Interactive documentary film on hate speech, 2017
Commissioned by the British organization Article 19 SLOVO explores the destructive impact of hate speech and challenges viewers to reflect on its consequences. This groundbreaking web-based documentary uses an innovative, yet accessible, interactive format to bridge the gap between digital media and social activism.
- Simon CallowBritish actor, director, authorIt’s agonizing, horrible, astonishing, necessary. Watching it is almost unbearable. The words of those reading hate speech and their pain, coupled with the brutality, savagery, and criminal injustice of the oppressors’ actions. The world must see this film.
The film invites audiences to navigate two parallel narratives: real-life hate speech targeted at marginalized groups, recited by individuals, and documented acts of violence incited by such rhetoric. By simply pressing the spacebar, viewers toggle between these streams, experiencing firsthand the thin line separating hateful words from real-world harm. This minimalist approach ensured accessibility for a broad audience, including those new to interactive media, while delivering a powerful emotional impact.
Over six months of meticulous research, the project collected statements aimed at diverse groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, elderly women, people with non-Slavic appearances, those living with HIV, the homeless, and people with larger body sizes.
These words, sourced from public figures, politicians, and everyday internet users, were brought to life by nine individuals who gave voice to the hate directed at them or others like them.
These words, sourced from public figures, politicians, and everyday internet users, were brought to life by nine individuals who gave voice to the hate directed at them or others like them.
As the project’s creator and artistic director, I expanded its scope far beyond the film itself. This included:
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Crafting a cohesive visual identity and branding strategy -
Designing a social media campaign to amplify its message. -
Creating a printed zine dedicated to hate speech. -
Hosting public screenings paired with discussions to spark dialogue. -
Producing a documentary about the making of the project. -
Publishing interviews with participants to deepen the narrative’s resonance.
The results were remarkable: the SLOVO website attracted over 32,000 active users within its first month, demonstrating the project’s ability to engage and mobilize audiences at scale.
With its seamless integration of storytelling, technology, and activism, SLOVO turned abstract statistics into human stories, creating a lasting platform for empathy and change.
With its seamless integration of storytelling, technology, and activism, SLOVO turned abstract statistics into human stories, creating a lasting platform for empathy and change.
Acknowledgments
The creation of SLOVO was made possible with the support of several esteemed organizations. Commissioned by Article 19 and further supported by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Oak Foundation, and Avaaz, the project represents a collaborative effort to bring awareness to the devastating effects of hate speech and foster dialogue on this urgent issue.
