Thursday, August 15, 2024  – Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has launched calls for the production of its fifth short film, aimed at amplifying digital rights and inclusion awareness in Africa. Paradigm Initiative, a non-profit organisation that shapes policy, defends rights and builds capacity in the digital environment towards a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting world, produces an annual report on digital rights and inclusion in Africa, Londa. 

The organisation is seeking talented scriptwriters and producers for its fifth short film, which will be based on the 2023 report on digital rights and inclusion in Africa, Londa. Through its calls, PIN seeks to enhance the quality of its output, offering distinct opportunities for creative minds to contribute to the cause.

Scriptwriters are invited to submit a synopsis and full script inspired by the Londa 2023 report. The report, which documents digital rights challenges and advancements across Africa, offers rich material for storytelling that can resonate with our broad audience. Submissions should provide narratives that bring the crucial issues highlighted in the Londa report to life, contributing to PIN’s mission of promoting digital rights on the continent.

Simultaneously, PIN is calling on experienced movie producers to take these scripts from page to screen. Producers will be selected based on their ability to translate the written word into powerful visual stories that align with PIN’s objectives. This initiative offers a chance for producers to collaborate with top scriptwriters, bringing together expertise from different fields to create a film that makes a lasting impact.

All submissions, including synopses, scripts, and production proposals, must be based on the themes and findings of the Londa 2023 Report. Entries for both calls should be submitted via the PIN website ensuring a streamlined and efficient process for all participants.

For four years in a row, PIN has produced captivating short films inspired by the Londa reports, as a means to raise awareness of digital rights and inclusion in Africa. The fourth short film, Undersight, which is the latest in PIN’s stable, is inspired by the 2022 Londa Report that summarises the state of digital rights and inclusion in 24 African countries. The movie follows the journey of Omar, a brilliant Computer Programmer who creates revolutionary data collation software, which is in high demand.

The other short films released by the organisation are Training Day, Focus and Finding Diana.  

Training Day, the first of the short films, is based on the organisation’s 2019 Digital Rights in Africa report. It features the story of Jude, whose job hunting seems to have been proved fruitful only for his first day of work to take an unprecedented turn, leaving him in a deep moral dilemma.

Focus tells the story of Mark, a budding young man who works for an enterprise facilitating financial payment across Africa. Caught up in his bubble with little to no attention to the situation around him, he soon experiences first-hand the dark side of internet shutdowns, censorship, surveillance, and cyberattacks. The short film is inspired by the 2020 Londa report.

Based on the findings of the Londa 2021 report, Finding Diana is about Aisha Coker, a 28-year-old journalist who stumbled upon the ambition of powerful individuals leveraging data interception and aggregation for selfish purposes, In her quest for a better society, Aisha is intent on  exposing the truth, a move that would put her life in danger. 

Screened at various events and platforms, PIN’s short films have received extensive feedback from viewers who have cited the creativity, relevance, and impact they possess. The short films have also received multiple accolades and awards, with the latest being a Bronze recognition for Finding Diana at the 2023 Summit Creative Awards.

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 About Paradigm Initiative (PIN)

Paradigm Initiative, a non-profit organisation that shapes policy, defends rights and builds capacity in the digital environment towards a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting world. 

Across our regional offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and beyond, we work to connect under-served African youth with improved livelihoods through our digital inclusion and digital rights programmes. Our programmes include the Life Skills. ICT. Financial Readiness. Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program, Dufuna and a digital rights programme.