Berlinale: First 'Copyleft' Film Premiere

Berlinale: First 'Copyleft' Film Premiere

A Short Documentary About Devastated New Orleans

BERLIN, Germany, February 16/PRNewswire/ -- The first copyleft film to be released in the framework of
Berlin's 56th International Film Festival premieres today, Thursday, February
16, 2006. "Chocolate City - We Are Here To Stay" is a short documentary by
German filmmaker Ralf Schmerberg, who recently travelled to devastated New
Orleans six months after Hurricane Katrina.

Entire districts of the city remain destroyed, and a federally
funded forced buyout of land is underway in some of the poorest areas. "What
will they do with the residents?" asks political activist Brandon Darby in
the film. Darby is working with the non-profit Common Ground Collective in
solidarity with residents who, having lost their homes, now must fight to
keep their land.

"Chocolate City - We Are Here To Stay" is the first film-project of
dropping knowledge, an intercultural platform for multiple viewpoints, open
to every citizen of the world (www.droppingknowledge.org). The film will be
made freely accessible on the Internet from 12 noon (CET) under a "copyleft"
license. The video is available for free download and distribution, and can
be freely re-edited and broadcasted for non-commercial purposes.

dropping knowledge is convinced that so-called 'copyleft' productions are
necessary to address present issues of relevance to the global public.
According to Ralf Schmerberg, co-founder of dropping knowledge: "Whoever
wants to express their opinion freely shouldn't be driven by commercial
interests."

dropping knowledge wants to bring together people from diverse
cultural backgrounds - people who wish to share their ideas and insights, and
help find solutions for the most pressing issues of our time. To promote the
practice of questioning, dropping knowledge has launched an international
Internet, print and TV-based "What's Your Question?" outreach campaign,
encouraging individuals, communities and organizations around the globe to
submit the questions that matter to them to our website. On September 9,
2006, dropping knowledge will host 112 scientists, social entrepreneurs,
philosophers, writers, artists and activists at its "Table of Free Voice"
event in Berlin. This will mark the beginning of a global dialogue covering
the most important social, economic, cultural and philosophical issues of our
time.

dropping knowledge is convinced that a new global dialogue can
inspire new ideas and projects, and bring about lasting social change.
dropping knowledge is a registered non-profit association financed by
donations and partnerships.

Contact:
dropping knowledge e.V.
Dr. Klaus Weidmann
Director of Communications
Swinemunderstr. 121
10435 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49-30-28-48-97-30
Cell: +49-17-21-69-01-01

Source: dropping knowledge e.V.

Contact: dropping knowledge e.V., Dr. Klaus Weidmann, Director of Communications, Swinemunderstr. 121, 10435 Berlin, Germany, Phone: +49-30-28-48-97-30, Cell: +49-17-21-69-01-01

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Profile: intent