
Stories of Courage and Resistance in LGBTQ+ films – DW – 06/07/2025
Russian director Igor Myakotin Image: DW
Film producer Igor Myakotin portrays queer life under the repressive Russian regime. His films "Queendom" and "Welcome to Chechnya" have won multiple awards.
South African actor Niza Jay Image: DW
South African actor Niza Jay has been highly-praised globally for breaking with stereotypes and empowering Black queers in "The Wound" and Phillip Miller's "Nkoli: The Vogue Opera."
Indonesian director Khozy Rizal Image: DW
Indonesian director Khozy Rizal is revolutionizing cinema in his home country, and made history in Cannes with the film "Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy."
Together, they are inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and bringing queer diversity onto the screen.

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Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
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Indonesian Roof Tilers Flex Muscles To Keep Local Industry Alive
A young Indonesian man turns his back to a crowd, flexing his oiled-up muscles before picking up a stack of roof tiles, holding as many as he can in a pose reminiscent of Mr. Olympia. This is a bodybuilding battle of a different kind -- one where competitors are roof tile factory workers who pump clay instead of iron to bring attention to their dwindling trade. In Java's Jatiwangi city, an Indonesian hub for clay roof tile production nearly 200 kilometres from the capital, Jakarta, dozens of men have been lathering on oil to pose for crowds since 2015 to show they are not going anywhere. The clay industry in Jatiwangi is more than a century old, when terracotta tiles drawing on local heritage were first made by hand to replace thatched house roofs. They are now mostly used for housing, and in the 1930s inspired Indonesia's former Dutch colonial rulers to tile their own government buildings and employee homes. "But over time, it started to fade away," said Illa Syukrillah Syarief, a 48-year-old worker at the Jatiwangi Art Factory who helps to organise the competition. "So we feel that we're not just here to tell stories about roof tiles, but also to be saviours, to preserve the culture of Jatiwangi roof tiles." The workers use clay or local soil to make their tiles, but the younger generation is taking on fewer manual labour jobs and big industry is hitting the revenues of local trade. It has caused fear that their industry could become a forgotten art in the future. "We're pushing through in a situation that's not going so well," said Illa. "We've lost workers, and the demand isn't what it used to be." The shirtless men, young and old, posed for a crowd that included women clad in hijabs and judges who pick the winners of cash prizes up to 1.5 million rupiah ($92) for the number one spot. Attendee Ika, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, called the show "something unique" that displayed "bodybuilding with a distinctive style" rooted in Indonesian culture. The winnings are donated by rival factories whose workers battle it out against one another in the competition, with no sponsors yet stumping up cash for the event. "It was incredible to see the competitors and their style, and all the many things they can do using their hands, using their mouth even, carrying tiles," said foreign judge Alessa Cargnell. The red, earthy tiles have a curved shape that lock in together, making it easier to clasp a stack and pose from the front or the side. One man displayed incredible power to hold a tile between each finger and one from his mouth while standing on one leg, as remixed traditional music typically heard in Indonesian TikTok videos blared in the background. But the strength of the roof tile workforce is not only reserved for the weight room. "We're still determined. The hope is that roof tiles, or processing the soil in Jatiwangi, won't just be a commodity," said Illa. "But truly become an identity: as roof tile makers, as people who work with the earth."


DW
11-08-2025
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"Under the Baobab" – DW launches new vodcast
Deutsche Welle's English for Africa has launched Under the Baobab, a weekly vodcast focused on current affairs and social developments across the African continent. The vodcast aims to provide a platform for constructive dialogue on political, economic, cultural, and social issues. The first season centers on West Africa, with contributions from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon, among others. Future episodes will expand to include perspectives from across the continent. Hosted by Mimi Mefo Newuh and George Okachi, Under the Baobab features interviews with a wide range of guests, including policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, educators, and community leaders, who share personal stories, debate fresh perspectives, and collaborate on innovative solutions to Africa's most urgent challenges. From pivotal elections and youth leadership to pressing human rights issues and community-driven innovations, Under The Baobab challenges narratives and fosters African conversations centered on progress, impact, and tangible results. A symbol for community and reflection 'The Baobab tree is sacred across Africa—a place where communities gather to reflect, decide, and solve', says George Okachi. 'That's exactly what we're building with this show: a space for meaningful, personalized conversations and bold ideas.' Mimi Mefo Newuh adds: 'We mix accountability with a solution-oriented approach—something rare in today's digital media. The mix of honesty, humor, and insight is the ideal way to share important messages.' Claus Stäcker, Director of Programs for Africa: 'The global zeitgeist seems to be more focused on polarization: Under the Baobab stands for the opposite: discussing things, tolerating different viewpoints, listening to experts. And users can access it as a video on demand whenever they have the opportunity - their participation and comments are highly welcomed – that's how we at DW see ourselves – as bridge builders.' The first few episodes focusing for example on Nigeria, Cameroon and Tanzania are live, and new episode are published weekly on as well as on Spotify , Apple Podcasts and more.


