MICROCAPITAL STORY: Microfinance on the Big Screen? French Film to Explore Millennium Development Goals

LDM Productions, a French production company, and the United Nations Development Programme, a multilateral development assistance network, are working together to produce a full-length feature film that explorers the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

“8” is composed of eight short films directed by eight directors and is slated to be released internationally in 2008. Each director was given one of the MDGs and tasked with creating an 8 to 15 minute MDG-themed story. Wim Wenders, an internationally acclaimed German filmmaker, received goal eight, “Develop a global partnership for development.” He and writer Erin Dignam are wrapping production on their segment entitled “Person to Person,” which focuses on microcredit. Mr. Wenders and Mr. Dignam completed their screenplay in November 2006 and filming began in June 2007.

More information, including the film’s trailer, can be found on the film’s marketing website.

-Steven Craig

Additional Resources:

UN: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

LDM Productions: http://www.ldmproductions.fr/8/

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493101/

Win Wenders: http://www.wim-wenders.com/

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000694/