List of human rights film festivals

Film festivals

A human rights film festival is a subject specific film festival that presents films on topics related to human rights.[1] They are a type of activist film festival.[2] Many human rights film festivals show documentary films, however, some also include fiction, animated and short films.[3] The first film festival with the title of a human rights film festival was the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival inaugurated in 1988.[3] Many have emerged since then with the largest being the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Prague.[2] Under the stewardship of another prominent human rights film festival, Movies that Matter, the Human Rights Film Network has created a communal circuit of human rights film festivals which work with a guiding Charter towards an atmosphere of support and collaboration.[2][4] The Human Rights Film Network uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as their moral centre.[5] A large majority of the human rights film festivals listed below are members of the Human Rights Film Network.

List

Name State, Province, Region, or City Country Established Notes
1905 International Human Rights Film Festival Hong Kong  China 2016 Creating an Asia-Pacific hub for human rights filmmakers while engaging audiences on human rights issues.[6]
ACT Human Rights Film Festival Colorado  United States 2016 Created by the Department of Communication Studies at Colorado State University.[7]
Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival Quezon City, Metro Manila  Philippines 2005 Takes place annually in September to coincide with the introduction of Marshal Law in the Philippines. Raises awareness to help spark the desire for change in the eyes of the public.[8]
Addis International Film Festival Addis Ababa  Ethiopia 2007 The festival focuses on human rights issues in Ethiopia and globally. It hopes to inspire future generations to be more critically engaged.[9]
AfricanBamba Human Rights Film Festival Thiaroye, Dakar  Senegal 2012 Works with local and international NGOs to provide free health consultations and to raise awareness about local social issues.[10]
Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) Bergen  Norway 2000 The largest film festival in Norway features mainly documentary but also fiction films. Their human rights festival Checkpoint is featured during BIFF.[11]
Censurados Film Festival Lima  Peru 2014 Promotes itself as a meeting place for activists, a place to see films on human rights topics and films which have been censured.[12]
Chesnok Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Tiraspol  Moldova 2016 A travelling film festival within Moldova which presents feature and short human rights documentaries. The festival's goal is to engage the public on the human rights issues of the world.[13]
Ciné Droit Libre Ouagadougou  Burkina Faso 2005 Its points of focus are human rights and freedom of expression. Screens and distributes films which have been censored in order to activate audiences on human rights issues.[14]
Ciné Droit Libre Abidjan Abidjan  Ivory Coast 2008 Focuses on films from Africa which have been censored by showing them and distributing them.[15]
Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Kyiv  Ukraine 2003 Promotes human rights in Ukraine and documentary filmmaking.[16]
Document Human Rights Film Festival Glasgow  Scotland 2003 Is a meeting place for documentary filmmakers from across the United Kingdom and focuses on showing human rights films largely ignored by mainstream media.[17][18]
ENTRETODOS São Paulo  Brazil 2007 An entry fee free short film human rights film festival.[19]
Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival Podgorica  Montenegro 2010 Encourages the people of Montenegro to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.[20]
Festival de Cine MÁS Managua  Nicaragua 2015 Helps spread awareness about human rights to more people in Nicaragua through association with educational institutions in the country.[21]
Festival de Cine y Derechos Humanos Donostia San Sebastian  Spain 2003 This festival promotes human rights, respect and solidarity through fiction features, documentaries and short films.[22]
Festival Del Cinema Dei Diritti Umani Di Napoli Naples  Italy 2008 As a city which has been a crossing point for immigrants, Naples desires to promote itself through this festival as an integral meeting space for people from countries to the south fighting for democracy and freedom.[23]
Festival des Libertés Brussels  Belgium Through screening documentaries, and hosting events, the festival promotes freedom and universal democracy.[24]
Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains (FIFDH) Geneva  Switzerland 2003 Coincides with the UN Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva.[2][25]
Festival Internacional de Cine Derechos Humanos (FICDH) Buenos Ares  Argentina 1997 The festival's primary focus is the dictatorship in Argentina. Since 2004, under new leadership, immigration and Indigenous issues have also become a focus.[3][26]
Festival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos “El séptimo ojo es tuyo” Sucre  Bolivia 2004 A festival, cultural centre for study and film production in Bolivia.[27]
FiSahara Tindouf  Algeria 2003 The festival takes place in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. It organizes screenings, activities and workshops.[28]
Free Zone Film Festival Belgrade  Serbia 2005 Showcases films about human rights from around the world and raises awareness about the responsibility to protect others.[29]
Freedom Film Festival Petaling Jaya  Malaysia 2003 Brings filmmakers and activists together to see and listen to untold stories about human rights issues. The festival also includes a travelling festival.[30][31]
HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival Oslo  Norway A film festival and forum for professionals as well as students on documentary filmmaking as an agent for change.[32]
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF)  Australia 2006 This festival uses the language of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to engage newcomers and those already knowledgeable on the topic.[5]
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival Manhattan, New York  United States 1988 The first human rights film festival to occur anywhere in the world.[3]
Human Rights Film Festival: Inconvenient Films Vilnius  Lithuania 2007 Through a focus on new documentary filmmakers, global human rights issues are related to those that are local to Lithuania.[33]
Human Rights Nights (HRN) Bologna  Italy 2001 Celebrates the risks taken by filmmakers to make the voices and pain of others known to a wider public.[34]
HUMANS Fest - Festival Internacional de Cine y Derechos Humanos Valencia  Spain 2008 The festival shows screenings in person and online, organizes activist projects and raises awareness for human rights related issues around the world.[35]
International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania Tirana  Albania 2006 Created by the Academy of Film and Multimedia Marubi in association with many non government organizations, it includes music performances, exhibitions as well as film screenings. The festival focuses on global human rights issues of interest to Albania.[36]
Karama Beirut Human Rights Film Festival Beirut  Lebanon 2016 The festival is run by the NGO Art Factory 961 and is an event for professionals, activists, and community members in the promotion of human rights through screenings, outreach programs and workshops.[37]
Karama Human Rights Film Festival Amman  Jordan 2009 Run by NGO Ma'mal 612 and in the wake of the issues facing the Arab region since 2010 this festival raises awareness about human rights issues through film, music education and art. They also help other festivals form through the Arab Network for Human Rights films.[38]
Miradas Diversas - Festival Internacional de Cine de Derechos Humanos Caracas  Venezuela 2018 Works with organizations to bring awareness about human rights issues to multiple cities outside of Caracas during the week of the festival.[39]
MOVE IT! Film Festival for Human Rights and Development Dresden  Germany 2004 The festival focuses on women and children's rights related films that have not yet been screened in Dresden.[40]
Movies that Matter International The Hague  Netherlands 2006 Originally, beginning in 1995, the Amsterdam branch of the Amnesty International Film Festival. Amnesty International is still the largest supporter of the festival.[2]
Muestra de Cine Internacional Memoria Verdad Justicia Guatemala-City  Guatemala 2010 This festival focuses on memory and brings audiences together to watch film that are not seen in the region. It especially looks for films which are from the region but have been taken away. They locate, try to acquire their rights and subtitle these films.[41]
Muestra de Cine Social y Derechos Humanos (MUSOC) Asturias  Spain 2012 This festival screens documentary, fiction and animation films from around the world to raise awareness on human rights topics.[42]
Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival Kathmandu  Nepal 2010 Film is in an important tool for this festival to reach people about human rights in communities who are marginalized and illiterate. To activate them to stand up for their rights.[43]
Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival Nuremberg  Germany 1999 Germany's largest human rights film festival. This festival focuses on art house films of exceptional quality with juries, prizes and a youth programme.[44]
One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Prague  Czech Republic 1999 The largest human rights film festival in the world.[2]
One World Slovakia Bratislava  Slovakia 1999 This festival is an online and in person festival which shows documentary films from around the world on human rights issues.[45]
Red Carpet Human Rights Film Festival Gaza City  Palestine 2015 As the only human rights film festival in Palestine the festival focuses on human rights issues in both Palestine and around the world. It runs in collaboration with the Karma film festival in Jordan.[46]
Seoul Human Rights Film Festival Seoul  South Korea 1996 This festival shows films which have been censored, works to sustain engagement with human rights issues, and delivers a festival that is accessible for those with disabilities.[47]
Tenemos que Ver Montevideo  Uruguay 2011 By hosting workshops and educational screenings at schools this festival engages with the audience and community beyond the exceptional films screened at the festival.[48]
Vermont International Film Festival Vermont  United States 1985 As the oldest festival in Vermont, VIFF shows arthouse films aimed at both entertainment and engaging with the issues of the world.[49]
Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Budapest  Hungary 2004 This festival is an event that includes Q&A sessions and workshops which engage community members, professionals and aspiring filmmakers on topics related to human rights.[50]
WATCH DOCS Belarus Human Rights Film Festival Minsk  Belarus 2015 Funded largely by crowdfunding and the support of WATCH DOCS Poland this festival shines light on human rights abuses while supporting Belarusian documentary filmmakers.[51]
WATCH DOCS. Human Rights in Film International Film Festival Warsaw  Poland 2001 This festival boasts an international jury, workshops, and online screening library for those who access it from Poland. It works with various leading NGOs and institutes to put on a festival that shows exceptional documentaries while maintaining a space for debate.[52]

