All films are screened at the The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street, upper level (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.)
TICKET INFORMATION: Single screening tickets for the 2010 Human Rights Watch Film Festival are $12 general public, $8 students and seniors (62+), $7 for Film Society members. Five Film Pass: $50 general public, $35 students and seniors, $30 for Film Society members. Special Two Film Package: $20 General Public, $14 students and seniors, $12 members for the screenings of Mountains and Clouds (Sat., June 19) and Last Best Chance (Wed., June 23).
Purchase options: www.FilmLinc.com or in person at the Walter Reade Theater box office. Hours: Mon.-Fri. opens at 12:30pm, Sat./Sun. opens 1/2 hr before first public screening; closes 15 minutes after last public screening, at 6pm when there are no public screenings. For more information visit www.FilmLinc.com, www.hrw.org/iff or call 212-875-5601.
DETAILS Benefit Screening & Reception
Thursday, June 10
6:00pm doors open; 6:30pm screening and panel discussion with:
Carlito Caminha, journalist and co-founder/director of Timor-Leste Photographers’ Association (TiLPA); Robert Connolly, filmmaker; Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now! (a public television/radio news hour) and survivor of the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre in East Timor. Moderated by Carroll Bogert, Associate Director, Human Rights Watch.
9:00pm Reception
Ticket prices begin at $500. Tickets can be purchased online, http://hrw.kintera.org/filmfestivalbenefit2010
THE BALIBO CONSPIRACY (NY premiere)
Robert Connolly—Australia—2009—111m—drama
The Balibo Conspiracy dramatizes the importance of bearing witness, no matter the risk. Set in 1975 East Timor, as Indonesia prepares to invade, it tells the true story of crimes that have been covered up for over 30 years. On a quest to investigate the fate of five missing Australian journalists, foreign correspondent Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia) uncovers deeper truths about the conflict—and forges a remarkable friendship with the man who will become president.
Human Rights Watch has covered human rights issues in East Timor for some two decades. In December 2009 in reaction to the Indonesian government’s move to censor this film, Human Rights Watch issued a news release calling for the Indonesian government to protect freedom of expression, and not censor controversial films. www.hrw.org/en/asia/east-timor
Opening Night Film & Reception
Friday, June 11
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, reception to follow
12th & DELAWARE (NY premiere)
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady—US—2010—80m—doc
On an unassuming corner in Fort Pierce, Florida, it is easy to miss the insidious war that is raging. But on each side of 12th & Delaware, people with opposing views stand locked in a heated battle. On one side of the street sits an abortion clinic. On the other side, a pro-life center often mistaken for the clinic it seeks to shut down. Using a skillful and haunting cinema vérité style that allows viewers to draw their own conclusions, 12th & Delaware examines the daily battles of one of America’s most intractable conflicts.
This HBO Documentary Film premieres on HBO on Monday, August 2
For 20 years Human Rights Watch has worked extensively on women’s issues. To learn more about our work http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/women
Closing Night Film & Reception
Thursday, June 24
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith, reception to follow
PRESUMED GUILTY (NY premiere)
Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith—Mexico—2009—88m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
In December 2005 Toño Zuniga was picked up off the street in Mexico City and sentenced to 20 years for a murder he knew nothing about. A friend of Toño’s contacted two young lawyers, Roberto Hernández and Layda Negrete, who gained prominence in Mexico when they helped bring about the release of another innocent man from prison. Looking into Toño’s case, Roberto and Layda managed to get a retrial—on camera—and enlisted the help of filmmaker Geoffrey Smith (The English Surgeon) to chronicle the saga. Shot over three years with unprecedented access to the Mexican courts and prisons, this dramatic story is a searing indictment of a justice system that presumes guilt.
Presumed Guilty will have its national broadcast premiere on the POV (Point of View) series on PBS on Tuesday, July 27 at 10pm (Check local listings.)
Human Rights Watch’s most recent reports on Mexico relate to issues of military impunity and the work of the National Human Rights Commission. http://www.hrw.org/americas/mexico
Presented in association with Cinema Tropical, www.cinematropical.com and El Museo del Barrio, www.elmuseo.org
Festival Centerpiece
Sunday, June 20
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with filmmaker Raoul Peck and Kent Jones, film critic and Executive Director of the World Cinema Foundation
MOLOCH TROPICAL
Raoul Peck—France/Haiti—2009—107m—drama—In English and Creole and French with English subtitles
Master filmmaker Raoul Peck (Lumumba, Sometimes in April) returns with a haunting drama on his home country—Haiti. Peck takes us to a hilltop fortress where the nation’s president is falling apart, buckling under the pressure of civil unrest and the international community’s increasing disapproval. Crafting an almost Shakespearean tragedy in the confines of this isolated citadel, Peck delivers a searing critique of a government corrupted by power and an individual driven mad by it. Completed just months before the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake, Moloch Tropical explores the ruinous costs of political dysfunction in Haiti.
If Haiti is to chart a new course as it rebuilds from the earthquake, addressing the political and human rights themes raised in this bracing film will be critical. Human Rights Watch sent a team to Haiti in February 2010 to look at issues of sexual and gender-based violence as well as human rights issues more generally in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Integrating human rights concerns into the relief operations is essential to protecting the well-being of Haitian victims, especially women, children, and other vulnerable groups. http://www.hrw.org/americas/haiti
Presented in association with Tribeca Film Festival, www.tribecafilm.com and the African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org
Accountability and Justice:
BACKYARD (NY premiere)
Carlos Carrera—Mexico—2009—122m—drama—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Tuesday, June 22, 6:15pm / Wednesday, June 23, 9:00pm
Actors Jimmy Smits and Ana de la Reguera deliver commanding performances in this astonishing fictional account of the unending series of murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which began in 1996. Most of the victims are low-paid laborers who have been drawn to the town by the possibility of work at American-owned factories. In the film Mexican police officer Blanca Bravo (de la Reguera) is sent to Ciudad Juarez to investigate and comes to learn the realities of these women’s lives, as well as the truth about a police force and local power structure embodied by entrepreneur Mickey Santos (Smits) that has ceased to care.
*Note: this film contains scenes of graphic violence and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Human Rights Watch’s most recent reports on Mexico relate to issues of military impunity and the work of the National Human Rights Commission¬—including its investigations of the killings of women in Ciudad Juárez over the past decade. http://www.hrw.org/americas/mexico
Presented in association with Cinema Tropical, www.cinematropical.com and WITNESS, www.witness.org
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath—Cambodia/UK¬—2009—94m—doc—In English and Khmer with English subtitles
Friday, June 18, 4:00pm / Saturday, June 19, 6:30pm / Sunday, June 20, 1:30pm
Winner of the 2010 Sundance World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize, Enemies of the People follows Thet Sambath, whose parents were among the approximately two million people who perished under the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. With unprecedented access and groundbreaking confessions from the notorious “Brother Number Two,” Nuon Chea, and from numerous grassroots killers, he uncovers terrifying personal explanations for the genocide by allowing the perpetrators to speak for themselves.
Nestor Almendros Award
Renowned cinematographer and filmmaker Nestor Almendros (1930–1992) was a founder of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, actively involved in the selection of films and the promotion of human rights filmmaking. Even while deeply immersed in his own projects, he took the time to call the Festival team to mention a strong documentary or promote a work-in-progress. Believing in the power of human rights filmmaking, Nestor devoted himself to becoming a mentor to many young filmmakers. It is in the Festival’s loving memory of Nestor and our desire to celebrate his vision that we proudly bestow this award to filmmakers for their exceptional commitment to human rights.
The Festival is delighted to present Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath—filmmakers of Enemies of the People—with the 2010 Nestor Almendros Award for courage in filmmaking.
