What does film-making have to do with social justice ?

More than you might think.

‘Film on Fire’ explores participatory film-making as an effective way to get people’s voices heard.

We’ll share our recipe with you. There are three magic ingredients:

1. Human beings with stories to tell about their own experience

2. Professional film-makers with story-telling skills to facilitate the creative process

3. The power of social media to get short videos out to a massive public

At ‘Film on Fire’ you’ll see a range of short films made by people at the sharp end of social inequality, whose voices are often silenced: asylum-seekers, children, women living in poverty, recovering drug addicts, people with learning disabilities.

At media co-op, we believe that with the right support, anyone can learn the tools to create films that are beautiful and pack a punch.

You’ll meet some of the participants and hear how it feels to take the camera into your own hands, to speak out, and spark change.

* Women from Pilton in the Making it Home poetry and film project

* Particpants who shared their stories anonymously in Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance's animated film Opening Doors, online in seven community languages, exposing how people with learning disabilities, addiction or mental health issues are at higher risk of losing their children, and what can be done about it.

‘Film on Fire’: a FREE friendly and enjoyable 90-minute session of viewing, sharing, reflecting, learning, inspiration and surprises. Real-life examples of co-design and co-production in action.

Please join us. Burn away some outdated concepts about who gets to make the media. Ignite some on-screen emotion and off-screen change.

See you at Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh on Monday 30 January 2017 at 2pm to 3.30pm

Your hosts: media co-op not-for-profit social enterprise and workers co-operative, founded in 2004 to harness the power of communication for social change.

Our co-hosting partner is Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, a membership organisation dedicated to ensure that Independent Advocacy is available to any vulnerable person in Scotland. SIAA commissioned Opening Doors from media co-op as part of their Familes at Risk project

This event is part of the Scottish Government's Fire Starter Festival, aimed at "exploring genuine, participatory methods of engagement, creating innovative and transformative changes". Let's go start a fire!

PS There's another 'Film on Fire' event in Glasgow on Thursday 26 January 2017, 4pm to 5.30pm