Ask Why? Docs

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 37 Danish municipalities to local cinema screenings of thought-provoking documentary films that all center on human rights issues.

Download and read our 23/24 impact report here.

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.

Expert guests

Every screening is followed by a Q&A session with an expert on the subjects handled in the film. Examples from the 2024/2025 season include:

Melodi Soltani

Born and raised in Denmark after her parents fled Iran for political reasons. Melodi is an artist and musician with a focus on her Iranian origins.

Popal Naseri

Main character in the documentary 'Follow Me Home'. Popal fled Afghanistan as a teenager because the Taliban attempted to recruit him as a suicide bomber.

Nicolaj Laue Juhl

Former political spokesperson for LGBT+ youth. Nicolaj is behind Denmark's first report on the well-being of LGBT+ children and young people.

Sonja Lovdal

Influencer with over 160,000 followers across platforms. Sonja uses her platform to talk openly and honestly about mental health and how what you see online does not necessarily reflect reality.

Simon Lereng Wilmont

Oscar nominated director of the film Oleg and the War (The Distant Barking of Dogs). Simon has filmed extensively near the frontline in Ukraine, prior to the 2022 invasion.

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.
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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 2023-2024 ASK WHY? Docs reached 7000 students across Denmark.