Mesopotamia Media pro. - IRAQ

A Film Production group  –Iraq 2013

Mesopotamia Media is an artist-run media production organization that is dedicated to facilitating excellence and vitality in the moving image, in creative and critical writing, and in independent publishing, through providing media arts education, presentation, and production resources, as well as exhibition and publishing opportunities.  Mesopotamia Media exists to provide support and encouragement for independent filmmakers and artists and writers, through affordable access to production, post-production and exhibition equipment, professional and creative development, workshops and courses, commissioning and exhibitions, artists' and writers' residencies, and a variety of other services and opportunities.  ..Mesopotamia Media strives to become one of the foremost independent filmmaking, media arts, and publishing centres in Iraq and in the Arab World.

Vision

Mesopotamia Media will be the primary community hub for independent publishing and film-related practices, and will facilitate the sustainability and the production and presentation of media art on a local, national, and international level, in Iraq, across the Arab World, and around the world.

Mission

Mesopotamia Media is an artist-run media production organization that provides affordable access to equipment, education, space, and professional development opportunities for those who are interested in exploring creative and critical writing and independent publishing, and in making films, videos and media arts, out of a passion for, and commitment to, independent publishing and the practice of filmmaking and media arts.  Mesopotamia Media also engages in presentation, exhibition and dissemination activities, including artists' retrospectives, national and regional spotlights, publishing projects, touring programmes, and special guest-curated programmes.

Values

• Diversity in all its manifestations, including race, ethnicity, language, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexuality, class, age, disability, immigration status, film and video genre and level of experience as a filmmaker and media artist, writing genre and level of experience as a writer.

• Affordable and equitable access to services, activities, and programmes and creative/artistic opportunities that minimize socio-economic and gender-based barriers to writing and publishing, and to creating films, videos, and media arts.

• The materiality and technology of working with celluloid as a medium, for independent filmmakers.

• Developing and cultivating the "cinematic" qualities within digital cinema and new platforms.

• Embracing new creative concepts and modes of expression in the media arts field, expanding notions of media arts to include installations, performance art, and new media, and ensuring the visibility of such works.

• Encouraging the work of writers, filmmakers, and artists who are producing works that are outside of mainstream commercial production, distribution systems, and aesthetic conventions.

• Promoting open dialogue in the filmmaking, media arts, and independent publishing communities, around issues of race, culture, religion, gender, and sexuality.

• Cultivating an educated and appreciative audience for Iraqi and Arab writing, films, videos, and media arts, through progressive and inclusive audience development and outreach initiatives.

• Creating a progressive, inclusive, and engaging forum for critical dialogue, whether of a technical, aesthetic, or critical nature, for writers, filmmakers, artists, educators, curators, critics, media arts professionals, and the public.
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• Working in collaboration with a diverse range of exhibition, production, and distribution organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, exhibition venues, art galleries and museums, and other partner organizations, in Iraq, across the Arab World, and around the world.

• Serving as a community hub for filmmakers and artists and writers.

• Providing a space for diverse communities to produce representations on their own terms.

• Promoting the professional advancement of, and cultural exchange amongst, independent writers, filmmakers, and media artists in Iraq, across the Arab World, and around the world.