Blog

Centralizing and strengthening human rights protection in AI strategies has been outlined in a position paper prepared by Parasurama Pamungkas and colleagues from other civil society organisations. The paper is intended to serve as the official strategic recommendation from the CSO network to the National AI Roadmap Working Group under the Ministry of Digital Communications (KOMDIGI).
Meet the powerhouse organisations behind this year's Digital Rights in Asia-Pacific assembly, each contributing specialised expertise to drive diverse conversations that will shape our region's digital future.
Join us for this DRAPAC Series session on August 20, ahead of the upcoming DRAPAC25 event in Kuala Lumpur!
Among the repressive actions that occurred between May and July 2025 were familiar patterns such as internet shutdowns, control over press freedom, and arrests for online expression. Surveillance and arrests were increasingly conducted through the use of the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System
'Mapping the Currents: A Manual for Community-Centered Cinema' is a practical, community-rooted resource developed from the experiences of Cinemata Currents 2025. It brings together curatorial reflections, case studies, and tools to support organizers, film collectives, and civil society groups in harnessing the power of film to foster civic dialogue, regional solidarity, and grassroots storytelling.
After four years of pioneering privacy-respecting video advocacy in the Asia-Pacific, Cinemata is launching its biggest leap yet: the full open-source release of CinemataCMS 2.0. Join us on July 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM Manila time for the official online launch featuring live demos, partner stories, and a walkthrough of new features.
Carrying the personal and collective experience of the internet shutdown in Bangladesh, Taosin Md. Bahadurshah Zafar went on to create The Black Kite, a film produced under EngageMedia’s Tech Tales Youth film collection and mentorship program.
Hai Anis, by Azura Nasron, is not just a film. It is a warning. A refusal to look away. A confrontation with a truth too many refuse to acknowledge: that grooming does not begin with violence—it begins with kindness.
Cinemata Currents 2025 gathered filmmakers, activists, and communities across Southeast Asia in a week-long hybrid film festival exploring how minor cinema can defend and reimagine civic spaces. This post-festival reflection captures key insights, highlights from curators and organizers, and what lies ahead as Cinemata continues to grow as a platform for regional connection and narrative resistance.