Channel Title: Cultures of Resistance Films Channel Description: Cultures of Resistance Films creates and distributes films that advance public awareness about issues of social and economic justice. Our documentaries show around the globe at major film festivals and grassroots events, screening in venues ranging from refugee camps and community centers to red carpet galas. We view filmmaking not only as a way of documenting injustices but also as an important part of the effort to promote change. In addition to highlighting the work of Cultures of Resistance Films, this channel also features news about recipients of our Creative Activism Awards--artists, educators, farmers, and designers who are using their work to pursue social justice through creative expression. <video> WANTOKS: dance of resilience in Melanesia | Documentary | various subtitles Description: In 2018 the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, hosted the Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival, celebrating the country’s 40th anniversary of independence. On neighboring island states, the struggle for freedom continues, as West Papua resists Indonesian occupation and the residents of New Caledonia still live under French rule. In all Melanesian countries, residents face the common challenge of climate change, as rising sea levels threaten to swallow both land and tradition. In this charged context, captivating performers are using their talents to celebrate local culture and draw international attention to their islands’ plight, with the hope of spurring international solidarity and promoting collective action against the perils of a warming world. 🎥 Director/Producer: Iara Lee - K Editors: Dimo Petkov and Silvio Montanaro Drone Cinematography: Andrew and Karl Bouro Sound Design/Music/Mix: Kaloyan Dimitrov ------------------------------ 🌍 ✨ Join us in fostering discussions and connections worldwide! Reach out to us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com if you'd like to host a film screening! ✉️ Get notified about COR events in your area—subscribe to our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/dKbcGc 📲 Instagram - @culturesofresistance 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more FREE WEST PAPUA! #freewestpapua #freewestpapuacampaign </video> <video> LIFE IS WAITING: Referendum and Resistance in Western Sahara | Documentary | various subtitles Description: ▪️ Subtitles (CC) : /عربى / English / Português / Русский / Suomalainen / Français / Italiano/ Deutsch / Español 🇪🇭 What will it take for the people of Western Sahara to reverse decades of broken promises and gain their freedom? What lessons does Sahrawi resistance offer for nonviolent movements around the world? Join an incredible cast of Sahrawi activists and artists as they offer their answers. ======================= ❓ More than four decades after its people were promised freedom by departing Spanish rulers, the Western Sahara remains Africa’s last colony. ➡️ While a UN-brokered ceasefire put an end to armed hostilities in the territory in 1991, the Sahrawi people have continued to live under the Moroccan armed forces' oppressive occupation. What peace exists in the area is fragile at best. ➡️ Tens of thousands of Sahrawis have fled to neighboring Algeria, where over 125,000 refugees still live in camps that were intended to be temporary. 🔶 In spite of these difficulties, a new movement, with youth at its center, is rising to challenge human rights abuses and to demand the long-promised referendum on freedom. Today’s young generation is deploying creative nonviolent resistance for the cause of self-determination. In doing so, they are persevering against a torrent of conflicting forces. While risking torture and disappearance at the hands of Moroccan authorities, they are also pushing back against those who have lost patience with the international community and are ready to launch another guerrilla war. This film, from director iara lee, examines these tensions and chronicles the everyday violence of life under occupation, giving voice to the aspirations of a desert people for whom colonialism has never ended. ================== 🌎 Since 2015, 'LIFE IS WAITING: Referendum and Resistance in Western Sahara' has been screened in almost 100 countries, from refugee camps to red carpet galas. 