Barnabás Tóth (Hungary)
09.12.1977
Me and development
I was 12 when a miraculous political turn pushed Hungary from its neverending "2nd world" status to its new EU membership. The past 20 were not easy and we still have a lot to do. As Germany, France and the rest of Europe helped us out from our passiveness, we have to learn to look further and help other countries develop. Helping is not a luxury of the rich. It is a human obligation, regardless to race, religion or wealth.
Me and Africa
When I was in Lagos, I was shooting about volunteers working for the poor and the youth (or, as is the case there, both at the same time). There was not a moment I didnt think about taking the plane the next day back to Europe and leaving the whole thing behind. It was hot, loud, crowded, stinky, violent, polluated. 8 years have passed. During these years, there was not a single day I didn't think about Lagos with the strongest nostalgy, about going back there as soon as possible. It is the people which make the difference. Not the people in uniform, or the people in offices with a responsible job. No, never. It is the streets, the schools, the churches, the markets, the factories. If I could capture the magic of this one day, I could persuade a lot of people to act.
Me and Journalism
Every day, when I get up, I have to have my newspaper with my breakfast. I start with the first page, then with the sports, and then culture. Later during the day, I read the politics and the international. I have to be fully awake for them.
Truth is always so complex and media is always so manipulative that as a journalist, I have to use the most shades of gray possible instead of black and white. If you show point A, you have to show point B too, possibly C and D as well.
Having an opinion about your subject can be as dangerous as useful. You need to be involved for the envy to work, but you have to be as neutral as possible with your camera, your questions and your editing work.
Documentary films are very 2 sided: you can watch an old lady trying to take her coat on for minutes. And you know there are 4 people in the same room who don't help her at that very moment. Now, of course, our job is to show, and by doing it, you can very often help in a much bigger scale.
