Film festival to mark Fairtrade

By CLAIRE SMITH
Published on 09/03/2013 14:24

A MINI film festival will be held in Edinburgh this weekend to celebrate the Fairtrade movement. The 14 short films on show celebrate the work of Equal Exchange – the pioneering Leith-based Fairtrade company which grew out of Campaign Coffee.

The films celebrating the work of the Fairtrade industry, and particular the women farmers, will be shown at Summer-hall from 4pm tomorrow.

Among the farmers featured is Justine Watalunga, who sells the coffee she grows in Uganda under the Grown By Women label sold by Equal Exchange and who is in Scotland to talk about her work.

Watalunga says: “Coffee Grown by Women has enabled me to send my children to school, and my husband and I discuss our family needs and what to spend money on together. As a board member of Gumutindo Co-operative this responsibility means a lot to me. I have grown in confidence and I am proud to represent the co-operative and my community. “

Heather Baird, of Equal Exchange, says: “Equal Exchange has always prided itself on the close relationship we have with the producers we work with, as well as the quality of the products that come out of these relationships.

“Since these films celebrate both of these fundamental ideals, which are very important messages for us to get across, particularly over Fairtrade Fortnight, we’re absolutely delighted that we have the chance to show RealReels at such a great venue as Summerhall and spread the message to more people.”

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual awareness campaign organised and funded by the Fairtrade industry. It runs from 25 February until 10 March and is designed to educate people about Fairtrade and how it benefits consumers as well.