ARTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGES

" World Through Women Eyes" International Forum of Women Filmmakers

We call the world women community that if we are aware of our own problems we will understand the problems and concerns of others. The world and human have its common problems in the globalization.

Countries closely linked in the modern world beyond different cultures, religious and life styles so vital problems arise locally in single country and it become global under the new circumstances and new changes. Countries and world community must be unified to solve the problems together and be tolerant and mutual to each other. Arts, particularly cinema with its accessibility and imaginative specifics plays important and significant role in it. That is why we initiated the Forum with goal to promote and encourage the mutual understanding and cooperation between different cultures through women productions, assist women in making carries in the cinema and achieve success, and support them in contribution of renovation on independence and strong spirit in the cinema.

The first International Forum of Women Filmmakers “World Through Women’s Eyes” was orgainsed by financial support of Arts and Culture program of OSI-Budapest in the framework of a network program Bridge of Understanding. The Forum also was supported by the Russian Embassy in ULaanbaatar, " Gobi" Corporastion, MCS Coka Kola and Bulgarian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

The Forum was organized on 16-21 September, 2002 in Ulaanbaatar under motto "Your Stories are Our Stories" and involved 8 participants from Central Asia, Caucasian region, Europe and Mongolia. The participants presented their feature and documentary works produced during the last 3 years.

Feature films:
- “Letter to America” Director Iglika Triffonova, Bulgaria, 100 min
- “Magic sponsor” Director Asya Suleeva, Kasakhstan, 84 min
- “Election of the class leader” Director L.Ariunjargal, Mongolia, 25 min
- “Secret of the family” Director Elena Tsyplakova, Russia, 44 min

Documentaries:
- “Closed circle” Producer Susanna Vardanyan, Armenia, 30 min
- “Invisible beings” Director Liana Jaqeli, Georgia, 44 min
- “At the beginning of two springs” Director Gauhar Sydykova, Kyrgyzstan 13 min
- “Right to live” Director N.Uranchimeg, Mongolia 47 min

The productions demonstrated the professionalism of women filmmakers and told about different stories related to social changes in the country and the world.

The International Forum and its activities offered the women a possibility to share experiences and ideas, their problems and difficulties, present their works to their colleagues from other countries and Mongolian audience, exchange information, opinions and views on life and the world, which are radically changing during the last period, and enabled to set up contacts with each others.

The Forum started with opening ceremony on 16 September, 2002 held at Cinema "OD". H.Naranjargal, President of the Globe International noted in her opening speech that The world is changing specially after the Sept.11th event in the US. Mrs. N.Gerelsuren, Parliament member, and Mr G.Jigjidsuren, Head officer of cinema branch of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture had taken speeches and they emphasized the importance and significance of the Forum and wished successes to women filmmakers. The participants were given flowers and souvenirs, and Mr. Purevhuu, the famous Mongolian musician passed greeting with morun-khuur, the traditional instrument.

Round table: Women in the cinema

Round table was held on September 18, 2002 at Bulgarian Embassy and involved 33 participants.

Ms H.Naranjargal opened the round table and she noted that history of women in the cinema is long as production itself. Women have been participating in creation of films since 1896 but women studies have started later, in the 1960s. The first film was produced by Alice Blanch in 1896. However, women-authors are still rare. Women studies in the cinema have been weak in the former communist countries. Beyond acting in features women played the second role in making productions. Directing was considered to be as male profession. Since the human rights of women and their status in the society have been increased in the democratic transitions role of women in the cinema has been radically changing. Number of women making cinema are increasing but they are still not competitive in quantity. Women making cinema are able to contribute renovation of new view and opinion on the world and life using their native nature being tolerant, mild and flair. Unfortunately, their voices are not still sufficient in formation of social opinion and public awareness through films. It is need to support women making cinema and offer them opportunity to take contributions in the development of cinema.

Mr G.Jigjidsuren, the famous Mongolian film director has taken his presentation on role of women filmmakers in the world cinema. He mentioned the names great filmmakers of the world and Mongolia and emphasized their contribution to the development of the world film..

The round table discussion consisted of 2 parts; and Women in the cinema: New Profession or New Opportunity? and Women's theme in the cinema: Traditional or New?

3 more works; Virgin Dairies( USA) and Ornaments on the silk(Mongolia)and Auto Washer ( Kyrgyz ). Colleagues agreed the films are good, professional and serious works and raise important social issues. The films encouraged the intensive discussions. These 2 works are about women and gender problems in Arab world and Mongolia and 3d film was positive portrait of Russian women living in Bishkek.

During the round table the women filmmakers took their country presentations on situation on of women filmmakers that provided new and interesting information for their colleagues. Women noted they have the common and similar conditions in each country. The participants also exchanged their views on possibilities of women to make carrier in the cinema and the most of participants agreed the democracy has given more chance for women to express their opinion through films. 2d part of the round table was devoted to problems of women in the screen. They also saw a documentary.

Ms. Jessica Woodworth , an American filmmaker introduced the women with forms of fundraising for documentary. Jessica Woodworth noted that opportunities of men and women filmmakers for finding funds are the same, they just need to study how to write the project proposal on your documentary and develop the story. She also noted the importance of using new techniques and technology.

Creative meeting with the Mongolian filmmakers
Meeting was held on and dedicated to the role of cinema in democratization and globalization and tendency of development and freedom of mind and pluralism in the arts. 40 filmmakers and film historians attended the meeting. Meeting started with presentation of Mrs. Saratuya , who has given an extensive information about the cinema situation of Mongolia. The participants discussed about relationship and cooperation in the future and possibilities of joint projects.

Elena Tsyplakova, Russian director showed her feature film “Bamboo heaven”. The most of participants noted that the forum was important and significant event for Mongolia and expressed their thanks to organizers.

The 2d International Forum of Filmmakers will be held on 8-15 September 2004 in Ulaanbaatar. Women from Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine are joining to the Forum.