TEDGlobal 2007: Session 2: Newton Aduaka

Newton Aduaka is the filmmaker responsible for the award-winning film Ezra, told through the eyes of a young Sierra Leonean. It illuminates one of the most harrowing consequences of the civil war: the recruitment of child soldiers.

Three clips from his movies were shown in quick succession. The final clip is from a movie where a black Hollywood director is confronted by his friends, also working in the industry,  and questioned about what cinema means. His film Ezra was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and won the top prize at the 2007 African Film Festival, along with the UN Peace Promotion Prize.

He ended up asking us to remember the psychological trauma of child soldiers. We need to factor in their experiences when trying to reintegrate them into society.