Human Rights Watch has worked on Cambodia for nearly 20 years, including efforts to improve the structure and performance of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia, established as a mixed national-international court within the Cambodian justice system to try “senior leaders” and “those most responsible” for crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975-79. http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/cambodia
Presented in association with International Center for Transitional Justice, www.ictj.org
IN THE LAND OF THE FREE... (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker and film subject
Vadim Jean—UK/US—2009—84m—doc
Wednesday, June, 16, 6:30pm / Thursday, June 17, 9:00pm
Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King—the Angola 3—have spent a combined century in solitary confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Targeted by prison officials for being members of the Black Panther Party and for fighting against terrible prison conditions, they were convicted of the murder of a prison guard, a verdict they continue to challenge and for which new evidence continues to emerge. In the Land of the Free... presents their ongoing story as dramatic events continue to unfold. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.
Human Rights Watch has published many reports on prison and detention facilities in the United States. Prisoners too often confront conditions that are abusive, degrading and dangerous in violation of international human rights law. http://www.hrw.org/en/united-states/us-program/prison-and-detention-conditions
Presented in association with Correctional Association, www.correctionalassociation.org, Drop the Rock, www.droptherock.org and New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), www.nyclu.org
OUT IN THE SILENCE (World premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer—US—2009—66m—doc
Monday, June 21, 6:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion
Tuesday, June 22, 9:00pm / Wednesday, June 23, 4:00pm
Out in the Silence captures the controversy that ensues when filmmaker Joe Wilson's same-sex wedding announcement is published in the newspaper of the small Pennsylvania hometown he left long ago. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a gay teen being tormented at school, Wilson's journey dramatically illustrates the challenges of negotiating the morally charged issue of sexual orientation and the potential for building bridges when people with differing opinions approach each other with openness and respect.
Human Rights Watch exposes and combats abuses based on people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Our groundbreaking 2001 report “Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools” examines some of the issues portrayed in the film through numerous testimonies by students who faced abuse on a daily basis from peers and teachers. http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/lgbt-rights
Presented in association with New York Civil Liberties Union, www.nyclu.org and Parents and Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of New York City, www.pflagnyc.org
WAR DON DON (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Rebecca Richman Cohen—Sierra Leone/US—2010—83m—doc—In English and Krio and Mende with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 6:45pm *panel discussion and reception to follow screening
Sunday, June 13, 2:00pm / Wednesday, June 16, 4:00pm
In the heart of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, United Nations soldiers guard a heavily fortified building known as the “special court.” Inside, Issa Sesay awaits his trial. Prosecutors argue that Sesay is a war criminal, guilty of crimes against humanity. His defenders insist that he is a reluctant fighter who protected civilians and played a crucial role in forging the peace. War Don Don tells the story of his sensational trial with unprecedented access to prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims and, from behind bars, Sesay himself. Can the trial of one man uncover the truth of a traumatic past?
*Panel discussion on Saturday June 12 with Sareta Ashraph, Co-Counsel, Issa Sesay Defense; Binta Mansaray, Registrar, Special Court for Sierra Leone; and Stephen Rapp, Prosecutor, Special Court for Sierra Leone (2006-2009) and Ambassador-at-Large War Crimes. Discussion moderated by Elise Keppler, Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch.
Winner of the 2010 Cinereach Award presented by Cinereach, a not-for-profit film foundation that funds and produces films at the intersection of engaging storytelling, visual artistry, and vital subject matter. To learn about Cinereach, visit cinereach.org
Human Rights Watch has worked extensively on issues of accountability, justice and peace, including efforts to monitor the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/international-justice
Presented in association with Facing History and Ourselves, www.facinghistory.org and Open Society Justice Initiative, www.justiceinitiative.org
Development and Migration:
HONEYMOONS (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Goran Paskaljevic—Albania/Serbia—2009—95m—drama—In Albanian, Hungarian, Italian, and Serbian with English subtitles
Saturday, June 19, 9:15pm / Monday, June 21, 9:00pm / Tuesday, June 22, 3:30pm
Brilliantly crafted by master filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic (Cabaret Balkan, Midwinter Night’s Dream), with stunning performances from a multinational cast, Honeymoons shows us that the distance between Eastern and Western Europe is more than a question of kilometers. The film follows two couples—one in Albania, one in Serbia—who, in the midst of wedding celebrations, decide to leave their respective countries to realize their dreams in Western Europe. They soon find themselves trapped between their countries’ past and their future lives together. In creating this superb film, Paskaljevic also managed to bridge the gap between two hostile countries with the first Albanian-Serbian film co-production.
Human Rights Watch has published numerous reports on migration in Europe http://www.hrw.org/en/topic/migrants as well as on human rights in Albania and Serbia http://www.hrw.org/en/europe/central-asia
Presented in association with Reconciliation and Culture Cooperative Network (RACCOON), www.balkansnet.org/raccoon
MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson—US—2010—93m—doc
Saturday, June 19, 3:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion
With unprecedented access to some of the most powerful members of the U.S. Congress, Mountains and Clouds revisits a seminal moment in the push for immigration reform, with implications for the immigration battle currently brewing for the Obama administration and Congress.
August 2001 was the most electrifying time in decades for immigration advocates, with Washington on the cusp of realizing comprehensive reform. Two weeks later, the 9/11 attacks shifted the Capitol's focus completely to national security issues. In response, Senator Ted Kennedy and his unexpected Senate partner, conservative evangelical Republican Sam Brownback, have every intention of passing the security legislation in order to return to immigration. But fate throws up a roadblock.
Elder statesman Senator Robert Byrd has a star turn holding up the business of the nation; young Senator Brownback begins to have doubts; and the future of immigration reform hangs in the balance.
Presented in association with El Museo del Barrio, www.elmuseo.org and the New York Immigration Coalition,www.thenyic.org
LAST BEST CHANCE (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson—US—2010—100m—doc
Wednesday, June 23, 6:15pm
Last Best Chance brilliantly presents a political legend, Senator Edward Kennedy, in his final battle for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S.. Seeking legislation that he believes would best serve U.S. interests and provide greater security and dignity to many of the 20 million people currently living in the shadows, Senator Kennedy joins forces with talented allies on the outside to marshal fellow Senators Obama, Clinton, Menendez, Kyl and McCain toward a “Grand Bargain.”
But deep at the heart of this fast-moving story, below the level of strategy and protocol, we find a moral tale of modern American politics. Ted Kennedy, one of a handful of people who through his personal efforts changed the face of America, is forced to decide how much he wants this deal and what he is willing to trade for his greatest legacy.
Presented in association with the New York Immigration Coalition, www.thenyic.org and International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, www.sitesofconscience.org
Mountains and Clouds (story two) and Last Best Chance (story twelve - finale) are two films from the groundbreaking documentary film series, How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories, a series nine years in the making by award-winning filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson.
Courtesy of HBO Documentary Films
Human Rights Watch has done extensive work on U.S. immigration policies and practices, including on violations of the rights of immigrants to fair treatment, freedom from arbitrary detention, respect for family unity, and protection from being returned to countries where they face persecution. http://www.hrw.org/en/united-states/us-program/unfair-immigration-policies
NERO’S GUESTS (US premiere)
Deepa Bhatia—India—2009—56m—doc—In English and Marathi and Hindi with English subtitles
Monday, June 14, 6:30pm / Tuesday, June 15, 9:00pm / Thursday, June 24, 4:00pm
“Is it a sin to be a farmer? No one cares about us. No one notices. No one hears our cries.” –Vidarbah farmer
In this fluidly edited and moving documentary, we follow committed activist and journalist P. Sainath as he speaks and writes about the thousands of farmers in India who commit suicide each year due to poverty and the inability to repay debts. P. Sainath’s energy and sense of outrage are contagious. As he visits the affected families and works every media angle at his disposal to get politicians to act, we see a society in denial, a lack of social justice for the poor and gaping wealth disparities in the country.
Preceded by:
WAGAH
Supriyo Sen—Germany/India/Pakistan—2009—13m—doc—In Farsi, Hindi and Urdu with English subtitles
Wagah is the only checkpoint along the 2,000-mile border between India and Pakistan. Patriotic crowds on either side cheer their country's soldiers as they perform official exercises with formal precision and colorful dynamism, revealing more similarities than differences between the two nations.
Human Rights Watch has published a number of reports on education and health in India as they relate to economic, social and cultural rights and the economic disparities there. http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/india
Presented in association with Breakthrough, www.breakthrough.tv and Indo-American Arts Council, www.iaac.us
PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers and film subject Rose Mapendo
Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel—US—2010—84m—doc—In English and Kinyamulenge and Swahili with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 1:45pm / Sunday, June 13, 4:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion Monday, June 14, 4:00pm
An intimate family drama set against the backdrop of the 1998 conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pushing the Elephant tells the story of Rose Mapendo, who was separated during the conflict from her 5-year-old daughter, Nangabire. Rose survived the atrocities of those years and was eventually resettled in Phoenix, Arizona, with her other children. Now, after 12 years apart, Rose and her daughter are reunited in the U.S.. Through the story of their reunion, we come to understand the excruciating decisions Rose made in order to survive and the complex difficulties Nangabire faces as a refugee in the U.S.—torn between her painful past and a hopeful future.
Human Rights Watch has published extensively on armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recent report—“Trail of Death: LRA Atrocities in Northeastern Congo”—provides the first detailed documentation of the Makombo massacre and other atrocities by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Congo in 2009 and early 2010. http://www.hrw.org/africa/democratic-republic-congo
Presented in association with Mapendo International, www.mapendo.org and the African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org
THE UNRETURNED (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Nathan Fisher—Canada/US—2010—75m—doc—In English and Arabic with English subtitles
Tuesday, June 15, 6:30pm / Wednesday, June 16, 9:00pm
With an unflinching eye, powerfully candid dialogue and a touch of humor, The Unreturned brings us into the lives of five Iraqis from diverse ethnicities and religions displaced by the ongoing war in their country. Caught in the midst of violence, endless bureaucracy, dwindling life savings, and forced idleness, these Iraqis nevertheless radiate vitality, warmth and hope. The Unreturned intercuts between the daily struggles of these refugees and their recollections of life in Iraq before and after the U.S.-led invasion of 2003 to provide a glimpse through the eyes of the individuals most affected by the conflict.
Human Rights Watch has published numerous reports on Iraq, including several on the U.S.-led invasion and its aftermath. The most recent work on Iraqi refugees relates to their situation in Lebanon. The December 2007 report “Rot Here or Die There” documents the Lebanese government’s failure to provide a legal status for Iraqi refugees and details the impact of this policy on refugees’ lives. http://www.rw.org/en/middle-eastn-africa/lebanon
Presented in association with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), www.theirc.org
Societies In Conflict: Afghanistan and Iran:
CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker and film subject Colonel (R) Michael Shute
Carol Dysinger—Afghanistan/US—2010—84m—doc—In English and Dari with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 9:30 pm *filmmaker joined by film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute for Q&A
Sunday, June 13, 7:30 pm *filmmaker joined by film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute for Q&A
Thursday, June 17, 4:00pm
Drawing from nearly 300 hours of vérité footage shot between 2005 and 2008, Camp Victory, Afghanistan skillfully explores the reality of building a functioning Afghan military. Filmmaker Carol Dysinger achieves a remarkable intimacy in telling the story of several U.S. National Guardsmen stationed in Herat, Afghanistan, and the Afghan officers they are assigned to mentor. Although the United States has poured military aid into Afghanistan, money alone does not produce security—people do. Frustrations are evident as are moments of humor as the film vividly exposes the difficulties faced by men from two very different worlds as they attempt to understand and work effectively together in this monumental endeavor.
Human Rights Watch’s work on Afghanistan focuses on accountability, women’s rights, issues related to security, and civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. Its most recent in-depth study is the December 2009 report “We Have the Promises of the World: Women’s Rights in Afghanistan.” http://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan
Presented in association with Overseas Press Club, www.opcofamerica.org
IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (US premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Davoud Geramifard—Canada—2009—68m—doc—In Farsi with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 4:30pm / Monday, June 14, 8:30pm / Tuesday, June 15, 4:00pm
A film that challenges the passivity of the international community in the face of ongoing political repression, Iran: Voices of the Unheard brings us the story of Iranian secularists through three fascinating characters. Their social, economic and educational backgrounds differ sharply but all share a love for their motherland and a passion for freedom from political repression and theocracy. Beautifully photographed and brilliantly scored, the film presents a picture of life in Iran that demonstrates the struggles of secular Iranians—both private and public.
Human Rights Watch’s February 2010 report on Iran focuses on widespread human rights abuses since national elections on June 12, 2009, including extra-judicial killings, rape and torture, violations of the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, and thousands of arbitrary arrests and detentions. http://www.hrw.org/en/middle-eastn-africa/iran
Presented in association with Alwan for the Arts, www.alwan.org and Arte East, www.arteeast.org
RESTREPO (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger—Afghanistan/US—2010—93m—doc—In English and Pashto with English subtitles
Friday, June 18, 9:30pm, filmmaker Tim Hetherington present
Sunday, June 20, 4:00pm *Time Out New York hosts this special screening with filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger in conversation with Time Out film editor David Fear, reception to follow
Monday, June 21, 4:00pm, filmmaker Tim Hetherington present
Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, Restrepo chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. marines in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. In their directorial debut, Tim Hetherington (award-winning photographer and cinematographer) and Sebastian Junger (acclaimed author, “The Perfect Storm”) hunker down in a remote 15-man outpost named “Restrepo” after a platoon medic who was killed in action. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley and there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.
Opens in New York on June 25 at the Angelika Film Center through National Geographic Entertainment
Human Rights Watch’s work on Afghanistan focuses on accountability, women’s rights, issues related to security, and civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. The most recent report on civilian casualties and the conflict in Afghanistan is the September 2008 report “Troops in Contact: Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan.” http://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan
Presented in association with Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) www.civicworldwide.org and Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, www.dartcenter.org
Youth Producing Change (World premiere)
Founding Presenter: Adobe Youth Voices
74 minutes
See www.hrw.org/iff for special ticket offers & group rates.
Friday, June 18, 7:00pm *reception to follow / Saturday, June 19, 1:00pm
Young people are on the frontlines of many of the world’s human rights crises, but we all too rarely get to hear their point of view. The third edition of Youth Producing Change shares powerful stories from young filmmakers across the globe as they turn the camera on their own lives and share their visions of change.
HANDS OF LOVE + Q&A with filmmaker David Were
Produced by 14 youth filmmakers from Voiceless Children in association with Listen Up and Adobe Youth Voices
Kenya—2008 —8m—doc—In Kiswahili with English subtitles
For David Were and his community in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya, having access to simple facilities like a bathroom can be a matter of life and death. After a devastating attack on his father, David and his friends know their work to provide security, latrines, and clean-up projects is more than a struggle for a healthier environment —it is part of ensuring the survival of their community.
KAMRAN’S STORY + Q&A with filmmaker Kamran Safi
Kamran Safi of Kent Refugee Action Network
UK/Afghanistan—2008—3m—animation
Drawing from a series of dramatic life-changing events, Kamran, a 14-year-old asylum seeker, narrates the story of his courageous escape from Afghanistan and his unaccompanied journey to the United Kingdom.
MIGRATION
Eddy Perlaza, Cinthya Durán, and Sinchi Chimba of Agencia de Comunicación de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes (ACNNA)
Ecuador—2008—5m—doc—In Spanish with English subtitles
Young people find themselves on their own when they seek refuge from violence in Colombia—or when parents are forced to seek work in other countries to support their families. Migration provides a new take on immigration, from the perspective of children left behind.
