THE THIRD WORLD
Third world countries, also known as emerging or developing nations, have produced more than half of the world’s films. Unfortunately, a majority of their filmmakers have stayed relatively unknown as western films continued to dominate the film market. But with perseverance and ingenuity, they are finally beginning to get the recognition they deserve. Given today’s technological advancements, the world has grown smaller. Filmmakers are more attuned now to each other’s works and yet brilliant third world filmmakers are often still overlooked.
Ted Unarce, an award winning filmmaker, created the Third World Independent Film Festival when he saw a lack of representation of groundbreaking and talented filmmakers from third world countries. The festival provides these filmmakers a platform to not only be recognized but also actively participate in a level playing ground with filmmakers from developed nations and bring their work to a global audience.BRIDGING THE GAP
The festival, in promoting and celebrating cultural diversity as well as helping elevate the status of third world filmmakers, extends an invitation to filmmakers from developed countries to participate in the festival and showcase their unique and original stories of the third world. This would help push the envelope of filmmaking by providing their own perspective of third world issues through the various genres of film.
A new age in cinema will rise through films the audience has long waited for: an exhilarating experience of foreign cultures and worlds they have never seen, films that, perhaps, will forever change the industry and society.