The development phase of THE WHY’s sixth documentary series WHY FREEDOM? is now well underway, due to launch in 2026. Here’s a brief look at how the project is shaping up so far!

With democracy and individual freedoms increasingly under threat, with WHY FREEDOM? we aim to tell the most important freedom stories to a global audience. Freedom means something different to everyone, and we intend to reflect this diversity in our selection of documentary films.

In late 2022, we issued an open call to filmmakers worldwide, and by the February 2023 deadline we had received over 130 ideas from directors and producers around the world.

In the spring and summer of 2023, we formed an editorial group to evaluate the many proposals we received. To create a series of films about freedom that is both globally and topically diverse, our selection process focused on everything from geography to the pivotal points in history of the country or region in question.

In November 2023, THE WHY returned to Amsterdam and participated in the European Broadcasting Union's meeting in connection with IDFA. During the meeting, we provided an update on WHY FREEDOM? and presented some of the projects that are currently in production for the series. Three of these projects will be announced next month.

Apart from choosing the right films for WHY FREEDOM?, the focus in the fall of 2023 was also to secure the necessary funding for the project. The first broadcasters have already confirmed their support, and by the first half of 2024, it is expected that the funding will be fully secured with support from broadcasters, film institutes and foundations.

WHY FREEDOM? is set to premiere in early 2026 - watch this space for more updates!