AN AVERAGE CONGOLESE DIET (ALIMENTATION D’UN CONGOLAIS MOYEN)
Sylvain Koko of UNICEF Oneminutesjr. Project
Democratic Republic of Congo—2007—1m—doc—In French with English subtitles
For 14 years, Congo has been ravaged with conflict. Lack of adequate food remains the norm and millions have died, mostly due to malnutrition and lack of access to basic medicine. The simple truth for children in Congo—having a meal isn’t always a given.
17 & UNIDENTIFIED + Q&A with filmmaker Alicia Wade
Alicia Wade of Global Potential
Dominican Republic/US—2009—5m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Born in Batey Cuchillia, Dominican Republic of Haitian descent, Deivei was never provided with a birth certificate. Without it, he cannot continue his education, find a job, marry or travel.
GROWING UP IN INDIA
Produced by 17 youth filmmakers from Free the Children
Canada/India—2009—9m—doc—In Hindi with English subtitles
In the northeastern desert state of Rajasthan in India, Sangita feels the limitations of her culture’s caste system when she decides she must forgo an education to train as a dancer in order to support her family.
BABICA
Martina Hudorovic of DZMP/ Luksuz Produkcija
Slovenia—2008—8m—doc—In Roma with English subtitles
The Roma people have been the target of persecution and discrimination for centuries. A Roma grandmother shares her hopes for future generations as she prepares bread with her granddaughter.
HUDUD
Produced by 12 youth filmmakers from Camera-etc.
Occupied Palestinian Territories—2008—8m—animation—In Arabic with English subtitles
Being 16 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories today is to have one's life dictated by curfews, clashes with soldiers at check points, arbitrary searches and arrests. Hudud (an Arabic word for restriction) illustrates the challenges that Israeli construction of the “separation barrier,” or wall, pose for Palestinian youth.
MARIPOSA + Q&A with filmmaker Espie Hernandez
Espie Hernandez, Wendy Sandoval, and Luna Serna of ImMEDIAte Justice Collective
US—2009—6m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
As Espie prepares for her quinceañera, a traditional rite of passage celebrating a 15-year-old Latina’s debut, her family adjusts to Espie's decision to "come out" in a different way. Espie’s story embraces the complexity of family tradition and sexual identity with an honest and brave heart.
SEE, LISTEN, SPEAK: NGARRINDJERI’S BEING HEARD (NUKKAN.KUNGUN.YUNNAN)
Edie Carter, Rita Lindsay, Victor Koolmatrie, Melanie Koolmatrie, and Veronica Wilson from Change Media. Australia—2009—6m—doc
After water is diverted from natural streams and lakes in the rural Coroong community and delivered by pipeline to larger cities, the aboriginal Ngarrindjeri face a disastrous water crisis, threatening their way of life. Ngarrindjeri youth speak out to protect their culture and traditions.
IMAGE OF CONTAMINATION
Elizabeth Gonzalez and Antonio Rodriguez of SAY Sí in association with Listen Up and Adobe Youth Voices
US—2008—8m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
The course of Air Force enlistee Diana López’s life changes forever when she learns that toxic waste has been seeping off nearby Kelly Air Force Base and into her community’s ground water.
Photo Exhibit by Susan Meiselas
IN SILENCE
June 11-24 at the Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery, Walter Reade Theater
Tens of thousands of Indian women needlessly die every year because of pregnancy and childbirth. Many die uncounted, without leaving a trace of what happened to them. Families accept these deaths as destiny or fate, unaware that most maternal deaths can be prevented with access to appropriate healthcare.
India is an emerging superpower, but far too many women and girls continue to face severe barriers while trying to access life-saving healthcare. Safe childbirth doesn’t require state-of-the-art facilities or cutting edge treatment. It depends on adequate basic care and emergency treatment delivered by staff with appropriate medical training. And it depends on knowing when and where women and girls aren’t getting necessary care and following up with decisive action to see that they do. It’s something the Indian government is well equipped to do.
Susan Meiselas has collaborated with Human Rights Watch for decades. She most recently partnered with Human Rights Watch to expose the barriers to maternal health in India in 2009.
Meiselas became a member of Magnum in 1980. Her photographs have been published in the pages of Time, the New York Times, Life, Paris Match. Her coverage of insurrection and civil war in Central America was published throughout the world and she was presented with the Robert Capa Gold Medal in 1979 for her work in Nicaragua. Later awards include the Leica Award for Excellence (1982), a MacArthur Fellowship (1992) and the Hasselblad Prize (1994).
Meiselas completed a six-year project on a visual history of Kurdistan and established the website www.akaKURDISTAN.com to further that inquiry.
PUBLIC SCREENING SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 10
Benefit Screening and Reception
6:30pm THE BALIBO CONSPIRACY (111m)
Q&A with filmmaker Robert Connolly and special guests + reception to follow
Friday, June 11
Opening Night Screening and Reception
7:00pm 12th & DELAWARE (80m)
Q&A with filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady + reception to follow
Saturday, June 12
1:45pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo to follow
4:30pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
6:45pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen and special guests + reception to follow
9:30pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger and film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute to follow
Sunday, June 13
2:00pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen to follow
4:30pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo + reception to follow
7:30pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger and film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute to follow
Monday, June 14
4:00pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo to follow
6:30pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
8:30pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
Tuesday, June 15
4:00pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
6:30pm THE UNRETURNED (74m)
Q&A with filmmaker Nathan Fisher to follow
9:00pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
Wednesday, June 16
4:00pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen to follow
6:30pm IN THE LAND OF THE FREE… (84m)
Q&A with filmmaker Vadim Jean and film subject Robert King to follow
9:00pm THE UNRETURNED (74m)
Q&A with filmmaker Nathan Fisher to follow
Thursday, June 17
4:00pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger to follow
9:00pm IN THE LAND OF THE FREE… (84m)
Q&A with filmmaker Vadim Jean and film subject Robert King to follow
Friday, June 18
4:00pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
7:00pm Youth Producing Change (11 shorts, 74m)
Q&A with filmmakers + reception to follow
9:30pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmaker Tim Hetherington to follow
Saturday, June 19
1:00pm Youth Producing Change (11 shorts, 74m)
Q&A with filmmakers
3:30pm MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS (93m)
Q&A with filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson + reception to follow
6:30pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
9:15pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
Sunday, June 20
1:30pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
Time Out Screening
4:00pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger and Time Out film editor David Fear + reception to follow
Festival Centerpiece
7:00pm MOLOCH TROPICAL (107m)
Q&A with filmmaker Raoul Peck and film critic Kent Jones to follow
Monday, June 21
4:00pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmaker Tim Hetherington to follow
6:30pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer + reception to follow
9:00pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
Tuesday, June 22
3:30pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
6:15pm BACKYARD (122m)
Carlos Carrera
9:00pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer to follow
Wednesday, June 23
4:00pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer to follow
6:15pm LAST BEST CHANCE (100m)
Q&A with filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson to follow
9:00pm BACKYARD (122m)
Carlos Carrera
Thursday, June 24
4:00pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
Closing Night Screening and Reception
7:00pm PRESUMED GUILTY (88m)
Q&A with filmmakers Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith + reception to follow
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TICKET INFORMATION: Single screening tickets for the 2010 Human Rights Watch Film Festival are $12 general public, $8 students and seniors (62+), $7 for Film Society members. Five Film Pass: $50 general public, $35 students and seniors, $30 for Film Society members. Special Two Film Package: $20 General Public, $14 students and seniors, $12 members for the screenings of Mountains and Clouds (Sat., June 19) and Last Best Chance (Wed., June 23).
