A film project that gets under your skin
Salzburg (OTS) – The Children's and Youth Advocacy Salzburg (kija) has hit the mark with its latest short film „Sprich mit uns!“. Together with a film crew and a committed upper-level class from ART-ORG St. Ursula Salzburg, a work was created that not only moves viewers but also awakens them. The premiere at „Das Kino“ was a complete success, and the film is now available at www.kija-sbg.at as well as on kija's social media channels.
A strong statement for youth
With striking images and authentic stories, the film shows how important it is to give young people a voice in difficult life situations. State Councillor for Education Mag.a Gutschi emphasized at the premiere: „The film impressively shows how important it is to give young people a voice in difficult life situations. Issues such as bullying, discrimination and domestic violence affect all of us as a society. It is our responsibility to empower children and adolescents, to listen to them and to facilitate their access to help. This project is an important step to raise awareness and encourage people.“
Behind the scenes: Who is behind kija?
But what exactly does kija Salzburg do? The Children's and Youth Advocacy is an important institution that advocates for the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. It offers advice and support in difficult life situations and stands by young people when they don't know how to proceed. The new film „Sprich mit uns!“ addresses, in just under five minutes, the most pressing social challenges such as bullying, discrimination and domestic violence.
When everyday life becomes a burden
The short film tells four authentic stories of young people who are confronted with everyday but often distressing problems:
- Lucy, who becomes a victim of cyberbullying and receives hurtful hate comments daily.
- Mohamed, who is discriminated against in a job interview because of his origin.
- Miriam, who grows up in a household marked by violence and conflict.
- Carla, who gets into a precarious situation due to peer pressure.
In their desperation, all four turn to kija — whether by click, call or message. The message is clear: young people have the right to help.
A passion project with great impact
The film is the result of a successful collaboration: kija Salzburg developed the concept together with Quadroptik Filmproduktion. Viktoria Windhab, who wrote the screenplay and directed, impressively staged the youths' stories. Over four intense shooting days, the ART-ORG class, under the direction of their dedicated teacher Katharina Gutschi, worked with external actors. The students brought the stories to the screen with great commitment and authenticity, creating a strong connection to the target audience. „It is strong to seek help — together everything feels less heavy! Sprich mit uns! from kija Salzburg — I'm glad I could contribute a small part,“ said the experienced actress Barbara Macheiner.
A call to action
With the short film, kija Salzburg wants to bring central concerns of young people into the spotlight and encourage them to seek support. „Unfortunately, in our work at kija we often encounter young people who find themselves in situations very similar to those we address in the film. Our role is: we listen, we take them seriously and we support them — in the way they themselves want. With the film we want to encourage young people to seek help early. No one has to stay alone — there is support and concrete points of contact and we stand by their side!“, said Fellinger from kija.
A look into the future: What's next?
The release of the film is only the beginning. kija plans to use the short film in workshops to raise awareness of the issues and to show young people concrete ways to get help. The target group is children and adolescents from age 12. „We want to show young people that it is okay to seek help and that they are not alone,“ emphasizes Fellinger.
What does this mean for society?
The film impressively shows that issues such as bullying, discrimination and domestic violence affect not only the young people concerned but society as a whole. It is a collective responsibility to raise awareness and stand by those affected. The film „Sprich mit uns!“ is an important step in this direction and a call to everyone not to turn a blind eye to the problems of youth.
Expert opinions: What do the experts say?
Dr. Helmut Gruber, a renowned psychologist specializing in youth issues, praises the project: „The film ‚Sprich mit uns!‘ is an excellent example of how to reach and sensitize young people. The stories are realistic and offer potential for identification. Such projects are indispensable for breaking the taboo and promoting dialogue.“
Sociologist Dr. Karin Huber also sees the project as ground-breaking: „In a time when social media plays an ever greater role in young people's lives, it is important to show them that they are not alone. The film provides a platform to talk about problems that often remain hidden.“
Conclusion
The short film „Sprich mit uns!“ by kija Salzburg is more than just a film. It is a call to action, a wake-up call to society and an encouragement for all young people who find themselves in difficult situations. With great commitment and passion, all involved have created a work that moves and provokes thought. One can only hope that the film reaches many people and helps to improve the lives of young people in need.
