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News Release

Last modified: Monday, March 23, 2009

Filmmaker to discuss documentary about worldwide student activism during IU screening

The World We Want follows activists in eight countries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The producer-director of a film that follows students around the globe as they work to bring attention to critical issues in their countries will be on the Indiana University campus Thursday evening, March 26, for a 7 p.m. screening of The World We Want, his award-winning documentary.

The film follows activist youth between the ages of 11 and 16 in eight countries (the U.S., Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Russia and Senegal) as they pressure leaders about issues of public policy in their communities. Patrick Davidson, the film's producer and director, will attend the screening at IU's Fine Arts Auditorium and will answer questions after the film.

IU's Center for Social Studies and International Education, the IU School of Education Dean's Advisory Council and the Office of the Vice President for International Programs is sponsoring the screening. Admission is free.

"This is a rare opportunity for members of the IU and Bloomington communities to view a major documentary film that is receiving critical acclaim and to hear directly from its producer-director about the importance of this work and the process of creating it," said Terry Mason, a professor in the School of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and director of the Center for Social Studies and International Education.

"It is a truly inspiring piece of filmmaking and we are very lucky to be showing it here on campus. It also provides a compelling counter-example to the perception that today's youth are disengaged and not interested in improving life in their own communities and creating a better world."

Among the issues the film's subjects tackle are teenage gambling, creating a community constitution in a war-torn town and securing clean drinking water. The film follows the young activists as they try to convince local and national leaders to take action. The film is inspired by "We the People: Project Citizen," an international program to promote civic involvement funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

"I want kids all over the world to say 'I want to be one of them; I want to do what they have done,'" Davidson said. "Also, I want adults to feel proud of these kids and to have a greater respect for the power of kids everywhere and to help them reach their goals."

Davidson has worked for ABC and the Walt Disney Company. He produced this documentary independently and has said he hopes to make an ongoing television series that features similar stories and follows up on the youth who are featured in this film in 3 to 5 years.

"The film is only a taste of the thousands of extraordinary kids and stories waiting to be told," he said.

Mason hopes the film should provide inspiration to all here who see it.

"We hope this will encourage teachers and students here to engage in similar civic action and to gain an appreciation for what young people around the world are doing to improve life for their fellow citizens," he said.

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