In July 2017, two experts commissioned by Fondation Hirondelle hosted a 2-week workshop in Karachi, Pakistan, for 8 young directors (4 Pakistani and 4 Afghan; 4 working in audio and 4 in video). During the course, each participant produced a documentary on the theme of human rights and peacebuilding. The workshop was set up by the UN Information Center and the Swiss Embassy in Pakistan.
From 2015 to 2017, the UN Information Centre and the Swiss Embassy in Pakistan partnered in an effort to improve the publication of information on human rights throughout the country. The Human Rights Through Cinematography film festival, organised in partnership with several member states and the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, gave Pakistani audiences a chance to view professional documentaries on human rights issues from all over the world. The festival brought the leading lights of documentary film-making to Pakistan, where they met with diverse audiences. The training course was part of this program.
The training aimed to:
- Provide Pakistani and Afghan documentary film-makers with a high-quality training opportunity;
- Foster human rights and peacebuilding;
- Strengthen dialogue and professional relations between young Pakistani and Afghan documentary film-makers by developing common projects with the support of professionals;
- In Pakistan and Afghanistan, screen documentaries on human rights issues based on the shared perspective/vision of young Pakistani and Afghan film-makers.
The training course was developed by Fondation Hirondelle. It included:
- A review of journalism, ethics and production preparation
- Writing a documentary script
- Making contacts, scouting locations, and carrying out interviews
- Technical training
- Production
- Post-production
The documentaries produced during this workshop were screened in March 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights.