2024 AfroCreatives WikiProject film workshop in South Sudan

Intro

The AfroCreatives WikiProject Film Workshop in South Sudan took place on August 24th, 2024, at the Scenius Hub, Juba. The workshop attracted 45 filmmakers, journalists, producers, and other professionals associated with the film industry. The main objectives were to:

Identify and address Wiki Gaps in the documentation of Cinema in South Sudan.
Teach participants how to contribute to various Wikimedia projects including Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata, ensuring better representation of South Sudanese film culture and history on these platforms.

This initiative is part of a broader movement to preserve and promote African film heritage, making it accessible to a global audience through open knowledge platforms.

Resources for Newcomers

Here are some resources that beginners can use to start contributing to Wikimedia projects focused on film documentation:

How to Edit Wikipedia: A comprehensive guide for beginners on how to edit and improve Wikipedia articles.
Notability Guidelines for Film: Understand the criteria for films and filmmakers to be considered notable enough for inclusion on Wikipedia.
Wikimedia Commons Guide: Learn how to upload and share your own photos, videos, and other media related to films.
Wikidata Introduction: A beginner's guide to adding and improving data on Wikidata, particularly useful for cataloging films, directors, and actors.
AfroCine Project: Join a specialized WikiProject aimed at improving the coverage of African cinema.

These resources will help attendees and others interested in filling gaps in film-related content across Wikimedia projects.

Attendance

The following individuals attended the workshop:

Workshop Impact

The AfroCreatives WikiProject Film Workshop was significant for several reasons:

Bridging the Content Gap: South Sudan’s film industry is growing, but its representation on global knowledge platforms like Wikipedia is limited. This workshop helped identify and address those gaps, empowering attendees to create, improve, and maintain articles about South Sudanese films, filmmakers, and film-related topics.
Empowering Local Creators: The training provided tools and knowledge to local filmmakers and media professionals, enabling them to document their own stories and film industry developments.
Strengthening Digital Presence: By contributing to Wikimedia projects, the participants are helping to build a digital repository of South Sudanese cinema, which will benefit students, researchers, and film enthusiasts worldwide.
Collaboration and Networking: The event fostered collaboration between filmmakers and journalists, encouraging them to work together in documenting their country's cinematic achievements. It also introduced them to the global community of Wikimedia contributors.

Challenges

While the workshop was successful in many respects, there were several challenges:

Limited Engagement: Since many participants were beginners, engagement with the actual editing process was lower than expected. Some participants found the learning curve for Wikimedia projects to be steep, particularly for platforms like Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons.
Technical Difficulties: A few participants struggled with the technical aspects of creating accounts and navigating the editing interface, leading to slower progress during the hands-on sessions.
Need for Follow-up Support: Given the early stage of most participants’ engagement with Wikimedia projects, ongoing support and mentorship are needed to ensure long-term participation and impact.

Photos

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