The Why Foundation

The Why Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Copenhagen that produces and distributes social justice-oriented documentary films world-wide.[1][2][3] It was founded the name Steps International by Nick Fraser and Mette Hoffmann Meyer[4] in 2004 and renamed in 2014.[5]

The foundation expresses commitment to free access to information,[6] providing free online screening on their website and on YouTube, as well as partnering with TV stations across the world for Public-access television.[7] The foundation also organizes screenings for schoolkids around the world, showing its films dubbed or subtitled in local languages.[8][9]

From 2004 the foundation was headed by CEO Don Edkins, he was succeeded by Danish documentary filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen in 2014.[10] The current CEO is Mette Hoffmann Meyer.[4]

In 2013 the foundation won a Peabody award, under its former name, Steps International, for its series Why Poverty?[11]

In 2018 the foundation released its fourth documentary series called Why Slavery?, documenting various forms of modern slavery in six films.[12] The series reached 191 countries through 70 TV stations, including BBC and BBC World News.[13]

Films

The Why Foundation has produced the following documentary series:

  • Why Democracy?[14]
    • Bloody Cartoons (2007)
    • For God, the Tsar and the Fatherland (2007)
    • Egypt: We are Watching You (2007)
    • Looking for the Revolution (2007)
    • In Search of Gandhi (2007)
    • Iron Ladies of Liberia (2007)
    • Please Vote for Me (2007)
    • Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
    • Campaign! The Kawasaki Candidate (2007)
    • Dinner With the President (2007)
  • Why Poverty?[15]
  • Why Women?[16]
    • The Secret Slaves of the Middle East (2016)
    • State of Women (2016)
    • Crown Princess Mary's Mission (2016)
  • Why Slavery?[1]
    • A Woman Captured (2017)
    • North Korea's Secret Slaves: Dollar Heroes (2018)
    • Maid In Hell (2018)
    • I Was a Yazidi Slave (2018)
    • Selling Children (2018)
    • Jailed in America (2018)
  • Why Plastic?[17][18]
    • The Recycling Myth (2022)
    • We the Guinea Pigs (2021)
    • Coca-Cola's Plastic Promises (2021)

References
  1. Goldman, Lisa. "There are over 40 million people living in slavery around the world | The Passionate Eye". CBC.
  2. Rafique, Waiza (15 January 2020). "Discussing Human Rights through films: #The Why Film Festival 2020". Daily Times.
  3. "Documentales para acercarse a la otra cara del mundo". La Capital. October 17, 2018.
  4. Paul, Jonathan (September 15, 2016). "DR TV doc chief Mette Hoffmann Meyer to step down". Realscreen.
  5. Ravn Nielsen, Marie (September 24, 2014). "DR2 mister markant journalistisk chef". DR.
  6. "About THE WHY". www.thewhy.dk.
  7. Jensen, Sally (October 8, 2018). "Seks nye dokumentarfilm skal åbne verdens øjne for moderne slaveri - Danwatch". danwatch.
  8. Ravindran, Manori (July 24, 2019). "Why in the World: Foundation Promotes Human Rights through Docs". The IDA.
  9. Freije, Layal (April 14, 2019). "Film som ændrer verden: "Vi siger, at vi er verdens mindste organisation med verdens største footprint"". Børsen.
  10. Ravindran, Manori (September 23, 2014). "Steps Int'l rebrands as Why Foundation, names CEO". Realscreen.
  11. "Why Poverty? Steps International, BBC, DR-Danish Broadcast Corp". Peabody.
  12. Flott, Søren (October 15, 2018). "Mennesker til salg: Køb en slave for 581 kroner". Fyens Stiftstidende.
  13. Nordentoft, Ane (September 27, 2018). "Serie af dokumentarfilm sætter fokus på moderne slaveri | Globalnyt". Globalnyt.
  14. Movin, Lars (November 1, 2007). ""Why Democracy?": Is Democracy for Everyone?". Det Danske Film Institutet.
  15. Fraser, Nick (November 15, 2012). "Global broadcasters in partnership ask 'WHY POVERTY?'". BBC.
  16. Arvin, Bo Bech (May 7, 2016). "DR sætter fokus på kvinders vilkår og ligestilling". DR.
  17. "Why Plastic?". www.thewhy.dk. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  18. "WHY PLASTIC?". Aarhus Series. October 27, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-18.


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