Film is a powerful tool in bringing people together and inspiring audiences. Our recent Being Seen series used film as a medium to engage Auckland’s Ethnic Communities and encourage conversations about cultural identity, belonging and inclusion.
We were proud to partner with Pan Asian Screen Collective for this unique and powerful initiative, featuring four curated short films made by Pan-Asian filmmakers. Over 140 people attended the four Being Seen events held in different locations in Auckland. The films covered social and cultural themes, including identity, racism, migration, isolation and inclusion.
Our Ministry regularly engages with Ethnic Communities to understand their challenges, lived experiences and needs. These engagements help inform our work as the chief advisor to the government on ethnic diversity and inclusion in New Zealand society.
“Filmmaking is powerful in the way it brings issues to the surface, invites people to reflect and question, and gives insight into our differences and commonalities,” says Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
“Being Seen not only provided a platform for Pan-Asian New Zealand filmmakers to share their stories with diverse audiences, but it was an opportunity for a deep dive into some of the themes emerging from the films. Being Seen was also an opportunity for participants to share their views and experiences – a chance for them to be seen and heard.”
“The insights and experiences we gather add a valuable layer of understanding about our Ethnic Communities. These qualitative insights complement the quantitative data in our materials, like the Ethnic Evidence report. This combination enhances the depth and breadth of our evidence-based recommendations to other government agencies.”
The Being Seen sessions provided a safe space for participants to share their views on topics that impact many Ethnic Communities in New Zealand.
The screenings were followed by presentations by guest speakers and facilitated group discussions. Guest speakers included film directors who spoke about their motivation and provided anecdotes and insights about their filmmaking.
Participants were asked questions about what factors help encourage a sense of belonging, what some of the barriers are, and what people need to thrive in New Zealand. They shared their views openly among each other, telling stories and expressing their hopes for the future. They shared the impact cultural and language barriers, racism and discrimination have had on their sense of belonging. They also spoke about the positive experiences they have had and the importance of integration instead of assimilation, so one can integrate into society without having to compromise any part of their identity.
The films and discussion prompted a sense of respect and solidarity among participants. They could relate to many of the themes and common experiences.
The engagements align closely to two of our strategic priorities: Promote the value of diversity and improve the inclusion of Ethnic Communities in wider society, and connect and uplift ethnic community groups. We are always looking at new and innovative ways to engage with communities, and this was the first time we had used film as the focus for engagement.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Being Seen sessions and to the Pan Asian Screen Collective for partnering with us on this initiative. We received great feedback about the sessions, with participants welcoming the opportunity to watch films highlighting themes they could closely relate to, and the chance to discuss those themes in detail.
“We discussed the challenges Ethnic Communities face at length. It’s time now to understand and be empowered to work on sustainable solutions,” one participant shared in their feedback.
Another wrote: “I loved being able to put forward our views that matched with others and have our feedback acknowledged. Would like to see more films on day-to-day issues.”
The four films were Anu, written and directed by Pulkit Arora, Perianayaki, directed by Bala Murali Shingade and written by Shreya Gejji, Coffee & Allah, directed by Sima Urale and written by Shuchi Kothari and Buttons & Dumplings, directed by Calvin Sang.
