• Winning classes each awarded 1,000 Euros for their class funds
• Films produced by pupils are publicly available
• SÜDLICH[T]ER film series – an initiative of the Region of Tyrol: seven films on global development
Environmental pollution, plastic waste, the negative impacts of fast fashion and climate change are global problems — yet their effects are often particularly severe in the Global South. To draw attention to these challenges, the SÜDLICH[T]ER film series was launched as an initiative of the Region of Tyrol. “The SÜDLICH[T]ER film series aims to open up new perspectives and make visible how closely our everyday lives are intertwined with global structures,” emphasised Deputy Governor Philip Wohlgemuth, who is responsible for development cooperation, adding: “The goal is, in particular, to raise awareness among young people of global interconnections and to underline the responsibility that a region such as Tyrol bears towards less privileged parts of the world.”
Using seven selected films, audiences were invited for the second time to reflect, discuss and actively engage. In addition to public screenings at the Metropol Cinema in Innsbruck, this year’s focus was on dedicated screenings for school classes in several districts. A total of 2,124 participants from a wide range of schools attended screenings from Kufstein to Lienz and also took part in the accompanying creative competition, which resulted in original film contributions by pupils. At a festive event held today, Wednesday, at the Landhaus in Innsbruck, four Tyrolean school classes were honoured for their creative engagement with the themes of fast fashion, climate change and plastic packaging — with each class receiving 1,000 Euros for their class funds.
Making global issues tangible at local level
Through the SÜDLICH[T]ER film series, the initiative seeks to bring development policy issues closer to a broad audience. The films screened addressed topics such as sustainability, social justice and structural inequalities — not in abstract terms, but through concrete stories and lived realities. Following the screenings, discussions with directors, experts and activists provided space for dialogue and reflection.
Once again, the focus lay on education: young people aged between 10 and 19 were able to attend dedicated school screenings as part of their classes, which were deepened through discussions and the creative competition.
Development cooperation means raising awareness
nternational development cooperation is a key concern of the Region of Tyrol. It encompasses not only the funding of concrete projects in partner countries of the Global South, but also targeted educational and information work within Tyrol itself. “This initiative clearly shows that young people have a strong interest in the living conditions in the Global South. Projects like this make an important contribution to raising awareness of global challenges and to showing young people how important it is to look beyond one’s own horizon and national borders,” said Regional Councillor for Education Cornelia Hagele.
Further information on the SÜDLICH[T]ER initiative can be found on the regional website at:
www.tirol.gv.at/suedlichter
Fact box: The four winning classes
BG/BRG Kufstein, Class 6A – Team REPORTER GIRLS
• Film: THE TRUE COST – DER WAHRE PREIS DER MODE
• Entry: https://brg-kufstein.tsn.at/news/true-cost-der-wahre-preis-der-mode
Mittelschule Lienz-Nord, Class 3a – Team JoMaSo
• Film: THE TRUE COST – DER WAHRE PREIS DER MODE
• Entry: https://youtu.be/9LVGPjGplTE
HTL Kramsach für Chemie, Ethics group of the second-year classes – Team Anti-Anführungszeichen
• Film: NORMAL IS OVER 1.1
• Entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkHkBnqeCt4
Gymnasium der Franziskaner Hall, drama group of the first-year classes – Team Theatergruppe der ersten Klassen
• Film: PLASTIC FANTASTIC
• Entry: https://franziskanergymhall.tsn.at/plastic-fantastic-unser-beitrag-fuer-den-wettbewerb-suedlichter-des-landes-tirol