The Lanzarote Film Festival has invited the island's population to reflect on their future once the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has passed for this year's edition. "In a small territory with an economy totally dependent on tourism, this initiative seeks to get as many people as possible to think about what they want after COVID-19," they say in a statement.
In short videos, the organizers hope for this opportunity to contribute ideas to implement and learn the opinions of people in various situations.
The film festival "understands that the situation generated by the coronavirus is also a unique opportunity to reflect on the future" of Lanzarote, they explained. Especially because, in their opinion, the island faces "the biggest economic crisis in its history due to the global travel ban."
So far, almost a hundred videos have been received offering a diverse look at the future of the island: self-employed workers, retirees, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, artists, hotel managers, environmentalists and political representatives. The deadline is open until May 31. The premiere of all videos will be on June 15.
In the words of the director of the Exhibition Javier Fuentes Feo "in times of crisis it is vital that the most radical voices do not monopolize the debate, and for this it is necessary to know as many points of view as possible. That is why we have decided to put audiovisual language at the service of the island community. The purpose of this project is to create a common horizon based on the reflections and ideas of those who want to participate."
For the organizers, "the idea is for the inhabitants of the island to think for a day or two about the question: "From now on, what should Lanzarote be like?", and then record a video in which they express their most relevant reflections." The videos must have a maximum duration of one minute and can be sent by WhatsApp to the phone +34 632 34 35 50, or to the email: coordinacion@muestradecinedelanzarote.com
Finally, they explain that this project fulfills several objectives. First, it is a source of ideas to think about and rebuild the future of an island. Secondly, it is a sociological consultation tool about the preferences of the islanders. Finally, it will become a historical audiovisual archive that will account to future generations of what Lanzarote was like during the fateful year of COVID-19.
