Critical Thinking and Social Inclusion Against Disinformation
Photos: Zornitsa Mitin
On March 27, 2025, the final event – Roundtable and Screening of Credible Local Voices – took place at the French Cultural Institute under the thematic title: Critical Thinking and Social Inclusion Against Disinformation – What is the Way Forward? The event, in which, with exceptional interest, experts, organizations and partners shared what has been achieved so far and discussed future steps, was held with the special participation of Abdi Hassan, British Council Country Director for Bulgaria and Romania, the Director of French Institute Luc Levy and the Programme and Project Manager in British Coincil Dobryana Petkova.
In addition to presenting the results of the Digital Children project, achieved with the support of the British Council, the program included a panel discussion and a special film screening. The main partners and components of the Credible Local Voices project are the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA), Sofia Intl Film Festival, Sofia Documental and the Single Step Foundation.
Under the BFPA component project, co-financing the Digital Children project, the key areas of impact and work involving young people (including from vulnerable Roma communities) were highlighted, numbers and conclusions were presented on the current impact of the project.
The presentation and discussion led by Pavlina Filipova and Dr. Radosveta Stamenkova from BFPA with the participation of Yana Aleksieva from the Parents Association and Maria Brestnichka from the National Network for Children – representatives of the organizations forming together National Safer Internet Center, sharing their impressions of the contribution and experience of their organizations in the implementation of the project.
There was a premiere presentation of three short video films, developed and implemented under ‘Digital Children’, created by Nikolay Dimitrov, a BFPA volunteer, and a team of young actors. Each of the films shows one story, representing a typical potential risk for children and young people in the online space. As part of the films, the safenet.bg phone number 124 123 is provided, to which all children, parents and teachers can report in cases of risk or threat to their safety or in cases of online bullying.
After the panel discussions within the special selection ‘The Engine of Truth’, part of the 29th Sofia Film Fest and realized in partnership with the British Council Bulgaria, a special screening of the film ‘Antidote’ by director James Jones took place – a film that continues to be added to and changed, adding new facts and comments on reality. The film is a dynamic story – a moving testimony to the battle against fear and propaganda and follows the fates of people who stood up to one of the most dangerous regimes in modern history. The film was presented by producer Vivian Jones, and the audience at this event is the second in the world after the audience of the CPH:DOX festival to see the new, enriched version. ‘Antidote’ is one of those films that brings to the table a discussion aimed at combating disinformation and encouraging critical thinking. Because the truth needs voices to speak it.
Funded by the European Union, co-funded & in cooperation with the British Council. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) or the British Council. Neither the European Union, HaDEA nor the British Council can be held responsible for them.