References

  1. ^ Deshpande, Shekhar A. (2018). World cinema : a critical introduction. Meta Mazaj. London. ISBN 978-0-415-78356-9. OCLC 1005113451.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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  3. ^ a b c d Tascón, Sonia M. (2015). Human rights film festivals : activism in context. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire. ISBN 978-1-137-45424-9. OCLC 899260399.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Charter | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  5. ^ a b Wils, Tyson (2017). "Refusal to Know the Place of Human Rights: Dissensus and the Human Rights Art and Film Festival.". Activist Film Festivals: Towards a Political Subject. Chicago/New York: intellect. pp. 121–137. ISBN 978-1-78320-634-6.
  6. ^ "1905 International Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
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  8. ^ "Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  9. ^ "Addis International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  10. ^ "AfricanBamba Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  11. ^ "Bergen International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  12. ^ "Censurados Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  13. ^ "Chesnok Human Rights Documentary Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  14. ^ "Ciné Droit Libre | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  15. ^ "Ciné Droit Libre Abidjan | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  16. ^ "Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  17. ^ "Document Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  18. ^ Colta, Alexandra (2019-07-01). "Creative and emotional labour". Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media (17): 128–145. doi:10.33178/alpha.17.08. hdl:10468/8223. ISSN 2009-4078. S2CID 199167904.
  19. ^ "ENTRETODOS | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  20. ^ "Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  21. ^ "Festival de Cine MÁS | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  22. ^ "Festival de Cine y Derechos Humanos Donostia | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  23. ^ "Festival Del Cinema Dei Diritti Umani Di Napoli | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  24. ^ "Festival des Libertés | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  25. ^ "Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  26. ^ "Festival Internacional de Cine de Derechos Humanos | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  27. ^ "Festival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos "El séptimo ojo es tuyo" | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  28. ^ "FiSahara | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  29. ^ "Free Zone Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  30. ^ "Freedom Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  31. ^ Crosby, Alexandra (2017). ""It's Not Just About the Films": Activist Film Festivals in Post-New Order Indonesia". Activist Film Festivals: Towards a Political Subject. Bristol, UK / Chicago, USA: Intellect. pp. 183–195. ISBN 978-1-78320-634-6.
  32. ^ "HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  33. ^ "Human Rights Film Festival: Inconvenient Films | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  34. ^ "Human Rights Nights | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  35. ^ "HUMANS Fest - Festival Internacional de Cine y Derechos Humanos | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  36. ^ "International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  37. ^ "Karama Beirut Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  38. ^ "Karama Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  39. ^ "Miradas Diversas - Festival Internacional de Cine de Derechos Humanos | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  40. ^ "MOVE IT! Film Festival for Human Rights and Development | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  41. ^ "Muestra de Cine Internacional Memoria Verdad Justicia | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  42. ^ "Muestra de Cine Social y Derechos Humanos (MUSOC) | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  43. ^ "Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  44. ^ "Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival |". Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  45. ^ "One World Slovakia | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  46. ^ "Red Carpet Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  47. ^ "Seoul Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  48. ^ "Tenemos que Ver | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  49. ^ "Vermont International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  50. ^ "Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  51. ^ "WATCH DOCS Belarus Human Rights Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  52. ^ "WATCH DOCS. Human Rights in Film International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Network". www.humanrightsfilmnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.