Legal Specs

Human Rights Watch

11 Jul 2007

Human Rights Watch
International Film Festival

Living amidst New York City's many cultures and crazy festivals and celebratory events, we tend to forget that there is a vast world beyond the city borders. Fortunately enough, the city also gives opportunities to see and learn more about the world beyond the five boroughs. The 13th annual Human Rights Watch (HRW) International Film Festival is here in New York from June 15-28th.

The Human Rights Watch Organization tracks developments in more than 70 countries around the world. They follow issues in women's rights, children's rights, and the flow of arms to abusive forces. Other special projects include academic freedom, the human rights responsibilities of corporations, international justice, prisons, drugs, and refugees. The list goes on, seemingly in correlation with some of the cruelties we all too often find in human nature. Recognizing the power of film to educate and incite citizens, HRW created the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival where they showcase the heroic stories of activists and survivors from all over the world. The works featured help “put a human face on threats to individual freedom and dignity, and celebrate the power of the human spirit and intellect to prevail.” This year, HRW presents twenty-four films and videos from nineteen countries.

The films represent differing issues faced by the world today. Some are well-known and popular, such as the topic of global warming and the environment in “Everything's Cool” by Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand and “Manufactured Landscapes” by Jennifer Baichwal. Some films also include the most controversial topics of genocide in Darfur and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in “The Devil Came on Horseback” by Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern and “Hot House” by Shimon Dotan. The unique benefit of attending some of the films' showings is the discussion with the filmmaker to follow. The Q&A sessions are fantastic and brilliant chances for the audience to better understand on a deeper level the messages in the film with the actual visionaries.

On June 17th, I attended the New York premiere of “Enemies of Happiness” by Eva Mulvad, 2007 Nestor Almendros Prize winner for courage in filmmaking. The film follows the personal courage and conviction of the most famous and infamous Afghani woman, Malalai Joya, who ran in her country's first democratic parliamentary election back in 2005 at the age of 28. Joya is an advocate for women's rights and voice of “freedom loving democracy” for the country's citizens challenging the power of warlords in a new government. There are moments in the film that are so raw and naked, no words are spoken in order to show just how vulnerable humans can be. The audience applauded as Eva Mulvad and Malalai Joya stepped on stage after the viewing. Malalai Joya undoubtedly has passion and sincerity in her voice as she tackles the controversial issues faced by her people and her nation.

We all know there are stories well beyond our own and unfortunately, we tend to forget that. People all over the world go through the same emotions, we all cry when we're sad and we all smile and laugh when we're happy, but we all have our own struggles and challenges faced each day. The positive light of the film festival is we can all learn from each other. Human Rights Watch International Film Festival provides a chance to see beyond our borders.

“We seek to empower everyone with the knowledge that personal commitment can make a very real difference.” - HRW


All films are screened at:
Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center
165 W. 65th St., plaza level
(between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.)
General admission is $11, $7 for Film Society members
$7 for full-time students with valid photo ID
For more information, go to www.hrw.org/iff/

For short documentaries viewings from home, go to www.mediathatmattersfest.org