Visual Storytelling for Civic Engagement
2024 Film Festival
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
About the Course
This is an OSUN Network Collaborative Course taught in collaboration with Al-Quds Bard, American University of Central Asian, Bard College, BRAC University, European Humanities University, and University of the Andes.
- All participating campuses had smartphone stabilizers, tripods, lights, audio kits, and at least one DSLR camera for student use.
- This class introduced students to the uses of video for civic engagement and development projects, and trained them in the basics of smartphone-based documentary film techniques.
- Taught by an award-winning group of documentary filmmakers, this class builds on classic PBS and BBC documentary film techniques.
- This online film festival showcased the final projects produced by the student groups from each campus.
2024 Film Festival
The OSUN Visual Storytelling for Civic Engagement festival celebrates student-made videos from across the OSUN Network. The screening is followed by voting by a panel of judges and the nominated films are listed below each category.
Award Categories
Ya no están aquí: La Historia de Alejandro Zarate
La Trocha
Poop Diary: The Bio Gas Revolution
Women in Kajy-Sai
Beyond the Brush: A Nation’s Awakening
Frozen Hope: Crafting Hand-made Glaciers in Kyrgyzstan
Urban Canvas
Thrift 2 Fight
Al-Quds Bard College Students
Beyond the Brush: A Nation’s Awakening
Films
Frozen Hope: Crafting Hand-made Glaciers in Kyrgyzstan
As Kyrgyzstan’s glaciers rapidly disapper due to climate change, eco-communties are finding innovative ways to preserve their frozen lifeline by creating hand-made glaciers.
Albina Dastanova, Alina Mamatovam, Khazon Mirazizova, Aizirek Zhangaraeva
AUCA
Women in Kajy-Sai
Women in Kadji-Sai are transforming their community by starting small businesses, creating jobs, and inspiring change. Through resilience and vision, they are breathing new life into their town, proving that hope and hard work can shape the future.
Fotima Kayumova, Tamara Aiman kyzy, Aiym Asankulova
AUCA
Education for Afghan Girls
In a fight for education, Afghan girls redefine resilience by crossing borders and barriers to prove that hope and perseverance can thrive even in the darkest times.
Dilangez Beknazarova, Fatima Noor, Meerim Kanybekova
AUCA
The Cost of Care
“The Cost of Care” explores the struggles faced by families in Kyrgyzstan due to low disability allowances, focusing on a 17-year-old chess champion with cerebral palsy and the resilience of those affected.
Aizhan Kaparova, Abdumajitova Ak-Maral, Kamolova Takhmina, Emilbekova Aliia
AUCA
Thrift 2 Fight
This film explores the vibrant and transformative impact of the Thrift2Fight thrift store which supports local charities and provides resources for marginalized communities. The founders share their passion for advocacy for social justice.
Lilli Rotondi, Nate Madrid, Maksysm Panchokha, Victoria Bagatcholon
BARD COLLEGE
O Zone
The O Zone is a resource center that fosters sustainability education programs and provides the local community with bulk goods, a Community Compost CSA, and a variety of workshops. This film captures their passion for civic engagement.
Nico Wenis, Morgan Chavez, Tommy Bennett, Shahd Safi
BARD COLLEGE
Behind the Stare: Women’s Safety in Bangladesh’s Public Transport
Exploring the harsh realities of sexual harassment faced by women on public transportation in Bangladesh, this documentary explores the challenges, suggests solutions, and aims to create safer journeys for all.
Shadman Sakib, Md. Abrar-Ud-Doula Amiya, Zerico Afrina, Rafsan Islam Nafiz, Sindid Karim Sudad, Sunehra Afreen
brac university
Beyond the Brush: A Nation’s Awakening
Amidst the recent uprising in Bangladesh that toppled an autocratic regime, young artists used their creativity as a powerful tool of protest and activism.
Ruposh Rabbi, Rodel Advan, Shayna Alam
brac university
Dhaka’s Traffic Crisis
Can Dhaka’s residents escape the daily struggle of endless traffic?
Robiul Hasan Apu, Md Mazed Hossain, Md. Naim Rahman
brac university
Left Unheard: Bangladesh’s Animal Abuse
The loopholes in the Bangladesh legal system allow perpetrators of animal violence to escape justice but animal activists hope to reform the law.
Kaushik Datta, Malika Muradi, Imtiaj Mrida Saiem, Azanuzzaman Bhuiya
brac university
Poop Diary: The Bio Gas Revolution
This film explores the benefits and challenges of biogas as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels in Bangladesh, through the lens of a biogas plant owner.
Tarifa Akhter Chowdhury, Umme Mahbuba Tamanna, Wasif Islam, Md. Arafat Rahman
BRAC UNIVERSITY
Urban Renewal in Philadelphia’s Chinatown
This film explores the benefits and challenges of biogas as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels in Bangladesh, through the lens of a biogas plant owner.
Lillian Weng, Devika Goyal, William Park, Dana Berejka
Columbia University
IWAV: A Community in Shades of Pink
IWAV women’s association overcomes biases, creates a supportive community and drives change in Lithuania.
Dziyana Baradach, Veranika Koushal, Arianna Teskari
EHU
Urban Canvas
A guy leaves graffiti behind everywhere he goes around the town. But it seems like someone is already on the trail. How much more can he make before getting caught red-handed?
Dziana Vialichka, Kai
EHU
Ya no están aquí: La Historia de Alejandro Zarate
On January 25, 2002, Alejandro Zarate, then a 10-year-old boy, lost his mother and 5-year-old sister to a bicycle bomb attack at the hands of the FARC.
María Paula Méndez Caballero, Sara Marcela Gutiérrez Parra, José Santiago Manrique Quevedo
Uniandes
La Trocha
After spending more than 30 years in the FARC guerrilla, Doris Suarez decided to trade the path of arms for an entrepreneurial venture with her craft beer and her bar, La Trocha.
Gabriel Barrero Medina, Ana María Botello Garcia, Juan Esteban Baquero Marroquín
Uniandes
La Performance del Retorno
Manuel Antonio Velandia performed from exile. The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) threatened him in 2007, but when he returned to Colombia in 2019, he used his “artivism” as a form of resilience.
Julián David Rincón Ospina, María Gabriela Parra Colobón, Gabriel Fabián Rodríguez Gómez
Uniandes
Opportunity
Call for Grant Proposals: Students as Content Co-Creators
OSUN faculty can submit proposals for Students as Content Co-Creators grants. Projects can range from creating virtual art exhibits to curating a podcast series to developing audio and visual materials that offer insight into and build upon the unique perspectives of students and their communities. Materials will be made publicly accessible, with the permission of both students and faculty, in support of open education.
Meet the Faculty
Instructors
Each participating campus had hands-on training and mentoring with our local instructor teams to produce their documentaries.
Adam Stepan
Columbia University
New York, New York
Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva
American University of Central Asia
Bishkek, Kirgizstan
Dina Hossain
BRAC University
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Eva Egensteiner
Bard College, OSUN
New York
Seamus Heady
Bard College, OSUN
New York
Julia Titova
European Humanities University
Vilnius, Lithuania
Ricardo Alfonso Corredor
Universidad de los Andes
Bogota, Columbia
Pedro Samper Murillo
Universidad de los Andes
Bogota, Columbia
AQB Instructor
Al-Quds Bard College
East Jerusalem, Palestine
