Commonwealth Writers inspires writers, storytellers and a range of cultural practitioners to work for social change. It builds communities of less heard and emerging voices to influence, directly and indirectly, the decision making processes which affect their lives.

 

Commonwealth Shorts is a partnership between Commonwealth Writers, B3 Media and The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association/Worldview.

Commonwealth Shorts is a capacity building scheme to give new writer/directors the opportunity to make a film along the theme of relationships. The films are designed to promote debate about a particular issue which is relevant to the film maker’s community, for example, indigenous rights, migration or homosexuality.

The five shorts were launched in Auckland, New Zealand, alongside a production lab for the film makers (Feb 25th-27th). Commonwealth Writers is working on this three day event with Documentary NZ Trust and with support from the New Zealand Film Commission. These films will then be shown at international festivals and used in advocacy work across the Commonwealth. The current writer/directors are: Wanjiru Kairu in Kenya, Oscar Kightley in New Zealand, Jules Koostachin in Canada, Kareem Mortimer in The Bahamas, and Lisa Harewood in Barbados. Eight film makers from the Pacific region will join the existing writer/directors for the production lab – click here for further details.

The Launch

New Zealand hosts the launch of the Commonwealth Shorts films

The Production Lab

A resource for aspiring film makers, coming soon

#cwshorts

See how the event unfolded live on www.twitter.com/cwwriters

Trailer

View a trailer of the five featured short films below

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