Purchase options: www.FilmLinc.com or in person at the Walter Reade Theater box office. Hours: Mon.-Fri. opens at 12:30pm, Sat./Sun. opens 1/2 hr before first public screening; closes 15 minutes after last public screening, at 6pm when there are no public screenings. For more information visit www.FilmLinc.com, www.hrw.org/iff or call 212-875-5601.
DETAILS Benefit Screening & Reception
Thursday, June 10
6:00pm doors open; 6:30pm screening and panel discussion with:
Carlito Caminha, journalist and co-founder/director of Timor-Leste Photographers’ Association (TiLPA); Robert Connolly, filmmaker; Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now! (a public television/radio news hour) and survivor of the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre in East Timor. Moderated by Carroll Bogert, Associate Director, Human Rights Watch.
9:00pm Reception
Ticket prices begin at $500. Tickets can be purchased online, http://hrw.kintera.org/filmfestivalbenefit2010
THE BALIBO CONSPIRACY (NY premiere)
Robert Connolly—Australia—2009—111m—drama
The Balibo Conspiracy dramatizes the importance of bearing witness, no matter the risk. Set in 1975 East Timor, as Indonesia prepares to invade, it tells the true story of crimes that have been covered up for over 30 years. On a quest to investigate the fate of five missing Australian journalists, foreign correspondent Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia) uncovers deeper truths about the conflict—and forges a remarkable friendship with the man who will become president.
Human Rights Watch has covered human rights issues in East Timor for some two decades. In December 2009 in reaction to the Indonesian government’s move to censor this film, Human Rights Watch issued a news release calling for the Indonesian government to protect freedom of expression, and not censor controversial films. www.hrw.org/en/asia/east-timor
Opening Night Film & Reception
Friday, June 11
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, reception to follow
12th & DELAWARE (NY premiere)
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady—US—2010—80m—doc
On an unassuming corner in Fort Pierce, Florida, it is easy to miss the insidious war that is raging. But on each side of 12th & Delaware, people with opposing views stand locked in a heated battle. On one side of the street sits an abortion clinic. On the other side, a pro-life center often mistaken for the clinic it seeks to shut down. Using a skillful and haunting cinema vérité style that allows viewers to draw their own conclusions, 12th & Delaware examines the daily battles of one of America’s most intractable conflicts.
This HBO Documentary Film premieres on HBO on Monday, August 2
For 20 years Human Rights Watch has worked extensively on women’s issues. To learn more about our work http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/women
Closing Night Film & Reception
Thursday, June 24
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith, reception to follow
PRESUMED GUILTY (NY premiere)
Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith—Mexico—2009—88m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
In December 2005 Toño Zuniga was picked up off the street in Mexico City and sentenced to 20 years for a murder he knew nothing about. A friend of Toño’s contacted two young lawyers, Roberto Hernández and Layda Negrete, who gained prominence in Mexico when they helped bring about the release of another innocent man from prison. Looking into Toño’s case, Roberto and Layda managed to get a retrial—on camera—and enlisted the help of filmmaker Geoffrey Smith (The English Surgeon) to chronicle the saga. Shot over three years with unprecedented access to the Mexican courts and prisons, this dramatic story is a searing indictment of a justice system that presumes guilt.
Presumed Guilty will have its national broadcast premiere on the POV (Point of View) series on PBS on Tuesday, July 27 at 10pm (Check local listings.)
Human Rights Watch’s most recent reports on Mexico relate to issues of military impunity and the work of the National Human Rights Commission. http://www.hrw.org/americas/mexico
Presented in association with Cinema Tropical, www.cinematropical.com and El Museo del Barrio, www.elmuseo.org
Festival Centerpiece
Sunday, June 20
7:00pm, Screening followed by discussion with filmmaker Raoul Peck and Kent Jones, film critic and Executive Director of the World Cinema Foundation
MOLOCH TROPICAL
Raoul Peck—France/Haiti—2009—107m—drama—In English and Creole and French with English subtitles
Master filmmaker Raoul Peck (Lumumba, Sometimes in April) returns with a haunting drama on his home country—Haiti. Peck takes us to a hilltop fortress where the nation’s president is falling apart, buckling under the pressure of civil unrest and the international community’s increasing disapproval. Crafting an almost Shakespearean tragedy in the confines of this isolated citadel, Peck delivers a searing critique of a government corrupted by power and an individual driven mad by it. Completed just months before the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake, Moloch Tropical explores the ruinous costs of political dysfunction in Haiti.
If Haiti is to chart a new course as it rebuilds from the earthquake, addressing the political and human rights themes raised in this bracing film will be critical. Human Rights Watch sent a team to Haiti in February 2010 to look at issues of sexual and gender-based violence as well as human rights issues more generally in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Integrating human rights concerns into the relief operations is essential to protecting the well-being of Haitian victims, especially women, children, and other vulnerable groups. http://www.hrw.org/americas/haiti
Presented in association with Tribeca Film Festival, www.tribecafilm.com and the African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org
Accountability and Justice:
BACKYARD (NY premiere)
Carlos Carrera—Mexico—2009—122m—drama—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Tuesday, June 22, 6:15pm / Wednesday, June 23, 9:00pm
Actors Jimmy Smits and Ana de la Reguera deliver commanding performances in this astonishing fictional account of the unending series of murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which began in 1996. Most of the victims are low-paid laborers who have been drawn to the town by the possibility of work at American-owned factories. In the film Mexican police officer Blanca Bravo (de la Reguera) is sent to Ciudad Juarez to investigate and comes to learn the realities of these women’s lives, as well as the truth about a police force and local power structure embodied by entrepreneur Mickey Santos (Smits) that has ceased to care.
*Note: this film contains scenes of graphic violence and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Human Rights Watch’s most recent reports on Mexico relate to issues of military impunity and the work of the National Human Rights Commission¬—including its investigations of the killings of women in Ciudad Juárez over the past decade. http://www.hrw.org/americas/mexico
Presented in association with Cinema Tropical, www.cinematropical.com and WITNESS, www.witness.org
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath—Cambodia/UK¬—2009—94m—doc—In English and Khmer with English subtitles
Friday, June 18, 4:00pm / Saturday, June 19, 6:30pm / Sunday, June 20, 1:30pm
Winner of the 2010 Sundance World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize, Enemies of the People follows Thet Sambath, whose parents were among the approximately two million people who perished under the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. With unprecedented access and groundbreaking confessions from the notorious “Brother Number Two,” Nuon Chea, and from numerous grassroots killers, he uncovers terrifying personal explanations for the genocide by allowing the perpetrators to speak for themselves.
Nestor Almendros Award
Renowned cinematographer and filmmaker Nestor Almendros (1930–1992) was a founder of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, actively involved in the selection of films and the promotion of human rights filmmaking. Even while deeply immersed in his own projects, he took the time to call the Festival team to mention a strong documentary or promote a work-in-progress. Believing in the power of human rights filmmaking, Nestor devoted himself to becoming a mentor to many young filmmakers. It is in the Festival’s loving memory of Nestor and our desire to celebrate his vision that we proudly bestow this award to filmmakers for their exceptional commitment to human rights.
The Festival is delighted to present Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath—filmmakers of Enemies of the People—with the 2010 Nestor Almendros Award for courage in filmmaking.
Human Rights Watch has worked on Cambodia for nearly 20 years, including efforts to improve the structure and performance of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia, established as a mixed national-international court within the Cambodian justice system to try “senior leaders” and “those most responsible” for crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975-79. http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/cambodia
Presented in association with International Center for Transitional Justice, www.ictj.org
IN THE LAND OF THE FREE... (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker and film subject
Vadim Jean—UK/US—2009—84m—doc
Wednesday, June, 16, 6:30pm / Thursday, June 17, 9:00pm
Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King—the Angola 3—have spent a combined century in solitary confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Targeted by prison officials for being members of the Black Panther Party and for fighting against terrible prison conditions, they were convicted of the murder of a prison guard, a verdict they continue to challenge and for which new evidence continues to emerge. In the Land of the Free... presents their ongoing story as dramatic events continue to unfold. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.
