Six 24-minute documentaries and eight 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) will be produced by a collective of South African industry professionals in response to the horrific xenophobic attacks that ignited in informal settlements in Gauteng and other provinces in May.

Filmmakers Against Racism (FAR) was formed on 23 May and consists of, among others, Rehad Desai of Uhuru, Neil Brandt of Luma Films, Desiree Markgraaff of Bomb, Eve Rantseli of Women of the Son, Carolyn Carew-Maseko of Born Free Media, Xoliswa Sithole, Nic Hofmeyer, Catherine Muller, Robbie Thorpe of TOM Pictures and Don Edkins of Day Zero Film Productions. It is supported by the South African Screen Federation (SASFED) and the Independent Producers Organisation, as well as Curious Pictures, Magus Visual, Grey Advertising, The Refinery and DV8.

The collective was in part prompted by an e-mail about the xenophonic attacks sent out to the South African industry by Mozambican producer Pedro Pimenta. He writes: ÒThis is indeed great sadness for me to see my fellow human Africans being killed like animals by their South African brothersÉ My sadness is amplified as I do not hear a single voice of an industry constantly claiming in international fora their commitment to all good human values as inscribed in their beautifully written Constitution.Ó Pimenta further writes that he is breaking off all communication with South Africans and will not welcome them to Mozambique.

Desiree Markgraaff noted that while Pimenta's e-mail sparked different reactions in the industry, it served to galvanise people into action. "We got together quite quickly to form FAR and are already busy with the first documentary, which we hope will be broadcast on 16 June, South Africa's Youth Day. This is a fight against racism, underpinned by the view that we are all African. We're calling for compassion and solidarity among all Africans seeking refuge and a better life in South Africa."

Read more in the June 2008 issue of Screen Africa