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The Why Foundation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Why Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Copenhagen that produces and distributes social justice-oriented documentary films world-wide.[1][2][3] It was founded the name Steps International by Nick Fraser and Mette Hoffmann Meyer[4] in 2004 and renamed in 2014.[5]

The foundation expresses commitment to free access to information,[6] providing free online screening on their website and on YouTube, as well as partnering with TV stations across the world for Public-access television.[7] The foundation also organizes screenings for schoolkids around the world, showing its films dubbed or subtitled in local languages.[8][9]

From 2004 the foundation was headed by CEO Don Edkins, he was succeeded by Danish documentary filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen [da] in 2014.[10] The current CEO is Mette Hoffmann Meyer.[4]

In 2013 the foundation won a Peabody award, under its former name, Steps International, for its series Why Poverty?[11]

In 2018 the foundation released its fourth documentary series called Why Slavery?, documenting various forms of modern slavery in six films.[12] The series reached 191 countries through 70 TV stations, including BBC and BBC World News.[13]

Films

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The Why Foundation has produced the following documentary series:

  • Why Democracy?[14]
    • Bloody Cartoons (2007)
    • For God, the Tsar and the Fatherland (2007)
    • Egypt: We are Watching You (2007)
    • Looking for the Revolution (2007)
    • In Search of Gandhi (2007)
    • Iron Ladies of Liberia (2007)
    • Please Vote for Me (2007)
    • Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
    • Campaign! The Kawasaki Candidate (2007)
    • Dinner With the President (2007)
  • Why Poverty?[15]
  • Why Women?[16]
    • The Secret Slaves of the Middle East (2016)
    • State of Women (2016)
    • Crown Princess Mary's Mission (2016)
  • Why Slavery?[1]
    • A Woman Captured (2017)
    • North Korea's Secret Slaves: Dollar Heroes (2018)
    • Maid In Hell (2018)
    • I Was a Yazidi Slave (2018)
    • Selling Children (2018)
    • Jailed in America (2018)
  • Why Plastic?[17][18]
    • The Recycling Myth (2022)
    • We the Guinea Pigs (2021)
    • Coca-Cola's Plastic Promises (2021)

References

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  1. ^ a b Goldman, Lisa. "There are over 40 million people living in slavery around the world | The Passionate Eye". CBC.
  2. ^ Rafique, Waiza (15 January 2020). "Discussing Human Rights through films: #The Why Film Festival 2020". Daily Times.
  3. ^ "Documentales para acercarse a la otra cara del mundo". La Capital. October 17, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Paul, Jonathan (September 15, 2016). "DR TV doc chief Mette Hoffmann Meyer to step down". Realscreen.
  5. ^ Ravn Nielsen, Marie (September 24, 2014). "DR2 mister markant journalistisk chef". DR.
  6. ^ "About THE WHY". www.thewhy.dk.
  7. ^ Jensen, Sally (October 8, 2018). "Seks nye dokumentarfilm skal åbne verdens øjne for moderne slaveri - Danwatch". danwatch.
  8. ^ Ravindran, Manori (July 24, 2019). "Why in the World: Foundation Promotes Human Rights through Docs". The IDA.
  9. ^ Freije, Layal (April 14, 2019). "Film som ændrer verden: "Vi siger, at vi er verdens mindste organisation med verdens største footprint"". Børsen.
  10. ^ Ravindran, Manori (September 23, 2014). "Steps Int'l rebrands as Why Foundation, names CEO". Realscreen.
  11. ^ "Why Poverty? Steps International, BBC, DR-Danish Broadcast Corp". Peabody.
  12. ^ Flott, Søren (October 15, 2018). "Mennesker til salg: Køb en slave for 581 kroner". Fyens Stiftstidende.
  13. ^ Nordentoft, Ane (September 27, 2018). "Serie af dokumentarfilm sætter fokus på moderne slaveri | Globalnyt". Globalnyt.
  14. ^ Movin, Lars (November 1, 2007). ""Why Democracy?": Is Democracy for Everyone?". Det Danske Film Institutet.
  15. ^ Fraser, Nick (November 15, 2012). "Global broadcasters in partnership ask 'WHY POVERTY?'". BBC.
  16. ^ Arvin, Bo Bech (May 7, 2016). "DR sætter fokus på kvinders vilkår og ligestilling". DR.
  17. ^ "Why Plastic?". www.thewhy.dk. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  18. ^ "WHY PLASTIC?". Aarhus Series. October 27, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-18.