From Syria to India, via Russia, Egypt and Mexico, the documentary series Draw for change highlights women cartoonists around the world, challenging the red lines and taboos of their societies. Each episode delves into the unique world of a female cartoonist, revealing not only the obstacles and dangers she faces, but also her courage and humour in confronting them. Six beautiful portraits of women who, at their peril, pit their cartoons against political and patriarchal violence to make a difference.
On arte.tv from 6 March 2024 – “Draw for change”.
A documentary series created by Vincent Coen and Guillaume Vandenberghe, written and directed by Alisar Hasan, Alaa Amer, Anna Mosienko, Sama Pana, Nada Riyadh, Karen Vázquez Guadarrama, Laura Nix.
Co-produced by Clin d’Œil Films, A_Bahn, Point du Jour – Les Films du Balibari, Ma.ja.de Filmproduktion Gmbh, Real Lava, Motto Pictures, ARTE France, ARTE G.E.I.E., RTBF, VRT, SWR and WDR (5x52mn and 1x1h30)
In the rebel town of Idlib, filmmakers Alisar Hasan and Alaa Amer set out to meet Amany Al-Ali, a young cartoonist trying to establish herself as a political cartoonist. As she gives cartoon lessons to young girls to help them emancipate themselves, while challenging the patriarchy, she wonders about her future: to stay or to leave the city and her loved ones.
Documentary by Alaa Amer and Alisar Hasan
Coproduction: ARTE/ SWR, RTBF, VRT, Clin d’Œil Films, Point du Jour – Les Films du Balibari, A_Bahn Ma.ja.de Filmproduktions GmbH (France/Belgium/Luxembourg/Germany, 2023, 56mn)
In an Egypt that has once again become a military dictatorship, where women’s freedom is flouted more than ever, Doaa El-Adl, a press cartoonist famous throughout the Arab world, revisits twenty years of her struggle through images. In this documentary, director Nada Riyadh explores the place of women in Egyptian society and their freedom of expression.
Documentary by Nada Riyadh
Coproduction: ARTE France, RTBF, VRT, Clin d’Œil Films, Point du Jour – Les Films du Balibari, A_Bahn (France/Belgium/Luxembourg, 2023, 52mn)
Victoria Lomasko, artiste qui pendant une décennie n’a cessé de documenter la Russie de Poutine, cherche à comprendre comment la violence domestique est inextricablement liée à la violence d’Etat, alors qu’un conflit sans précédent s’annonce. Après avoir fui son pays au printemps 2022, elle entreprend son projet le plus ambitieux : une fresque murale où elle déplie les évènements qui ont succédé à l’hiver de manifestations de 2021, provoquées par la fraude électorale massive. Elle y elle exprime à la fois son désespoir face au présent et son refus de la défaite.
Documentaire d’Anna Mosienko
Coproduction : ARTE France, RTBF, VRT, Clin d’Œil Films, A_Bahn (France/Belgique/Luxembourg, 2024, 54mn)
Rachita Taneja is the artist behind SANITARY PANELS, an online comic strip renowned for its courageous socio-political stances. Against a backdrop of censorship and growing polarisation, Rachita has been taken to court for contempt of the Supreme Court, but remains determined to tell the truth and fight for freedom of expression.
Documentary by Sama Pana
Coproduction: ARTE GEIE, RTBF, VRT, Clin d’Œil Films, A_Bahn (France/Belgium/Luxembourg, 2024, 52mn)
Rachita was accompanied by Cartooning for Peace in her experience with the Indian justice system.
In a country where the number of feminicides is reaching alarming levels, young queer cartoonist Mar Maremoto denounces this systemic violence in her colourful and committed creations. She courageously explores the multiple repercussions of machismo and the difficulty of not conforming to societal norms.
Documentary by Karen Vázquez Guadarrama
Coproduction: ARTE GEIE, RTBF, VRT, Clin d’Œil Films, Point du Jour – Les Films du Balibari, A_Bahn (France/Belgium/Luxembourg, 2024, 53mn)
Ann Telnaes is a member of Cartooning for Peace.
