7 May, 2008Film makers and labour activists turnout for 2nd annual Night of Labour Films Shorts
GENEVA: On May Day 2008 the International Metalworkers' Federation jointly with global union federations and the ITUC hosted the Night of Labour Films Shorts. Similarly to last year, films were shown in the historic cinema Grütli, in downtown Geneva.
Anna Biondi from the ITUC opened the event and welcomed visitors, mentioning that over 50 films were submitted by unions around the world showing a clear sign of growing interest of the unions towards films and video as a powerful tool for the labour movement.
She also took the opportunity to announce that the ITUC would be setting up a Labour Films channel online and encouraged unions and union federations to submit their work to the ITUC to be part of the exciting project.
Around 100 people attended the event, some of them filmmakers whose work was being shown. Opinions differed greatly, some of the comments made by moviegoers can be seen below. Everybody agreed that the event should grow and expand with the years to come:
"It was a good variety of films and the difference of the messages as well. It is moving and very inspiring." -- Caroline Jacobsson, EMF
"It was an interesting way of celebrating May Day by watching how the workers in different parts of the world act, even if they have to work in more horrible conditions than ours, we as well should not leave the thing flying away we should make steps forward, we can't loose the social guarantees that were earned at high price in the past and just let them go."-- Geneva student
"This is a great way to make again people feel what the international trade union movement is about; it is very a good beginning of something good that could last on YouTube and on other websites, the IMF has done a great job in taking this initiative."-- Jim Baker, ITUC
You may make your own opinion about the event by watching on-line all of the films shown during the Night of Labour Film Shorts! You're welcome to send your comments to us.