who hopes to alleviate poverty by creating a multi-million dollar rice farm.

Interweaving meditative portraits of its characters, Good Fortune examines the real-world impact of international aid. With a broad scope and intimate style, the film portrays gripping stories of human perseverance and suggests that the answers for Africa lie in the resilience of its people.

Directed by Landon Van Soest
2010

Deciding to find the stranger that changed his life, Chris wants to show Hilde how her generosity not only helped him, but was the inspiration for the scholarship programme he has founded in her name.

The top students in Mukubu primary school are in the exact same situation as Chris once was. They are bright, but can’t afford to pay school fees. With the creation of Chris’s fund, these students have new hope. But the programme is small – how many will qualify for a scholarship?

Intertwining Chris and Hilde’s story and the current fate of these young students, this inspirational and riveting film bears witness to the ripple effect a single action can create.

Directed and produced by Jennifer Arnold
Produced by Patti Lee
88 mins
2010

How far away are we from scenes in Greece where national strikes led to riots on the streets of Athens? Will the UK population en masse accept the austerity measures being ushered in or take to the streets to oppose them?

Join us at the Frontline Club with an expert panel to investigate if seeds for civil unrest are being sowed that might happen in the months and years ahead.

With:

Marc Vallée, London based photojournalist who is currently working on a long-term project to document political protest and dissent in modern Britain;

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union;

But what really happened during this momental and transformative year? 1968 explores the events that left the world reeling. At the height of flower power and free love the world also witnessed the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy, rioting at the Democratic National convention in Chicago, the rise of Black Power, the Tet offensive in Vietnam, the May uprisings in Paris and the events of Prague spring.

It was a period of tension and anticipation, of social and political upheaval. But hope and expectation soon gave way to disillusionment, fallen hopes and disappointment.

1968 delves into the events of this pivotal year to examine its true legacy. Drawing on extensive, and rarely-seen archives from around the world, the film revisits the hopes, the fears and ultimately, the despair of the time.

90 mins
2008

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances"

The First Amendment from the Bill of Rights.

Shouting Fire examines the naked truth behind this monumental canon on which America; "the land of the free", rests. But perhaps more precariously than one might think.

Director Liz Garbus, and her father Martin Garbus; a First Amendment Attorney, explore the complexities involved in upholding  a law that is often steeped in controversy.

"One September 11 2001, there was this…psychological break down the country"  says one of Garbus’s interviewees. Through a series of cleverly interwoven interviews and case studies, Liz Garbus shows that upholding freedom of speech in this climate is a fundamental requirement that Americans may also have to fight for.

Experts and commentators from left and right share their views on cases where the First amendment was in play, from a University Professor’s sacking for his controversial views on 9/11 to the school banning of "homosexuality is shameful’ t shirts. For all those who want to know what may lie ahead in terms of freedom of speech, not only in America but across the west, Shouting Fire is the first port of call.

80 mins
2008

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Can everyday people change the world? With conflicts raging across the world and European governments imposing stringent austerity measures, people are wondering more and more how they can play a role in shaping their future.

Steve Crawshaw, author of a new book to be published in September entitled Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World, will be discussing the potential for individuals to take on injustice and oppression in the world today.

Looking at current examples including Iran and Burma we will be discussing what people are able to achieve in the face of the powerful who have armies and police on their side. Are we powerless to change anything or are there acts of defiance, some of which are so small they are missed by the mainstream media, that can make a big difference?

Charied by Humphrey Hawksley, leading BBC foreign correspondent, author and commentator on world affairs.

With:

Steve Crawshaw, international advocacy director Amnesty International;

Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Iranian journalist who writes frequently for the Guardian;

Tin Htar Swe, head of the BBC Burmese Service;

Alice Ukoko, founder and CEO of Women Of Africa working for gender transformation for Africa’s reform.

Printed in Newsweek’s cover story on 29 October, 2007 these words were the catalyst to the making of Made in Pakistan, a film that set out to challenge the negative stereotypes attached to the country in the eyes of the west.

Director Nasir Khan, does not mount an offensive through his film but rather lets his audience decide.

The film follows the lives of four wealthy individuals –  a lawyer, a journalist, an aspiring politician and a PR manager – to paint what he believes is a more accurate picture of the multifaceted nature of Pakistan where art and culture, fashion and industry exist side by side with tradition, religion and custom.

Was Newsweek’s sensationalistic affirmation; "Pakistan is the most dangerous place in the world", an authentic one, or does the West need to reassess it’s assumptions and preconceptions. Join us at the Frontline Club, and come to your own conclusions…