Filmmakers from across Iraq met in Baghdad for community policing film festival

The festival, hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the al-Rasheed Hotel, was an occasion to present 15 short films showing the impact of Community Policing on different towns and cities.

The fifteen films, from Anbar, Basra, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah Al-Din governorates, highlighted local solutions to local problems, including issues like gender-based harassment and reckless driving. An open call went out to filmmakers earlier this year and eight were selected to attend a media workshop in Baghdad in August 2019, together with Community Policing Forum (CPF) members. During the workshop, the participants explored best practices for social and behaviour change communication and began developing their film concepts.

The resulting films expand on the initial planning meetings that were held between CPF members and CP officers, during which participants identified the main security-related challenges facing their communities and developed interventions. They were produced with the aim of raising general awareness about Community Policing (CP) and showcasing the work that is being carried out in the communities to address local safety and security issues.

"Community Policing keeps pace with local events first-hand,” said Major General Saad Maan, Director of the Media and Public Relations Directorate at the Government of Iraq’s Ministry of Interior. “The development of this approach has significantly contributed to the resolution of many social problems, through continuous support from the Ministry of Interior and international support, including from IOM."

“The Community Policing model is central to rebuilding trust between communities and law enforcement to counter drivers of irregular migration, create safer communities and strengthen security. This continues to be relevant to the Iraq context,” said IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Gerard Waite during his opening speech. “We continue to invest, alongside the Government, to open up safe avenues for communications about issues impacting communities and support the presence of community police to help safely resolve them.”

During the ceremony, awards were given to the three best films as chosen by IOM. The winning films were:

• A drama about electronic blackmail from Sinjar, Ninewa by Ali Hasan Haji.
• A drama about gender-based harassment from Hamdaniyah, Ninewa by Younis Qais Ibrahim.
• A documentary featuring community members’ perspectives on Community Policing and examples of outreach activities that have been conducted from Baradiyah, Basra team by Wissam Ihsan Fadhi.

All participating filmmakers, CPF members and CP officers received trophies and the filmmakers also received equipment to support the future production of impactful video content.

“We are delighted to have participated in the Community Policing Film Festival, and we are also pleased to have won the prize for best film. This gives us great confidence to continue educating Iraqi society on all types of social issues,” said Ali Hasan Haji, a filmmaker from Sinjar District in Ninewa Governorate.

"It is an amazing feeling when a city that has been subjected to displacement and vandalism wins, and this is a clear message that Sinjar does not give up. We will continue to search for hope and stability," he concluded.

The festival was organized as part of the project “Strengthening Community Policing in Iraq - Phase II”, supported by the Government of Germany.