🏆 The film has won 10 awards at different film festivals around the globe ================== 🇪🇭 #FreeWesternSahara ✋ Learn how you can ❗TAKE ACTION ❗ ❇️FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM - @culturesofresistance / @iara_lee 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more =================== *if you would like to screen the film, please e-mail us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com* 🎥 Director, Producer: Iara Lee Co-Producer: Salah Abdelahe Director of Photography: Jose Yeray Martin 2nd Camera: Eduardo Souto Fraguas Editor: Martin Eller Sound: Jordi Oriola Folch Music: Mariem Hassan </video> <video> Cultures of Resistance Films Live Stream Description: </video> <video> UNITE FOR BISSAU (Nô Kumpu Guiné): agroecology and feminism in Guinea Bissau | Trailer Description: In the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, this thought-provoking film takes you on a journey that follows brave local women who challenge patriarchy by building institutions that promote self-sufficiency through agroecology. They also defy social norms by standing up against female genital mutilation and rejecting forced marriage. Carrying forward the legacy of Amílcar Cabral, the Bissau-Guinean independence leader who placed women’s rights at the center of the struggle for liberation, the women of a rising generation are taking their power back. Director/Producer: iara lee Editor/Cameraman: João Meirinhos ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🌍 ✨ Join us in fostering discussions and connections worldwide! Reach out to us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com if you'd like to host a film screening! ✉️ The film is currently screening around the world! Get notified about screenings in your area. Subscribe to our newsletter http://eepurl.com/dKbcGc 📲 Instagram - @culturesofresistance 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more </video> <video> Mauritania: Slavery still exists Description: In 2018 Seif Kousmate conducted a photographic investigation about traditional slavery in Mauritania. Slavery was officially abolished by Mauritania's government in 1981 only. Despite this and international pressure to enforce anti-slavery measures, enslavement practices persist to this day. Since then, Seif has started working on a photo fanzine to share his findings on the urgency of the situation. Please join him in getting "Haratin: Born to serve" to print and shed light on the issue of traditional slavery and its consequences in Mauritania. Cultures Of Resistance supports and encourages friends to do too! http://kck.st/2TcuiC0 </video> <video> 26 April 2023 Description: </video> <video> Da Nerve: Poem by Siphiwe Nzima Description: Give me the swindler who stole our destinies And tampered with our blessings from conception Discredited our ambitions of higher aspirations Tied our fates with traditional bindings Decreed the degradation of our existence I wanna tell him he's got da nerve! Listen Who is this conman so afraid of our femininity? Running his mouth disseminating slanderous mockery? Colonizing our abilities and calling it culture? Demeaning our intelligence and calling it hormones? Dear Lord, as if he knows their significance!! Where does he get the nerve...? Say... tell me this........ Where does this charlatan get his ridiculous notions of grandeur? Violently advocating the extinction of the enlightened goddess? Banning us to menial drudgery asserting his falseness! Using his fist to suppress his superiors, my god how inferior!! Yet we are strong enough, we bring mankind into existence. His nerve......! Say...... why....... Why are WE afraid of this impostor? Shifting the blame like we don’t tango to the same song? Content to sing along instead of leading by example Shackled to the misguided fears of an inferiority complex and Begging for humiliation and displaying the scars like trophies Now you go the nerve...! Overcome this confinement of perpetual slavery Stand your ground in the face of this oppressor, Fight for your humanity as a people, your identity as a culture, Your rights as individuals, your stand as equals, Tell this bigot he's got the nerve..! Stop giving away pieces of your integrity for an illusion Nourishing his wickedness with buckets of your tears Hiding his weaknesses and demeaning your stature And hiding from your strength and lurking in his shadow Show him you've got the nerve................! Yank out this hypocrite from the mantra of your destiny Deny him your essence for a mere presence in your heart Show him the gate of the lost city of the ignorant Tell him.... I said tell him your preference can never be changed his opinion!! HE'S GOT THE NERVE...! 🔹🔹🔹🔹 Born in Zimbabwe but now a naturalized Mosotho who has lived in Lesotho for over twenty years, Siphiwe Nzima-Ntšekhe is an activist who uses her poetry and songs to stimulate the masses. Her work is an infusion of spoken word, African melodies, and traditional drumbeats and is inspired by contemporary Afro-pop artists. Her passion for protecting African children has led her to perform poems about human rights, gender-based violence, and child abuse. 