A Black Box for Participatory Cinema: Movie-making with “Neighbors” in Saladillo, Argentina

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of neighborhood cinema (Cine con vecinos) in Saladillo, Argentina. Since 1995 it has been appropriating screening and production spaces wrested from local television, and more generally challenging the hegemony of national TV and industrial cinema production. Cine con vecinos is analyzed here in terms of social agency, participation and sociality. It has democratized media production through films shot entirely with locals, and has also promoted a revival of local movie theaters. Finally, the prospects of this type of cinema are assessed in contrast to other types of participatory community cinema, and also in view of its recent project of making a future “community set,” or large-scale production site, for community cinema.