Back in 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, the creator of the documentary Control Room, won the TED Prize and $100,000 to activate an idea to change the world (some background on this). That idea was to bring the world together through film. Pangea Day, the name she gave the project is coming to fruition this Saturday May 10th at 18:00 GMT. Locations around the world will be linked to live programming of films, music and speakers. The entire program, including the 24 short films that were selected from over 2,500 entries, will be broadcast on television, the internet and mobile phones. Musicians and speakers include Bob Geldof, Hypernova, Gilberto Gil, Queen Noor of Jordan, author Ishmael Beah and Christiane Amanpour of CNN.
The title sponsor, Nokia, will also be initiating the Seeding Project, providing mobile devices to prospective filmmakers around the world. They have already worked with the UNHCR to provide devices to 50 refugees in 10 countries to record their experiences, as well as to 15 film schools around the world. I recently went to the See and Sprout event which featured photographs taken by children that survived the tsunami. These images were powerful and moving. The opportunity to tell one’s story to the world and the effect on the listener can be transformative. Think An Inconvenient Truth or Dead Man Walking.
Most importantly, though, people will be watching at locally organized events, and this really seems to be the crux of Pangea Day; to bring people together and inspire them to take action. These viewers will later be connected to local organizations that are already involved in some of the issues that the films cover. On the Pangea Day website, people can sign up to host or attend an event, or just get broadcast information to watch.
As part of the program, they pre-released interstitials, of residents of one country singing the national anthem of another country. It is incredibly moving to hear Kenyans sing India’s anthem, or Americans singing the Mexican National anthem. If this is any indication of what is in store on Saturday, it shouldn’t be missed. The films themselves come from all over the world and cover a diverse range of topics and styles. From life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to life in Sri Lanka, there promises to be much opportunity for enlightenment. The trailer calls these films “stories told by the world for the world” -- over 4 hours in 180 countries. Coming together as one world, even if it is only for 4 hours on one day is a start. And if some of you feel inspired to action after watching, don’t forget to post your initiatives or find an action to join on the Celsias Projects page!