🔔 Check out more from Siphiwe: https://soundcloud.com/siphiwe-nzima-ntsekhe 📢 About Creative Activism Awards: In July 2020, director iara lee created the Creative Activism Awards to give back to people and organizations who have been featured in or have collaborated on documentaries by Cultures of Resistance Films. The awards encourage recipients to maintain and expand their important work in pursuit of social justice and creative expression. ♻️♻️ ♻️ See the full movie From Trash to Treasure - Turning Negatives into Positives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLsJuTKrmo Find out more about Creative Activism Awards - https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/creative-activism-awards </video> <video> From Trash To Treasure: Turning Negatives Into Positives | Documentary Trailer Description: In Lesotho—a highland country surrounded by South Africa—an artist named Nthabiseng TeReo Mohanela takes discarded materials and transforms them into unique clothing and accessories. Teaching young people the benefits of recycling and re-creation, she calls her project “From Trash to Treasure.” With TeReo’s work as a starting point, this short film showcases a broader spirit of reimagination among artists in Lesotho, who use creativity to respond to entrenched social problems: Filmmakers show the need to end child marriage. Musicians write songs about climate change. Farmers collect seeds to protect endangered tree species. Designers use fashion to preserve traditional Basotho culture and challenge common perceptions of Africa. Profiling a variety of these innovators, "FROM TRASH TO TREASURE: turning negatives into positives" encourages us to take lessons from those who rethink, reuse, and reinvent in order to promote positive change. ⮕ FULL FILM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLsJuTKrmo&t=44s 🎥 Director/Producer: Iara Lee Editor/Cameramen - Dimo Petkov ------------------------------ 🌍 ✨ Join us in fostering discussions and connections worldwide! Reach out to us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com if you'd like to host a film screening! ✉️ Get notified about COR events in your area—subscribe to our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/dKbcGc 📲 Instagram - @culturesofresistance 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more </video> <video> Live Q&A Session with Iara and Jawad - K2 and the Invisible Footmen Description: </video> <video> Ishan Cyapital ft Teebz - Better Must Come | Music Video Description: The citizens of Malawi are confronting ongoing issues of poverty, government corruption, and electoral fraud. Amid widespread protests, the country’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the 2019 presidential election, citing widespread irregularities. As Malawians continue to fight for their rights with the hope of bringing about much-needed positive change, a new election date has been set for June 23, 2020. This song expresses concern about the current socio-economic situation in Malawi and describes how it has affected Malawians, especially the youth. It is a message of solidarity and hope to all Malawians, to keep working hard for a better future. "Better Must Come” is Ishan Cyapital’s latest release from the album "AWOL: African Way Of Life,” scheduled for release on the 27th of June, on all online music platforms. The song and video feature his brother Teebz, from Malawian twins "Teebz & Jeelz”. The song was recorded by J Mass at "Red Disk Music" in Blantyre, Chirimba, Malawi, produced by Conel Chycoon from Njuchi Music, and released under Di Elite Media Group Film series director/ producer: iara lee Camera/ editor: danilo arenas </video> <video> BURKINABÈ BOUNTY: agroecology in Burkina Faso | Documentary | Various subtitles Description: The documentary chronicles agricultural resistance and the fight for food sovereignty in Burkina Faso--a small, landlocked country in West Africa. Showcasing activist farmers, students, artists, and leaders in the local Slow Food movement, the film looks at how the Burkinabè people are reclaiming their land and defending their traditions against the encroachment of corporate agribusiness. From women gaining economic independence by selling artisanal "dolo" beer, to youth marching in the streets against companies like Monsanto, to hip-hop musicians setting up their own farms and reviving the revolutionary spirit of Thomas Sankara through their music, BURKINABÈ BOUNTY shows the creative tactics people are using to take back control of their food, seeds, and future. ========================================================================== 🎥 Director/Producer - Iara Lee Korean-Brazilian 🇰🇷 🇧🇷 activist filmmaker, world traveler and sports enthusiast.🏊🏻‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️ 🚴🏻‍♀️ INSTAGRAM: @iaralee ❇️FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM - @culturesofresistance or check our website. