Previous screenings......

Sunday 10th March



BLOOD IN THE MOBILE

Frank Praschei Poulson, Denmark 2010 (12A), 82 min

Our demand for mobile phones helps finance the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, that has cost five million lives. Documentary director Frank Praschei Poulson exposes the bloody side of the mobile phone trade where slave labourers extract by hand the minerals exported to Europe for electronic equipment. The workers, often teenagers, live in camps patrolled by soldiers and run by warlords who exploit them. Unsurprisingly, Poulson is blocked when he tries to engage with the policy makers at Nokia, the Danish mobile phone market leader.

BEFORE DARK

T.G. Ajay, India 2010 (U) 33 min, Hindi with EST

The Jindal Thermal Plant in Chhattisgarh destroyed the fertile land and homes of the farming community, polluted the water and damaged the local environment. Despite public hearings and campaigns, the local administration and government failed to protect the villagers. Corporate interests won over the rights of individuals. The director had been imprisoned on false charges and later dedicated the film to those who had campaigned for his release.

Discussion led by Jonathan Parry,  Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Conrad Landin, Young Labour activist at Cambridge and Associate Editor of Left Futures (www.leftfutures.org)

Sunday 10th February

STEALING THE ARAB SPRING

Julien Teil & Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, France 2012 (Advised 12A) 34 min

This documentary exposes the body of lies that led to the suspension of Libya from the Human Rights Council and generated the Nato-led war to protect the Libyan population. The allegations which claimed that Gaddafi had violently repressed and killed 6,000 of his own people had originated from human rights organisations within Libya and were sanctioned by seventy plus NGOs. These lies had spread before they were verified and led to the murder and detention of many Black African and sub Saharan migrant workers and Black Libyans.

OTHER EUROPE (ALTRA EUROPA)

Rosella Schillaci, Italy 2011 (12A) 75min

200 migrants from Africa squat an abandoned clinic in Turin, north Italy, in 2008. The director follows three of them during a year in which they struggle for survival as legal, political refugees, dealing with suspicion from the local community and minimal support from voluntary associations and local council initiatives. This feature documentary illustrates the changing face of Europe, immigration policies and the inherent contradictions these pose for the migrants and the host community.

Al Jazeera International Film Festival Qutar 2012; Public Liberties and human rights award for long categories, 
2011 RAI International Film Festival London; RAI film prize , 
2011 This human world International Film Festival, Vienna; Jury prize, 
Piemonte movie; 1st Prize,
Baghdad Film Festival- Jury Prize,
2011 Salina Doc Fest ITALIA.DOC section- Best Documentary,

To watch the trailer and find more information visit www.azulfilm.com or email doc@azulfilm.com

Discussion led by Jeremy Corbyn MP

Sunday 12th January 2013

GASLAND

Josh Fox, USA 2010 (PG) 107min

“Fracking,” mining shale gas by injecting water, sand and chemicals into rocks far below the ground could meet the UK’s energy needs for 100 years but conservationists condemn it. This documentary investigates environmental concerns of climate change and the risks to human health of “fracking” in north America. The Co-operative Group supports this film in campaigning for a moratorium on the development of shale gas and “fracking” in the UK.

Oscar Nominated 2011, Sundance Special Jury Award 2010.

Discussion led by Derek Wall, International Co-ordinator of the Green Party of England & Wales.

Sunday 23rd September 2012

UK PREMIERE: DUDAMEL: LET THE CHILDREN PLAY

Alberto Arvelo Mendoza, USA/ Venezuela 2010 (PG), 90 mins, Spanish with EST

You just have to look at the children’s faces in the El Sistema orchestra, led by Gustavo Dudamel their gifted conductor, to see their joy and engagement. Thirty-five years on, across fifty countries, this radical movement spills into deprived communities and offers the young a chance to empower themselves. Capitalist societies degrade arts education; Venezuela believes that engaging the soul inspres a passion which carries children  through every level of education and instils hard work and dedication. “Music makes me feel as if i’m flying.”

We expect to include a short film before the main feature.

Discussion led by Alvaro Sanchez, of the Venezuelan embassy press office, and Dr Francisco Dominguez, head of the Centre for Brazilian and Latin American Studies at Middlesex University.