The importance of this work was evident when the pandemic first reared its head. With trips suspended, and countries being judged by their COVID-19 policies, AFS served as an opportunity for the embassies to continue to present programming that would serve as a symbol of the optimism and inspirational can-do attitude of American culture. AFS’ pivot to virtual screenings, workshops, and masterclasses, proved the strength of the SCA/State Dept. partnership. Even past participants of their programs gravitated to the programming, and each other, and found ways to work together. Patrick Shen, who had worked as an AFS mentor, recruited fellow AFS filmmakers to collaborate on a project about their experiences during the pandemic, creating the film The Dawn Chorus. Other filmmakers around the world made and shared shorts about the pandemic experience in their countries. “They came together to produce content outside of the program, as a way to get through the global lockdown, by being creative and supportive of each other,” says AFS Program Director Rachel Gandin Mark.

One challenge COVID did put into stark relief was the lack of internet service and other digital technologies in communities outside the capital cities of countries the program serves. AFS trips always include screenings of the documentaries in hard-to-reach areas of the host countries, and audience members usually travel to a theater, community center or some other central location for the programming. But stuck in their homes, they had no way to access the screenings and discussions. “This highlights inequities in access to the internet that still exist in many parts of the world, and even in this country,” says Nestor Vences, AFS’ Communications Manager. “In some parts, data for streaming content is very expensive. Some of our embassies stepped in to pay the costs to allow people to log on. But the pandemic really underscored how impactful our in-person programming around the world has been. And how important it is for people to have access to this work.”

As the program continues to grow and learn from these experiences, one thing has remained constant—the enthusiasm and care for the programming and its impact on participants. AFS’ encouraging operating motto is “tell your own story”. This applies to the American storytellers who take their films abroad, and the local creatives who come to AFS workshops to learn the cinematic trades they hope to use in their storytelling. Although the showcase works through American embassies globally, the participants' lived experiences is prioritized, even if that sometimes means portraying American foreign policy in a less than flattering manner. The commitment to local communities and different perspectives is highlighted in the scripts, workshops, and films, both from the American filmmakers who make the documentaries AFS chooses, and the local creatives who participate in their programming. Gandin Mark describes this focus as a concerted effort to “witness the true power of honest cultural exchange.”