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more! ========================================================================== Interested to show the film in your community? please e-mail us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com </video> <video> 10 year anniversary of Israeli Attack on the Mavi Marmara/Gaza Freedom Flotilla Description: </video> <video> From Trash To Treasure: Turning Negatives Into Positives | Documentary Short Description: ♻️ Creative resistance and grassroots activism in Lesotho - rethinking, reusing, reinventing. ▪️ Subtitles (CC) : English, Español, عربى, Français, Português, Italiano 🇱🇸 In Lesotho—a highland country surrounded by South Africa—an artist named Nthabiseng TeReo Mohanela takes discarded materials and transforms them into unique clothing and accessories. Teaching young people the benefits of recycling and re-creation, she calls her project “From Trash to Treasure.” With TeReo’s work as a starting point, this short film showcases a broader spirit of re-imagination among artists in Lesotho, who use creativity to respond to entrenched social problems: Filmmakers show the need to end child marriage. Musicians write songs about climate change. Farmers collect seeds to protect endangered tree species. Designers use fashion to preserve traditional Basotho culture and challenge common perceptions of Africa. Profiling a variety of these innovators, "FROM TRASH TO TREASURE: turning negatives into positives" encourages us to take lessons from those who rethink, reuse, and reinvent in order to promote positive change. 🎥 Director/Producer: Iara Lee - Korean-Brazilian 🇰🇷 🇧🇷 activist filmmaker, world traveler and sports enthusiast 🏊🏻‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️ 🚴🏻‍♀️ INSTAGRAM: @iara_lee Editor/Cameramen - Dimo Petkov ========== 🏆 NIGERIA / ABUJA, Best Film, Africa Film For Impact Festival, 2020 UNITED STATES / NEW YORK, NY, Best Documentary Short, Indie Shorts Awards New York, 2020 PORTUGAL / Viseu, 1st prize - Social Responsibility, Best Short Documentary, & Best Documentary, ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, 2020 and others... ========== ✋ Learn how to❗TAKE ACTION ❗ ❇️FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM - @culturesofresistance or check our website @ad 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more! *if you would like to screen the film, please e-mail us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com* </video> <video> Stalking Chernobyl: Exploration After Apocalypse | Documentary Description: Stalking Chernobyl: Exploration After Apocalypse, a documentary from Cultures of Resistance Films, examines the underground culture of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Three decades after the world's most infamous nuclear disaster, animals and nature returned in the absence of human settlements. Meanwhile, illegal hiking adventurers known as "stalkers," extreme sports aficionados, artists, and tour companies have begun to explore anew the ghostly, radioactive, and post-apocalyptic landscape. ------------------------------ 🌍 ✨ Join us in fostering discussions and connections worldwide! Reach out to us at info@culturesofresistancefilms.com if you'd like to host a film screening! ✉️ Get notified about COR events in your area—subscribe to our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/dKbcGc 📲 Instagram - @culturesofresistance 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more #chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldiaries #chernobyldrone </video> <video> Sophia Vassili - Interview with Iara Lee Description: Iara Lee is a Brazilian film producer, director and activist of Korean descent who works mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Her most recent project is Stalking Chernobyl: Exploration After Apocalypse (2020), a documentary about life in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Lee is the founder of the Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation (formerly named the Caipirinha Foundation) and a longtime supporter of Greenpeace International, Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Doctors Without Borders, among many other organizations. </video>

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Cultures of Resistance Films creates and distributes films that advance public awareness about issues of social and economic justice. Our documentaries show around the globe at major film festivals and grassroots events, screening in venues ranging from refugee camps and community centers to red carpet galas.
We view filmmaking not only as a way of documenting injustices but also as an important part of the effort to promote change. In addition to highlighting the work of Cultures of Resistance Films, this channel also features news about recipients of our Creative Activism Awards--artists, educators, farmers, and designers who are using their work to pursue social justice through creative expression.

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