‘Azza’ + Talk: The power and ethics of documentary films
Together with visual anthropologist Karen Waltorp and journalist and visual anthropologist Haena Laura Na Blankholm, we explore the ethical implications of documentary filmmaking
How is reality shaped through documentary filmmaking? After the screening of German filmmaker Stefanie Brockhaus’ film about a female Saudi driving instructor, we delve into the ethical dilemmas and power structures that define the documentary genre. Visual anthropologist Karen Waltorp and documentarist Haena Laura Na Blankholm will explore how representation, power dynamics, and the relationship between director and participants influence both the narrative and its audience.
Haena Laura Na Blankholm, a journalist and visual anthropologist, works at the intersection of media, film, and education, researching hybrid genres and diasporic representation. Anthropologist Karen Waltorp focuses on power, relationships, and ethical grey zones in documentary and visual practices. The conversation will examine the choices made in documentary production—who tells the story, on whose behalf, and with what consequences?