Network of Cultural Centres, Spanish Cooperation
Even so, a film does not have the power to change things on its own; in my opinion, it is politics that makes the difference. But I do believe that one of the instruments that politics must employ to bring about change is that of culture. Because it is only through culture that people can thrive as equals. And there is no greater stimulant of abuse, inequality, corruption, racism or sexism than misinformation, the absence of guidelines, ignorance of our basic human rights and neglect of our past. In short, a culture vacuum. Films, as part of culture, can initiate the reflection that leads to change, because they have the power to stir, to move, they make us reflect, advance and open up. Due to the pressures of work, I have not been able to visit all the Cultural Centres to which I have been invited, to share workshops with local filmmakers and artists, to experience all the Agency’s activities at first hand. But on many occasions I have been able to attend shows or festivals supported by the AECID, in places like the Saharawi camps in Algeria, where the population would have been unable to see our cinema in any other way. In these camps, I have seen Saharawi women talking about the issues raised by Te doy mis ojos, and heard their ideas and proposals for eradicating violence against women. After more than thirty years accompanying these films and taking part in hundreds of talks, I am still impressed by the power of communication of cinema, how it transports our culture and our experiences, opening windows elsewhere so that others may not only see us, but breathe, be moved and become excited with us.
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Icíar Bollaín, with the actor Luis Tosar, during the filming of También la lluvia in 2010.
