Click on "Info" to find more information on each of the films available for viewing. To view a video, click "My List" and select the film of interest.
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If you are interested in organizing a film screening, e-mail us at outreach [at] africaaction.org for more resources or continue reading below for more information on how to organize a successful film screening!
ORGANIZING A FILM SCREENING
Stage I: Lights!
Find local partners to help co-sponsor the event.
Find a venue such as a movie theater, school, community center, technology center, etc. Make sure the venue’s seating allows for all attendees to view the screen without disruption.
Choose a date: Think strategically (avoid holiday weekends, find out about local events and how they might contribute to or take away from your turnout, think about the season).
Secure equipment: Figure out the format you will use (VHS, DVD, Beta) and get the necessary equipment for projection.
Plan the structure of the event: Will it just be a screening and discussion? Will there be other activities? Will any other films be screened?
Preview the film: If possible, make sure you have seen the film you are screening to allow for better post-film discussion and to make sure it is appropriate for your audience.
Stage II: Camera!
Distribute flyers, send e-mail announcements, post on local and online calendars, call community leaders.
Press: write a press advisory and send it to local newspapers, magazines and online publications, follow-up with phone calls.
Promotional materials: have postcards or other promotional materials for your movie, work with partners to make a one-pager about how people can get involved, set up a table within your community or at events where these materials can be displayed.
Stage III: Action!
Confirmation: The day before the event, make sure that all the key people will be there.
Be positive and flexible: Things don’t always work out as planned. Think of back-up plans ahead of time and try to keep a positive attitude.
Get there early to test the sound and video equipment. If you are using a VHS, please make sure it’s preset to the position you want to play.
Document your event: Take pictures and consider videotaping the discussion.
Have a table of information available at your event, or pass the information out to the audience.
Get everyone who attends the screening to add their name and contact information to your mailing list or forward to Africa Action so they can receive campaign updates and action alerts.
Stay within the time limits of the event.
Stage IV: Reaction!
Evaluate the success of the event; hand out and collect evaluation forms from everyone at the screening, ask people what they thought.
Learn from experience; use your experience and the feedback from evaluation forms to make the next outreach screening even better.
By following these steps, your screening should be a success and the group of people who attended the event should be thinking and talking about the film(s) and the issues addressed in it/them for a while. Be sure to email Africa Action to inform us of you event so we can get the word out and celebrate your success. Visit our website at www.africaaction.org.
