EUROTOPIA

We aim to create counter narratives through filmmaking to combat extremism

Background

Cecilia Gärding

Initiator behind Eurotopia

In her schoolyears Cecilia experienced how several of her class mates started sympathizing with extremist ideas and became neo-Nazis. They later regretted their involvement and told her about their experiences.

During her years of studying to become a political scientist she lived in Husby, a Stockholm suburb mainly inhabited by immigrants. She experienced there how young people were targeted by radicalized groups as more public service withdrew from the suburb.

Cecilia also visited 4 European cities, Berlin, Nice, Brussels and Paris, in 2015 while touring with “We are like Oranges” that later were subjected to terrorist attacks. This experience made her more aware of the quest to do something against extremism in visual media.

We are like oranges

The movie

Cecilia Gärding co-wrote the script and was the Assistant Director and Executive Producer for the film “We are like oranges”.

The film was awarded the prize “Best practice against extremism” by the EU in 2016 and was awarded “The best foreign film award” by the La Femme Film Festival in Hollywood in 2014.

Global Music Award

The film also won a Global music awards for the film music made by her and her brother Mikael Haines Gärding.

Women inspiring Europe award , 2014

For her work she won the Women inspiring Europe award , 2014 by the European Institute for Gender Equality and was invited to the Student Academy Awards, 2016-2018.

Aim

The aim of the project is to raise awareness as to

why young people are radicalized and how they can leave these destructive milieus,
how the affected people are feeling today,
why some of us now see it as their responsibility to fight against radicalization,
how all of this affects children in society and their view of the world.
- Our focus is their visions for a better Europe for all.