Auckland Museum, Te Papa and Otago Museum are preparing to present a documentary film festival on globalisation, featuring wide-ranging commentaries on the global economy, health, social concerns, culture, development, the environment and international law. "If this collection, despite its inevitable oversights, has one virtue, it is that it helps viewers look at things from another perspective, encourages discussion and fosters a diversity of ideas," says Patrice Barrat, who selected the Festival's films.Auckland Museum, Te Papa and Otago Museum are preparing to present a documentary film festival on globalisation, featuring wide-ranging commentaries on the global economy, health, social concerns, culture, development, the environment and international law. "If this collection, despite its inevitable oversights, has one virtue, it is that it helps viewers look at things from another perspective, encourages discussion and fosters a diversity of ideas," says Patrice Barrat, who selected the Festival's films.Each museum will present its own selection from documentary films made available by the Embassy of France.

These include Thomas Balmes' A Decent Factory, which follows a Nokia rep as she investigates possible production relocation to China; Marie-France Collard's Working Women of the World - a critical look at the conditions and closures faced by the workers of companies subcontracted to manufacture Levis; and The Judges' Fight by Yves Billy, which explores the establishment of international criminal tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

The festival also features films more familiar to New Zealanders, such as The Corporation, Darwin's Nightmare and Mondovino.

Journalist, independent documentary filmmaker and ARTICLE Z President Patrice Barrat, who was commissioned by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to select the films, comments: "Made in different time periods, different places and with different styles, these films are bound to be shown all over the world and people may agree with, doubt or even oppose their messages. At any rate, together they will help launch discussion."

Discussions and public debates are planned in relation to the New Zealand screenings, with Dr Gaël Lagadec, Head of the Law and Economics Department of the University of New Caledonia, set to visit the three participating museums to exchange views with the public and local academics. Dr Lagadec will launch the discussion with his reflections on "The Global Economy: Should we fear globalisation? An historical perspective and recent debate."

Auckland
When: 2 September 2007
Where: Auckland Museum
All-day screenings followed by keynote speakers and discussion with public.

Wellington
When: 6, 8 and 9 September 2007
Where: Te Papa Tongarewa
6 Sept: Science Express evening, 4th floor
8 & 9 Sept: screenings at Te Papa's Soundings Theatre

Dunedin
When: 7-9 September 2007
Where:Otago Museu
7 Sept: screenings, keynote speakers and public discussion
8 & 9 Sept: screenings at the museum's theatres

30/8/07

Image: A still from Working Women of the World.