Visual Documentary Project 2015: Human Flows - Movement in Southeast Asia

Call for Documentaries

Deadline for submission: December 20, 2015

About the Project

Southeast Asia is rich in its diversity of ethnic, religious and cultural composition. The region has maintained the coexistence of such diversity while at the same time achieving economic progress and becoming a hub for the flow of people, goods, money and information. Yet at present, the region is also confronted with serious issues such as the decrease of biodiversity and tropical forests, disasters, pandemics, aging population, ethnic and religious conflicts, economic differentiation and poverty.

In the face of this, how is coexistence and sustainability possible despite the diversity that exists? How can we make public resources out of the region’ s social foundations which are the basis of people’ s everyday lives? And, how can we connect these in a complementary way to existing systems of governance towards solving the problems and issues mentioned above?

In order to address these questions in the context of Southeast Asia, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University has initiated this “Visual Documentary project” which explicitly examines the contours of their everyday lives through a visual approach since 2012. This project aims to use visual forms of expression to complement the growing literature that exists on Southeast Asian societies. From This year, the Japan Foundation Asia Center joins this project as co-organizer to help widely promote the richness of Southeast Asian cultures to people in Japan. As of 2015, the project has linked up with numerous film schools in the region to help strengthen the documentary filmmaking network.

Human Flows - Movement in Southeast Asia -

Movement is a fundamental reality of human societies. In Southeast Asia how does it influence individuals, families, communities and nations? What journeys do people take as they move within, across and out of the region? What are their reasons to move and what stories do they have to tell? What experiences define movement in the region? And how will the region’s governments manage flows on the eve of the birth of ASEAN Economic Community?

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) is accepting short documentaries from young filmmakers who are citizens of ASEAN nations and Japan to reflect on Human Flows in Southeast Asia. Submissions of up to 30 minutes can be on any topic that touches upon Southeast Asian’s experiences of human movement in the region. Themes can include economic migration, movement between countries in the region, pilgrimages, migration due to political crisis or environmental degradation, cultural influences and borderless journeys/wanderings.

For more information: http://sea-sh.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/vdp2015/