Human Rights Watch has published many reports on prison and detention facilities in the United States. Prisoners too often confront conditions that are abusive, degrading and dangerous in violation of international human rights law. http://www.hrw.org/en/united-states/us-program/prison-and-detention-conditions
Presented in association with Correctional Association, www.correctionalassociation.org, Drop the Rock, www.droptherock.org and New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), www.nyclu.org
OUT IN THE SILENCE (World premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer—US—2009—66m—doc
Monday, June 21, 6:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion
Tuesday, June 22, 9:00pm / Wednesday, June 23, 4:00pm
Out in the Silence captures the controversy that ensues when filmmaker Joe Wilson's same-sex wedding announcement is published in the newspaper of the small Pennsylvania hometown he left long ago. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a gay teen being tormented at school, Wilson's journey dramatically illustrates the challenges of negotiating the morally charged issue of sexual orientation and the potential for building bridges when people with differing opinions approach each other with openness and respect.
Human Rights Watch exposes and combats abuses based on people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Our groundbreaking 2001 report “Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools” examines some of the issues portrayed in the film through numerous testimonies by students who faced abuse on a daily basis from peers and teachers. http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/lgbt-rights
Presented in association with New York Civil Liberties Union, www.nyclu.org and Parents and Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of New York City, www.pflagnyc.org
WAR DON DON (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Rebecca Richman Cohen—Sierra Leone/US—2010—83m—doc—In English and Krio and Mende with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 6:45pm *panel discussion and reception to follow screening
Sunday, June 13, 2:00pm / Wednesday, June 16, 4:00pm
In the heart of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, United Nations soldiers guard a heavily fortified building known as the “special court.” Inside, Issa Sesay awaits his trial. Prosecutors argue that Sesay is a war criminal, guilty of crimes against humanity. His defenders insist that he is a reluctant fighter who protected civilians and played a crucial role in forging the peace. War Don Don tells the story of his sensational trial with unprecedented access to prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims and, from behind bars, Sesay himself. Can the trial of one man uncover the truth of a traumatic past?
*Panel discussion on Saturday June 12 with Sareta Ashraph, Co-Counsel, Issa Sesay Defense; Binta Mansaray, Registrar, Special Court for Sierra Leone; and Stephen Rapp, Prosecutor, Special Court for Sierra Leone (2006-2009) and Ambassador-at-Large War Crimes. Discussion moderated by Elise Keppler, Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch.
Winner of the 2010 Cinereach Award presented by Cinereach, a not-for-profit film foundation that funds and produces films at the intersection of engaging storytelling, visual artistry, and vital subject matter. To learn about Cinereach, visit cinereach.org
Human Rights Watch has worked extensively on issues of accountability, justice and peace, including efforts to monitor the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. http://www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/international-justice
Presented in association with Facing History and Ourselves, www.facinghistory.org and Open Society Justice Initiative, www.justiceinitiative.org
Development and Migration:
HONEYMOONS (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Goran Paskaljevic—Albania/Serbia—2009—95m—drama—In Albanian, Hungarian, Italian, and Serbian with English subtitles
Saturday, June 19, 9:15pm / Monday, June 21, 9:00pm / Tuesday, June 22, 3:30pm
Brilliantly crafted by master filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic (Cabaret Balkan, Midwinter Night’s Dream), with stunning performances from a multinational cast, Honeymoons shows us that the distance between Eastern and Western Europe is more than a question of kilometers. The film follows two couples—one in Albania, one in Serbia—who, in the midst of wedding celebrations, decide to leave their respective countries to realize their dreams in Western Europe. They soon find themselves trapped between their countries’ past and their future lives together. In creating this superb film, Paskaljevic also managed to bridge the gap between two hostile countries with the first Albanian-Serbian film co-production.
Human Rights Watch has published numerous reports on migration in Europe http://www.hrw.org/en/topic/migrants as well as on human rights in Albania and Serbia http://www.hrw.org/en/europe/central-asia
Presented in association with Reconciliation and Culture Cooperative Network (RACCOON), www.balkansnet.org/raccoon
MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson—US—2010—93m—doc
Saturday, June 19, 3:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion
With unprecedented access to some of the most powerful members of the U.S. Congress, Mountains and Clouds revisits a seminal moment in the push for immigration reform, with implications for the immigration battle currently brewing for the Obama administration and Congress.
August 2001 was the most electrifying time in decades for immigration advocates, with Washington on the cusp of realizing comprehensive reform. Two weeks later, the 9/11 attacks shifted the Capitol's focus completely to national security issues. In response, Senator Ted Kennedy and his unexpected Senate partner, conservative evangelical Republican Sam Brownback, have every intention of passing the security legislation in order to return to immigration. But fate throws up a roadblock.
Elder statesman Senator Robert Byrd has a star turn holding up the business of the nation; young Senator Brownback begins to have doubts; and the future of immigration reform hangs in the balance.
Presented in association with El Museo del Barrio, www.elmuseo.org and the New York Immigration Coalition,www.thenyic.org
LAST BEST CHANCE (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson—US—2010—100m—doc
Wednesday, June 23, 6:15pm
Last Best Chance brilliantly presents a political legend, Senator Edward Kennedy, in his final battle for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S.. Seeking legislation that he believes would best serve U.S. interests and provide greater security and dignity to many of the 20 million people currently living in the shadows, Senator Kennedy joins forces with talented allies on the outside to marshal fellow Senators Obama, Clinton, Menendez, Kyl and McCain toward a “Grand Bargain.”
But deep at the heart of this fast-moving story, below the level of strategy and protocol, we find a moral tale of modern American politics. Ted Kennedy, one of a handful of people who through his personal efforts changed the face of America, is forced to decide how much he wants this deal and what he is willing to trade for his greatest legacy.
Presented in association with the New York Immigration Coalition, www.thenyic.org and International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, www.sitesofconscience.org
Mountains and Clouds (story two) and Last Best Chance (story twelve - finale) are two films from the groundbreaking documentary film series, How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories, a series nine years in the making by award-winning filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson.
Courtesy of HBO Documentary Films
Human Rights Watch has done extensive work on U.S. immigration policies and practices, including on violations of the rights of immigrants to fair treatment, freedom from arbitrary detention, respect for family unity, and protection from being returned to countries where they face persecution. http://www.hrw.org/en/united-states/us-program/unfair-immigration-policies
NERO’S GUESTS (US premiere)
Deepa Bhatia—India—2009—56m—doc—In English and Marathi and Hindi with English subtitles
Monday, June 14, 6:30pm / Tuesday, June 15, 9:00pm / Thursday, June 24, 4:00pm
“Is it a sin to be a farmer? No one cares about us. No one notices. No one hears our cries.” –Vidarbah farmer
In this fluidly edited and moving documentary, we follow committed activist and journalist P. Sainath as he speaks and writes about the thousands of farmers in India who commit suicide each year due to poverty and the inability to repay debts. P. Sainath’s energy and sense of outrage are contagious. As he visits the affected families and works every media angle at his disposal to get politicians to act, we see a society in denial, a lack of social justice for the poor and gaping wealth disparities in the country.
Preceded by:
WAGAH
Supriyo Sen—Germany/India/Pakistan—2009—13m—doc—In Farsi, Hindi and Urdu with English subtitles
Wagah is the only checkpoint along the 2,000-mile border between India and Pakistan. Patriotic crowds on either side cheer their country's soldiers as they perform official exercises with formal precision and colorful dynamism, revealing more similarities than differences between the two nations.
