Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy

Also screened in The Critical Room - the festival’s forum for film and debate.

An important and entertaining documentary about 12 cartoonists who fight for democracy and freedom of speech. With an anchoring in director Stéphanie Valloatto's home country France, we visit foot soldiers of democracy from Tunisia to Mexico, Palestine to Burkina Faso. With sharpened pencils and humoristic views the artists have gained a reputation both in their own countries and beyond, taking on repression, hypocrisy and conservatism to advance their democratic cause. The film illustrates the effective role cartoons still can play as political commentary in an increasingly interconnected world. wg

The Critical Room - 18th October kl. 15:00, Victoria Kino

One of the portrayed cartoonists in the film, Nadia Khiari joins colleagues Roar Hagen and Somali Abdul Muhiaddin in a discussion on the role and importance of political cartoons in today’s society. The discussion is led by author and professor Elisabeth Eide.

Stéphanie Valloatto is a French director and writer, most known for La femme seule à la robe bleue (2001) and Empreintes (2011). Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy is her first documentary feature, co-written with Radu Mihaileanu. The film premiered in Cannes in 2014.