Finding a VOICE through Film is a three-part project by the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF). Through this project, LPFF  tests a new approach of facilitating mentorship, particularly between more experienced Lao filmmakers and amateur Lao filmmakers. By building these lasting connections, LPFF will give young filmmakers the opportunity to develop their skills and experienced filmmakers the opportunity to be a force of development within their field. This will, in turn, help create a more self-sustaining Lao film industry, where Lao filmmakers can learn and get inspiration from one another. One of the goals of the film festival is to bring filmmakers from across Southeast Asia together in Luang Prabang to encourage mutual exchange and learning between the film industries of the 10 ASEAN countries. While the Lao film industry has a lot to learn from its neighbours, it is also important to create a culture of learning from within the nation. This helps to develop Lao filmmakers’ skills and create a long-lasting community of film makers from which amateurs can draw upon for emulation, advice, and mentorship. Taking into account the fact that more opportunities are afforded to Vientiane-based filmmakers, this project largely focuses on benefiting young people from northern provinces with lower socio-economic backgrounds. Workshops are held based in Luang Prabang, with inclusion from young people from neighbouring provinces such as Oudomxay, Xayaburi, Xieng Khuang, and Huaphanh Provinces.

Finding a Voice through Film, part I 

Filmmaking is very specialised skill and imparting that skill from an expert to a novice is a challenge. In Laos, mentorship as an approach to building filmmaking capacity is a very novel approach. Developing a mutually reinforcing relationship between a mentor and the mentee is not easy and so is the development of new ideas and innovative techniques for educational events, screenings, and funding opportunities for filmmakers. The project, “Finding a Voice through Film”, sought to explore the mentorship option and emerged with many lessons. 

The project assisted the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) in developing new ideas and innovative techniques for educational events, screenings, and funding opportunities for Lao filmmakers during the grant time. The mentorship program was developed and introduced as an innovative strategy that increased the educational efforts. LPFF aided new filmmakers in their development and continued to strengthen the Lao film industry. This was done through a range of activities and there followed some exciting outcomes, among which highlights are: 

• “Lao identities on film”: Lao films entering international film festivals, thus promoting the Lao film industry worldwide and giving a creative voice to a country that is not often discussed on the world stage. 
• “How to tell stories” workshop series: Lasting impacts on young filmmakers regarding critical viewership, analysis, and storytelling concepts to develop their fundamental filmmaking skills. 
• “Developing skills” at Lao children’s workshop: To benefit the hardworking young filmmakers who participated, and LPFF hopes that these determined but disadvantaged youth will remain inspired and confident that they have the potential to make a living through filmmaking and media arts. 
• “Take a closer look” science video series: Videos in the Lao language that offer visualisations of basic physics concepts to assist Lao teachers to teach a subject that is difficult for students to learn without visual aids. These videos can be revisited online for years to come, so more Lao people will continue to learn about physics through them. 

• “Many voices, one Laos”: Produced six Lao films about the target groups and screened them to a public audience, where filmmakers would engage in public discussions about the process of their film productions, as well as the content within them.
  

LLPF discovered that the mentorship program was most successful when the mentors helped to invoke a sense of confidence within their mentees. As mentors remarked: 

“I will do my best to help her, but without motivation I can only hope she stays on the right track. I will keep updating with her and try to get her on the right track. She also might be quite shy at the moment, which might be the reason for lack of confidence.” – Mentor of Developing Skills Workshop 

LPFF discovered that simply providing talent development is insufficient to enhance the confidence of the mentees as young Lao filmmakers. When mentors are more involved and spend considerable time in communication and understanding of their mentees who ask questions, the mentees feel comfortable, stay motivated, and optimistic. 

As an example of the progress in the “Many voices, one Laos” short film program, the mentees partnered alongside the Voice project’s of Proud to Be Us Laos (PTBUL) and the Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA) for the production of the short films “Queerability” and “Who are You?” 

“Through the experience of being mentor (which is new, especially in the film industry), this program was effective not only for mentees, but for mentors. Mentees had a chance to share and learn from each other. Mentors had a chance to practice what they know and the skills that they have. Mentees felt confident to try out their thoughts, which is very important. Through the exchanges among mentees and myself, and seeing films from my mentees, my advice helped adjust and adapt their films. So yes, it has benefitted my mentees and myself as mentor.” – Mentor of Developing Skills Workshop 

The above feedback was received after the mentorship program. These positive responses show us that despite a lag period, mentors overall were able to engage with the target group and develop a productive mentor-mentee relationship that LPFF trusts will continue past the period of the grant. 

The results showed that filmmakers of diverse backgrounds were encouraged to apply for and represent themselves and other diverse perspectives in the “Many voices, one Laos” and “Lao identities on film” projects. These filmmakers learned how to turn inward for inspiration and discovered how to share their own experiences and stories. Even if filmmakers were not telling the story of a group that they were a part of, they still learned a lot from the act of creative, empathetic expression.