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Sebastian Satrio Darminto, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, JapanAbstract
This study examines the role of film as a medium for fostering empathy, reconciliation, and peacebuilding through audience reception. The purpose is to measure the audience’s feelings before and after watching a selected film. While previous research explores soft power, cultural diplomacy, and the political impact of film, few studies directly measure how audiences emotionally and cognitively respond to films that address historical trauma. This research employs a mixed-methods experimental design in which two audience groups watch contrasting biographical films: First They Killed My Father, a genocide-centered narrative set during the Khmer Rouge regime, and Radio, a neutral biographical drama focused on inclusion. Pre-test, post-test, and focus group discussions were used to evaluate changes in empathy, emotional resilience, and understanding of justice and reconciliation. Findings indicate that reconciliation-themed films evoke stronger emotional, reflective, global awareness, and moral imagination, while neutral films encourage moderate empathy without deep engagement with conflict or trauma. The study highlights film’s potential to function as a tool of cultural soft power, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and shaping perceptions of peace. It contributes to the limited empirical literature on audience-centered film analysis within peace and conflict studies.
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Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Media Studies
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Darminto S. (2026) Examining the Role of Film in Peacebuilding Through Audience Reception ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 159-171) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.15
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.15
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