Human Rights Watch has published a number of reports on education and health in India as they relate to economic, social and cultural rights and the economic disparities there. http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/india
Presented in association with Breakthrough, www.breakthrough.tv and Indo-American Arts Council, www.iaac.us
PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers and film subject Rose Mapendo
Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel—US—2010—84m—doc—In English and Kinyamulenge and Swahili with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 1:45pm / Sunday, June 13, 4:30pm *reception to follow screening and discussion Monday, June 14, 4:00pm
An intimate family drama set against the backdrop of the 1998 conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pushing the Elephant tells the story of Rose Mapendo, who was separated during the conflict from her 5-year-old daughter, Nangabire. Rose survived the atrocities of those years and was eventually resettled in Phoenix, Arizona, with her other children. Now, after 12 years apart, Rose and her daughter are reunited in the U.S.. Through the story of their reunion, we come to understand the excruciating decisions Rose made in order to survive and the complex difficulties Nangabire faces as a refugee in the U.S.—torn between her painful past and a hopeful future.
Human Rights Watch has published extensively on armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recent report—“Trail of Death: LRA Atrocities in Northeastern Congo”—provides the first detailed documentation of the Makombo massacre and other atrocities by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Congo in 2009 and early 2010. http://www.hrw.org/africa/democratic-republic-congo
Presented in association with Mapendo International, www.mapendo.org and the African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org
THE UNRETURNED (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Nathan Fisher—Canada/US—2010—75m—doc—In English and Arabic with English subtitles
Tuesday, June 15, 6:30pm / Wednesday, June 16, 9:00pm
With an unflinching eye, powerfully candid dialogue and a touch of humor, The Unreturned brings us into the lives of five Iraqis from diverse ethnicities and religions displaced by the ongoing war in their country. Caught in the midst of violence, endless bureaucracy, dwindling life savings, and forced idleness, these Iraqis nevertheless radiate vitality, warmth and hope. The Unreturned intercuts between the daily struggles of these refugees and their recollections of life in Iraq before and after the U.S.-led invasion of 2003 to provide a glimpse through the eyes of the individuals most affected by the conflict.
Human Rights Watch has published numerous reports on Iraq, including several on the U.S.-led invasion and its aftermath. The most recent work on Iraqi refugees relates to their situation in Lebanon. The December 2007 report “Rot Here or Die There” documents the Lebanese government’s failure to provide a legal status for Iraqi refugees and details the impact of this policy on refugees’ lives. http://www.rw.org/en/middle-eastn-africa/lebanon
Presented in association with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), www.theirc.org
Societies In Conflict: Afghanistan and Iran:
CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker and film subject Colonel (R) Michael Shute
Carol Dysinger—Afghanistan/US—2010—84m—doc—In English and Dari with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 9:30 pm *filmmaker joined by film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute for Q&A
Sunday, June 13, 7:30 pm *filmmaker joined by film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute for Q&A
Thursday, June 17, 4:00pm
Drawing from nearly 300 hours of vérité footage shot between 2005 and 2008, Camp Victory, Afghanistan skillfully explores the reality of building a functioning Afghan military. Filmmaker Carol Dysinger achieves a remarkable intimacy in telling the story of several U.S. National Guardsmen stationed in Herat, Afghanistan, and the Afghan officers they are assigned to mentor. Although the United States has poured military aid into Afghanistan, money alone does not produce security—people do. Frustrations are evident as are moments of humor as the film vividly exposes the difficulties faced by men from two very different worlds as they attempt to understand and work effectively together in this monumental endeavor.
Human Rights Watch’s work on Afghanistan focuses on accountability, women’s rights, issues related to security, and civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. Its most recent in-depth study is the December 2009 report “We Have the Promises of the World: Women’s Rights in Afghanistan.” http://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan
Presented in association with Overseas Press Club, www.opcofamerica.org
IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (US premiere) + Q&A with filmmaker
Davoud Geramifard—Canada—2009—68m—doc—In Farsi with English subtitles
Saturday, June 12, 4:30pm / Monday, June 14, 8:30pm / Tuesday, June 15, 4:00pm
A film that challenges the passivity of the international community in the face of ongoing political repression, Iran: Voices of the Unheard brings us the story of Iranian secularists through three fascinating characters. Their social, economic and educational backgrounds differ sharply but all share a love for their motherland and a passion for freedom from political repression and theocracy. Beautifully photographed and brilliantly scored, the film presents a picture of life in Iran that demonstrates the struggles of secular Iranians—both private and public.
Human Rights Watch’s February 2010 report on Iran focuses on widespread human rights abuses since national elections on June 12, 2009, including extra-judicial killings, rape and torture, violations of the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, and thousands of arbitrary arrests and detentions. http://www.hrw.org/en/middle-eastn-africa/iran
Presented in association with Alwan for the Arts, www.alwan.org and Arte East, www.arteeast.org
RESTREPO (NY premiere) + Q&A with filmmakers
Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger—Afghanistan/US—2010—93m—doc—In English and Pashto with English subtitles
Friday, June 18, 9:30pm, filmmaker Tim Hetherington present
Sunday, June 20, 4:00pm *Time Out New York hosts this special screening with filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger in conversation with Time Out film editor David Fear, reception to follow
Monday, June 21, 4:00pm, filmmaker Tim Hetherington present
Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, Restrepo chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. marines in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. In their directorial debut, Tim Hetherington (award-winning photographer and cinematographer) and Sebastian Junger (acclaimed author, “The Perfect Storm”) hunker down in a remote 15-man outpost named “Restrepo” after a platoon medic who was killed in action. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley and there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.
Opens in New York on June 25 at the Angelika Film Center through National Geographic Entertainment
Human Rights Watch’s work on Afghanistan focuses on accountability, women’s rights, issues related to security, and civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. The most recent report on civilian casualties and the conflict in Afghanistan is the September 2008 report “Troops in Contact: Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan.” http://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan
Presented in association with Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) www.civicworldwide.org and Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, www.dartcenter.org
Youth Producing Change (World premiere)
Founding Presenter: Adobe Youth Voices
74 minutes
See www.hrw.org/iff for special ticket offers & group rates.
Friday, June 18, 7:00pm *reception to follow / Saturday, June 19, 1:00pm
Young people are on the frontlines of many of the world’s human rights crises, but we all too rarely get to hear their point of view. The third edition of Youth Producing Change shares powerful stories from young filmmakers across the globe as they turn the camera on their own lives and share their visions of change.
HANDS OF LOVE + Q&A with filmmaker David Were
Produced by 14 youth filmmakers from Voiceless Children in association with Listen Up and Adobe Youth Voices
Kenya—2008 —8m—doc—In Kiswahili with English subtitles
For David Were and his community in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya, having access to simple facilities like a bathroom can be a matter of life and death. After a devastating attack on his father, David and his friends know their work to provide security, latrines, and clean-up projects is more than a struggle for a healthier environment —it is part of ensuring the survival of their community.
KAMRAN’S STORY + Q&A with filmmaker Kamran Safi
Kamran Safi of Kent Refugee Action Network
UK/Afghanistan—2008—3m—animation
Drawing from a series of dramatic life-changing events, Kamran, a 14-year-old asylum seeker, narrates the story of his courageous escape from Afghanistan and his unaccompanied journey to the United Kingdom.
MIGRATION
Eddy Perlaza, Cinthya Durán, and Sinchi Chimba of Agencia de Comunicación de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes (ACNNA)
Ecuador—2008—5m—doc—In Spanish with English subtitles
Young people find themselves on their own when they seek refuge from violence in Colombia—or when parents are forced to seek work in other countries to support their families. Migration provides a new take on immigration, from the perspective of children left behind.
