We are living in tumultuous times. Sometimes it feels almost normal to find out that another filmmaker is in hiding, or facing arrest for making a film that has upset a regime. And while this is not a new phenomenon, according to experts, there has been an increase in crackdowns globally on freedom of speech, affecting filmmakers alongside activists, journalists, and anyone else with a platform.

And just to be clear, this isn’t a far-away thing that can be ignored with the casual ennui that comes from living in the West. From Iran to the UK, filmmakers are threatened for speaking truth to power. This article summarises just a few of the places and filmmakers who have been silenced in recent years and it ends with a few glimmers of hope.

In a world where human rights are being violated, hope feels scarce – but that’s not entirely the case. With film festivals and organisations across the globe highlighting these issues, the flicker of hope is growing. I’m exploring these platforms and talking to filmmakers to find out what we, as an audience, can take away from human rights films.

While the film industry still isn’t equal for women, I’m looking at the positive changes that have been made in the industry — and I found a wonderful connection.

Are programmes specifically screening the work of female filmmakers antiquated or important? And do we need dedicated programmes to focus on women’s stories? I reached out to a mix of female filmmakers, festival organisers, and others in the industry to see what they think.

Sometime last year the news broke that the celebrated short film festival held annually in the French town of Clermont-Ferrand was in trouble. One of the major funders of the festival announced a surprise 50% cut in their subsidy for the 2023 edition - that had already taken place.

In the realm of filmmaking, the advent of mobile technology has revolutionized the way stories are told and visual narratives are crafted.

Smartphones have changed how we make and consume media in our daily lives. But how have they impacted areas of the film industry?

Elke Sasse is a filmmaker whose titles include THE CORONA DIARIES, THE WAR ON MY PHONE, and #MYESCAPE - all three documentaries focus on footage shot by real people, taken on their mobile phones.

You don’t need a budget when you’ve got a beach ball with legs - and other lessons from bargain science fiction films from history.

Academic and short filmmaker Sharon Ryba-Khan shares the importance of audience education in a consumerist world.