**Artists and Scholars Protest Film Screening**
A group of artists, politicians, university professors, and researchers in Serbia have written an open letter to the Belgian film festival DOCVILLE. They are objecting to the screening of a documentary film called Not In My Country.
The film is about the lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley, which was initiated by the global mining giant Rio Tinto and the Serbian government. The signatories of the letter are concerned that the film does not accurately represent the views of the local population on this issue.
**Protests Against the Government**
At a time when people all over Serbia are protesting against the country’s authoritarian regime, DOCVILLE is planning to screen Not In My Country. The protesters are worried that the film will give a platform to government representatives and ignore the concerns of those affected by the lithium mining project.
The letter states that the protests against the government are peaceful and widespread, but they have not received enough attention in Western Europe. The signatories believe that the film makers were aware of these protests when making Not In My Country, but they chose to ignore them.
**Promoting Corporate Interests**
Not In My Country is seen as a film that promotes corporate interests rather than giving voice to the concerns of local communities. The letter states that the film downplays the opposition from citizens, scientists, and environmental organizations, and presents it as a conspiracy theory fueled by foreign interference.
The protesters are worried that this film will be used as a tool for lobbying and that it will legitimize the interests of corporations like Rio Tinto at the expense of local communities.
**Colonial Tropes**
The letter also argues that the film reproduces colonial tropes, presenting Serbian citizens who speak out against Rio Tinto and their government as uneducated and uninformed peasants. This reinforces Western stereotypes about Serbs being violent and unreasonable people.
**Call to Action**
The signatories of the letter are calling on DOCVILLE to reconsider screening Not In My Country, especially at a time when lithium projects in Portugal are under investigation for corruption and environmental concerns. They urge all those involved in the film’s creation and distribution to take responsibility and consider the impact of their actions.
**Read More**
To read the full open letter and see the list of signatories, click here: link.
Read More @ n1info.rs