Democracy is a process that strives to give visibility to what has previously been invisible, and this process can be linked to the role of aesthetics in challenging dominant narratives and power structures. Aesthetics, like politics, can be understood as a means of bringing to the forefront what has been unheard or unseen, as it involves the creation and expression of diverse perspectives and experiences.

In this sense, both politics and aesthetics can be seen as constantly evolving processes that challenge the status quo. Often, marginalized groups and perspectives play a key role in this process, as they seek to disrupt dominant narratives and power structures and bring their voices and experiences to the forefront.

One way in which politics and aesthetics intersect in this process is through the use of film and other media as a creative space for dissent and the challenge of dominant power structures. By using film and media to tell powerful and moving stories, activists can engage and inspire their audience and can challenge dominant narratives and perspectives. This can be a way of creating dissensus and bringing new voices and perspectives into the public discourse, ultimately broadening our democratic horizon.

In the current historical moment, marked by the emergence of Right-wing populism and Fascist movements, the MAFF 2023 film festival aims to embrace and celebrate difference as a form of resistance to dominant or pervasive visual motifs. By including a diverse range of voices and visions from the margins, the festival seeks to reframe democracy as a process that is open and imaginative, rather than one that is controlled by a few dominant imageries.