The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has entered a partnership with the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts to engage international audiences through American film. Known as the American Film Showcase, this people-to-people exchange will send American filmmakers and film experts overseas to present independent documentaries, feature films, and animated shorts.
The American Film Showcase builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power diplomacy,” which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case film – to bring people together and foster greater understanding.
Visit the American Film Showcase Website.
On February 11th, over fifty filmmakers, film experts and diplomats came together at the USC School of Cinematic Arts for the inaugural orientation of the American Film Showcase.
Stacy White, head of the Cultural Programs Division at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, addresses the film envoys at the American Film Showcase’s Orientation.
Phillip Seib, Director of USC's Center on Public Diplomacy, Alan Baker, Associate Dean, Administration & International Projects, and Lee Satterfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges, U.S. Department of State.