Protests, Exile and Structural Change: Jasmin Astaki Bardeh on documentary film and journalism
In our latest podcast episode, we spoke with documentary film director and journalist Jasmin Astaki Bardeh. Her multifaceted career between documentary filmmaking and journalistic reporting opens up a very special range of topics – from her work on political documentaries to atmospheric sociological observations. Jasmin shared her insights into creative processes, challenges of political filmmaking and her perspective on current social debates.
Striking the right balance: between documentary film and journalism
Jasmin described her work as a constant back and forth between two worlds: the long-term and often personal work on a documentary film and the fast-paced nature of journalism. Her current project, “If we burn, you burn with us”, a film about the protest movement in Hong Kong, shows how stories can develop over years.
Political commitment and the art of documentary film
One of the main topics of our conversation was Jasmin's ability to shed light on social and political tensions through her films. In “Zwischentage”, her documentary film available on Sooner, she deals with the structural change in the Ruhr area. With a particular focus on the aesthetics and symbolism of the former mining world, she created a work that addresses both the personal impact on people and larger social contexts.
Jasmin emphasized that documentaries offer a unique way of telling stories through their subjective perspective and emotional power. At the same time, she talked about the ethical responsibility she feels as a filmmaker when capturing intimate and vulnerable moments on camera.
Empowerment through networks: the “Into the Wild” mentoring program
Another highlight of our conversation was Jasmin's experience in the “Into the Wild” mentoring program, which supports women in the film industry. Jasmin emphasized the importance of solidarity and networks, which not only gave her professional orientation but also personal empowerment. This experience has inspired her to offer support to other women in the industry.
Jasmin's projects on Sooner
We are pleased that Jasmin's work has also found a home on Sooner. Her films, such as FROM THE ASHES and CANDIDATES - TRAINING IN STAMMHEIM, are available on our platform, as is her curated channel with selected film recommendations.
The entire episode is now online!