BAM STOWE 

I started making documentary films following on from working as a photojournalist in Asia for human rights organisations during the late 1990’s. I was lucky enough to be asked by the Tibetan government living in exile in northern India to make a documentary film for them.

I spent 3 years with a small Hi8 camcorder, trekking in and out of Tibet filming what I saw. The film gathered some momentum, won a few awards, but more importantly showed me that people learn, vote and change when they are shown injustice. 

I was hooked and felt honoured to be able to record stories for those that had a voice but needed a platform and chance. I then worked in Zimbabwe with a charity for a year, sneaking in and out to report on the human rights atrocities under Robert Mugabe’s regime.  This film allowed me to creatively entwine differing storytelling techniques to the narrative. The film was semi-successful and applauded but also created controversy because of its narrative style.  I have gone on to film in Honduras covering issues of land rights, Central America documenting environmental flooding problems for Friends of the Earth, and most recently in Georgia capturing the impending threat of Russia and how Georgia's young men are trying to escape forced conscription. Over these projects, I have been allowed to document the stories of those living in peril and this has been a labour of sorrow and trauma for all. Its shown me the implicit wonder of the human spirit to overcome the very ‘worst’ we do to each other.