Human Rights Education - In the Cinema

Using film to teach lessons on human rights and expand horizons

Using the cinema as the classroom, ASK WHY? Docs encourages school students to engage with contemporary social and environmental issues through watching critically acclaimed documentary films from all corners of the world.

Three times during the academic school year, ASK WHY? Docs invites students from 20 Danish municipalities to local cinema screenings of thought-provoking documentary films that all center on human rights issues.

Map of Denmark with pin markers on cities which have hosted ASK WHY screenings.
Where ASK WHY? Docs held screenings and Q&As in the 2022/2023.

Interested in having ASK WHY? Docs bring a screening to your class or school? 

Contact Us

Some films from the 2022/2023 season

Expert guests

Every screening is followed by a Q&A session with an expert on the subjects handled in the film. Examples from the 2022/2023 season include:

Yaqoub Ali

Former head of an extremist Muslim group in Denmark. Today he works to prevent other young people from becoming radicalized

Nicolaj Laue Juhl

Former political spokesperson of the Danish LGBT+ youth organization, LGBT+ Ungdom, and author of the first ever report on the well-being of queer you in Denmark.

Anusha Samia

First girl to join 'Panna house' in Denmark. She works actively to include more girls and women in the world of sports.

Daniel Høybye

Has lived on-and-off the streets of Copenhagen since he was 14. A board member of SAND - an organization for the homeless.

Simon Lerang Wilmont

Oscar nominated director of the film Oleg and the War.

Learning in the cinema

Additionally, ASK WHY? Docs provide the schools with educational material, encouraging them to continually explore the themes back in the classrooms, both before and after screenings. 

Our latest impact report found that ASK WHY? Docs has a positive effect on both the community and the individual: 

  • 99% of participating teachers say they enjoyed our sessions and the educational material.
  • 90% of participating students say they enjoyed ASK WHY? Docs with nearly three-fourths stating they have learned something new. 
  • In 2022-2023 ASK WHY? Docs reaches nearly 6000 students across Denmark.
Students sit in theatre seats and raise their hands.

Interested in having ASK WHY? Docs bring a screening to your class or school? 

Contact Us
Map of Denmark with pin markers on cities which have hosted ASK WHY screenings.
Where ASK WHY? Docs held screenings and Q&As in the 2022/2023.

Generous support provided by

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Dansk Tennis Fond
Kronprins Frederiks og Kronprinsesse Marys Fond
Frederiksberg Fonden
Det Arnstedtske Familiefond
Biografklub Danmark
Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond
Spar Nord Fonden
DFI - Det Danske Filminstitut
BUPL
Lauritzen Foundation
Københavns Kommune
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