DW
07-08-2025
- DW
Taiwan imagines a Chinese invasion with TV and games – DW – 08/07/2025
Taiwanese creatives are creating fictional, yet plausible, depictions of a Chinese invasion. Some say the imaginary scenarios are helpful, others say they only create fear. A new Taiwanese series about a fictional Chinese invasion has sparked heated debate after its Saturday premiere topped drama rankings on public TV and multiple streaming platforms. The ten-episode drama titled "Zero Day Attack" is set in 2028, imagining China using a missing warplane as a pretext to launch a blockade when a newly elected Taiwanese president is about to take office. Some viewers praised the show for helping "every Taiwanese understand how the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] infiltrates us," while others accused it of "selling a sense of national doom." Taiwan is a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims is part of China, with the CCP vowing to "reunify" with the mainland by using force if necessary. For years, Taiwanese filmmakers largely avoided cross-strait conflict plots to avoid jeopardizing access to China's lucrative media market. Yu-Hui Tai, an associate professor of political economics of communication at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, said a trend is emerging where imagining a Chinese invasion is no longer taboo. "[The trend] reflects how we've broken the spiral of silence," she told DW. "It's gone from something we didn't want to talk about to something we can now imagine and even simulate." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Witnessing the severity of the war in Ukraine, I felt that if we didn't address this topic now, there might never be another chance," showrunner and screenwriter Cheng Hsin-mei told DW, adding that production on Zero Day Attack began in late 2022, the same year Russia invaded Ukraine. Taiwan has emerged as one of the globe's most contentious flashpoints as China intensifies its military presence in the region, and carries out regular exercises around the island. While most democratic countries including the United States — Taiwan's largest security backer – adhere to the "One-China Policy," which means they do not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, they oppose any unilateral attempts by either side to change the current status quo. In May, Zero-Day Attack premiered at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark, where it received a standing ovation. The series is also set to premiere at a debut event in Washington, DC in September and launch on a Japanese streaming platform in mid‑August. But before the series officially aired, its trailer already sparked controversy domestically. With about half the series' budget coming from government subsidies, Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of using public funds to promote a "sense of national doom" — a charge echoed by many KMT supporters. Cheng responded that government subsidies are common for most local film and TV projects, arguing that "the sense of national doom" comes from "the reality that a powerful authoritarian regime continually warns it will not abandon the use of force against Taiwan." Unlike typical war dramas filled with epic battle scenes, Zero Day Attack focuses on Taiwan's internal struggles amid a potential war, portraying the political divisions and chaos on the island. The concept was developed through research and consultation with national security experts, Cheng said, as "modern warfare relies on various forms of infiltration to sow fear or prompt surrender." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Like the TV series, games that aim to bring about awareness and knowledge of China's political infiltration strategies have also emerged on the market. Earlier this year, the board game 2045 was officially released after a successful crowdfunding campaign. The game simulates a Chinese military attack in 2045, following which Taiwan divides into six different forces including self-defense units and pro-unification groups. Another board game even turned the story idea into a mobile game called Reversed Front. It created a virtual "Oriental Continent" that allows players to infiltrate the Chinese Communist Party from Taiwan, Hong Kong, or other surrounding areas. In June, Hong Kong authorities banned the mobile game for allegedly "violating the National Security Law." The ban, however, only fueled a surge in downloads. "We aim to present a realistic picture of the political landscape in East Asia," said Johnny, the spokesperson of Reversed Front, who used a pseudonym given the sensitivity of the topic. "Regardless of the threat or methods of infiltration from Beijing, we hope Taiwan can learn how to take countermeasures," he told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, concerns about the psychological impact of these works have grown, with critics warning they could increase public anxiety. A Taiwanese board game store told DW that while most customers visit to unwind and relax, playing 2045 can leave some feeling emotionally strained or under pressure. "There will inevitably be anxiety," said Tammy Lin, a distinguished professor at Taiwan's National Chengchi University who studies digital games and media psychology. "For Taiwan, this is a nightmare‑level topic that people would rather not mention or confront," she told DW. Tai, the professor for political economy of communication, said it is natural for the films and games to evoke a spectrum of emotions, given Taiwan's deep partisan divides over cross‑strait relations. "How we facilitate dialogue among these differing emotions instead of letting them clash is a real test of Taiwanese wisdom," she said. Tai also noted that Beijing is likely to see these TV shows and games as Taiwanese public sentiment drifting further away from China, which could prompt the Chinese government to "intensify its ideological efforts." China's Defense Ministry has already criticized Zero Day Attack, calling it a politically motivated production aimed at "forcing compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait into conflict and to harm and ruin one another." "Division is a fertile ground for information warfare and fake news," Tai said, "The question is: do we want to create fear or foster rational dialogue?" To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video