AN AVERAGE CONGOLESE DIET (ALIMENTATION D’UN CONGOLAIS MOYEN)
Sylvain Koko of UNICEF Oneminutesjr. Project
Democratic Republic of Congo—2007—1m—doc—In French with English subtitles
For 14 years, Congo has been ravaged with conflict. Lack of adequate food remains the norm and millions have died, mostly due to malnutrition and lack of access to basic medicine. The simple truth for children in Congo—having a meal isn’t always a given.
17 & UNIDENTIFIED + Q&A with filmmaker Alicia Wade
Alicia Wade of Global Potential
Dominican Republic/US—2009—5m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Born in Batey Cuchillia, Dominican Republic of Haitian descent, Deivei was never provided with a birth certificate. Without it, he cannot continue his education, find a job, marry or travel.
GROWING UP IN INDIA
Produced by 17 youth filmmakers from Free the Children
Canada/India—2009—9m—doc—In Hindi with English subtitles
In the northeastern desert state of Rajasthan in India, Sangita feels the limitations of her culture’s caste system when she decides she must forgo an education to train as a dancer in order to support her family.
BABICA
Martina Hudorovic of DZMP/ Luksuz Produkcija
Slovenia—2008—8m—doc—In Roma with English subtitles
The Roma people have been the target of persecution and discrimination for centuries. A Roma grandmother shares her hopes for future generations as she prepares bread with her granddaughter.
HUDUD
Produced by 12 youth filmmakers from Camera-etc.
Occupied Palestinian Territories—2008—8m—animation—In Arabic with English subtitles
Being 16 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories today is to have one's life dictated by curfews, clashes with soldiers at check points, arbitrary searches and arrests. Hudud (an Arabic word for restriction) illustrates the challenges that Israeli construction of the “separation barrier,” or wall, pose for Palestinian youth.
MARIPOSA + Q&A with filmmaker Espie Hernandez
Espie Hernandez, Wendy Sandoval, and Luna Serna of ImMEDIAte Justice Collective
US—2009—6m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
As Espie prepares for her quinceañera, a traditional rite of passage celebrating a 15-year-old Latina’s debut, her family adjusts to Espie's decision to "come out" in a different way. Espie’s story embraces the complexity of family tradition and sexual identity with an honest and brave heart.
SEE, LISTEN, SPEAK: NGARRINDJERI’S BEING HEARD (NUKKAN.KUNGUN.YUNNAN)
Edie Carter, Rita Lindsay, Victor Koolmatrie, Melanie Koolmatrie, and Veronica Wilson from Change Media. Australia—2009—6m—doc
After water is diverted from natural streams and lakes in the rural Coroong community and delivered by pipeline to larger cities, the aboriginal Ngarrindjeri face a disastrous water crisis, threatening their way of life. Ngarrindjeri youth speak out to protect their culture and traditions.
IMAGE OF CONTAMINATION
Elizabeth Gonzalez and Antonio Rodriguez of SAY Sí in association with Listen Up and Adobe Youth Voices
US—2008—8m—doc—In English and Spanish with English subtitles
The course of Air Force enlistee Diana López’s life changes forever when she learns that toxic waste has been seeping off nearby Kelly Air Force Base and into her community’s ground water.
Photo Exhibit by Susan Meiselas
IN SILENCE
June 11-24 at the Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery, Walter Reade Theater
Tens of thousands of Indian women needlessly die every year because of pregnancy and childbirth. Many die uncounted, without leaving a trace of what happened to them. Families accept these deaths as destiny or fate, unaware that most maternal deaths can be prevented with access to appropriate healthcare.
India is an emerging superpower, but far too many women and girls continue to face severe barriers while trying to access life-saving healthcare. Safe childbirth doesn’t require state-of-the-art facilities or cutting edge treatment. It depends on adequate basic care and emergency treatment delivered by staff with appropriate medical training. And it depends on knowing when and where women and girls aren’t getting necessary care and following up with decisive action to see that they do. It’s something the Indian government is well equipped to do.
Susan Meiselas has collaborated with Human Rights Watch for decades. She most recently partnered with Human Rights Watch to expose the barriers to maternal health in India in 2009.
Meiselas became a member of Magnum in 1980. Her photographs have been published in the pages of Time, the New York Times, Life, Paris Match. Her coverage of insurrection and civil war in Central America was published throughout the world and she was presented with the Robert Capa Gold Medal in 1979 for her work in Nicaragua. Later awards include the Leica Award for Excellence (1982), a MacArthur Fellowship (1992) and the Hasselblad Prize (1994).
Meiselas completed a six-year project on a visual history of Kurdistan and established the website www.akaKURDISTAN.com to further that inquiry.
PUBLIC SCREENING SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 10
Benefit Screening and Reception
6:30pm THE BALIBO CONSPIRACY (111m)
Q&A with filmmaker Robert Connolly and special guests + reception to follow
Friday, June 11
Opening Night Screening and Reception
7:00pm 12th & DELAWARE (80m)
Q&A with filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady + reception to follow
Saturday, June 12
1:45pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo to follow
4:30pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
6:45pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen and special guests + reception to follow
9:30pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger and film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute to follow
Sunday, June 13
2:00pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen to follow
4:30pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo + reception to follow
7:30pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger and film subject Col. (Ret) Michael Shute to follow
Monday, June 14
4:00pm PUSHING THE ELEPHANT (84m)
Q&A with filmmakers Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel and film subject Rose Mapendo to follow
6:30pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
8:30pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
Tuesday, June 15
4:00pm IRAN: VOICES OF THE UNHEARD (68m)
Q&A with filmmaker Davoud Geramifard to follow
6:30pm THE UNRETURNED (74m)
Q&A with filmmaker Nathan Fisher to follow
9:00pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
Wednesday, June 16
4:00pm WAR DON DON (83m)
Q&A with filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen to follow
6:30pm IN THE LAND OF THE FREE… (84m)
Q&A with filmmaker Vadim Jean and film subject Robert King to follow
9:00pm THE UNRETURNED (74m)
Q&A with filmmaker Nathan Fisher to follow
Thursday, June 17
4:00pm CAMP VICTORY, AFGHANISTAN (77m)
Q&A with filmmaker Carol Dysinger to follow
9:00pm IN THE LAND OF THE FREE… (84m)
Q&A with filmmaker Vadim Jean and film subject Robert King to follow
Friday, June 18
4:00pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
7:00pm Youth Producing Change (11 shorts, 74m)
Q&A with filmmakers + reception to follow
9:30pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmaker Tim Hetherington to follow
Saturday, June 19
1:00pm Youth Producing Change (11 shorts, 74m)
Q&A with filmmakers
3:30pm MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS (93m)
Q&A with filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson + reception to follow
6:30pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
9:15pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
Sunday, June 20
1:30pm ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (94m)
Q&A with filmmakers Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath to follow
Time Out Screening
4:00pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger and Time Out film editor David Fear + reception to follow
Festival Centerpiece
7:00pm MOLOCH TROPICAL (107m)
Q&A with filmmaker Raoul Peck and film critic Kent Jones to follow
Monday, June 21
4:00pm RESTREPO (93m)
Q&A with filmmaker Tim Hetherington to follow
6:30pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer + reception to follow
9:00pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
Tuesday, June 22
3:30pm HONEYMOONS (95m)
Q&A with filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to follow
6:15pm BACKYARD (122m)
Carlos Carrera
9:00pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer to follow
Wednesday, June 23
4:00pm OUT IN THE SILENCE (66m)
Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer to follow
6:15pm LAST BEST CHANCE (100m)
Q&A with filmmakers Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson to follow
9:00pm BACKYARD (122m)
Carlos Carrera
Thursday, June 24
4:00pm NERO’S GUESTS (56m)
Deepa Bhatia
Preceded by WAGAH (13m)
Supriyo Sen
Closing Night Screening and Reception
7:00pm PRESUMED GUILTY (88m)
Q&A with filmmakers Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith + reception to follow
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