EPISODE #1 – IARA LEE
Iara Lee is an activist filmmaker, who uses her filmmaking as a tool for social and political change.
She is the founder of Cultures of Resistance Films, whose mission is to create and distribute films that advance public awareness about issues of social and economic justice, and that showcase creative efforts to promote peace and protect human rights.
She is also the founder of Cultures of Resistance Network – an independent organisation that promotes global solidarity and aims to promote and support organisations, activists and artists who seek a more peaceful, just and democratic world, through creative resistance and non-violent action.
In 2010, Iara was involved in the GAZA Freedom Flotilla, where 9 pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli naval forces, and dozens more injured – Yet she and her team still managed to smuggle their film footage off the ship, which was later screened at the United Nations.
KEY POINTS DISCUSSED IN THIS CONVERSATION:
– The power of film, and art, as tools for social and political change.
– The importance of remaining independent in your work, and fighting for what you believe in.
– The sacrifices required when doing this sort of work.
– The realities of dealing with “rejection” as an artist and filmmaker.
– The importance of remaining humble, and viewing films and activism as “seeds”, which may take generations before we begin to see the results.
Iara speaks with an optimism and positivity that is contagious, and it’s impossible to not be touched, moved, inspired and motived by her words, and more importantly, her actions.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 9th July, 2020
LINKS:
Cultures of Resistance Network
YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO-ONLY VERSION OF THIS PODCAST EPISODE.
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