WHO WE ARE
WOW is the only UK festival dedicated principally to films from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Wales' longest running film festival, WOW showcases thought provoking, eye-opening films from places you rarely get to see on screen. For 24 years we have brought a wide range of the very best international films to cinemas across Wales.
Here's what our audiences say about us:
"The accessibility and diverse range of storytelling - discovering my new favourite film of the year which I otherwise wouldn’t have heard of, let alone seen!"
"As usually it is the high quality of the films.... I find the films at WOW festival really deep, eye-opening and a great opportunity for reflection."
"Independent cinema at its finest—bold, peculiar, and from places you do not get to see on screen that often. It was an immersive experience into storytelling that feels so authentic and untouched."
MEET THE TEAM
Born in West Wales, Rhowan Alleyne left at age 18 to study Japanese and History of Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. She enjoys finding intimate, expressive and visually arresting films that expand people's minds and horizons.
Annita Nitsaidou is a freelance film programmer and curator who began her career in festival marketing and partnerships before fully immersing herself in programming and curatorial work. Passionate about creating inclusive and impactful film experiences, Annita is dedicated to showcasing unique perspectives that resonate with diverse audiences like her.
Nia Edwards-Behi has been immersed in Welsh film culture for over 15 years, and has experience in, and passion for, the arts and media more broadly. With experience in programming, marketing, writing and public speaking, throughout her career Nia has specialized in issues of representation, inclusion and access.
"Such a rare and thrilling opportunity to see films from places that rarely make it to mainstream screens. Each film was a window into a world you don’t usually get to explore."
"Hearing indigenous voices, hearing the sounds of different languages
spoken, seeing different terrains from parts of the world I will never
see but that my life here impacts upon. Humbling and sobering."
"What struck me was the sheer originality of the films—stories from corners of the world that are hardly ever represented. It was a fascinating journey into the unknown."
"The films were a window into other people's realities, from environmental challenges to the power of women’s voices—truly eye-opening and thought-provoking."
Culture Declares Emergency - WOW Statement
International and feminist, diversity, equity and inclusion of voices outside of the mainstream have always been core values for WOW.
As a film festival dedicated to world cinema, and as cultural generators committed to our mission, we are celebrating stories from around the world and screening films and creating debates on global issues such as climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis.
WOW’s core aim is to use film and media from across the world as a mechanism to:
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Develop cultural and global understanding
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Address social inequalities and to combat social exclusion and isolation
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Promote equality and mutual tolerance, and to encourage cooperation, trust, and community cohesion
It is important to us to join with others that are committed to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and we are committed to doing so by screening truth-telling films that inspire action and change and connecting with other organizations internationally sharing the same values.
We see our role as not simply to attract Welsh audiences to see the very best of world cinema but also to actively engage those audiences with the stories, themes and issues within the films.
Partnership is fundamental to the way WOW operates. WOW has a twenty-year track record of:
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Working with underserved and diverse audiences to create events that showcase their culture
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Providing a platform for the representation of Welsh culture, language, films & filmmakers
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Increasing the diversity of people working in the sector
The WOW team has a wealth of skills & experience in curating diverse, exciting festival programmes, marketing to audiences that don’t regularly attend our partner cinemas year-round and enabling ‘other voices’ to be heard in discussions and to be seen on screen.