Human Rights Watch Film Festival Puts Real Issues In The Spotlight

Beginning on February 1, you can head to the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. The films inspire viewers to picture a better world and take action to create it.

The festival is an incredible example of how the democratization of media through inexpensive cameras and social media has made it possible for ordinary citizens to shine a light on issues around the world that deserve our attention and thoughtful dialogue.

You can take in any of six dynamic films, followed by Q&A sessions with the directors and subjects.

Each film plays at a different time throughout the weekend, highlighting various human rights issues from environmental activism to domestic violence.

Check out the list of films below.

Lindy Lou: Juror Number Two

Issue: The morality of capital punishment
A former juror starts a journey through Mississippi looking for the 11 jurors alongside her who sentenced a man to death 20 years ago.

Black Code

Issue: Social media as a tool for activism
From Syrian citizens tortured for Facebook posts to Brazilian activists using social media to livestream police abuses – Black Code tells the story of how governments manipulate the internet to censor and monitor their citizens, and how those citizens are fighting back.

Silas

Issue: Environmental activism
When the government of Liberia secretly signs away the rights to 1/3 of the country’s land to multinational corporations, Silas and a network of community leaders travel from village to village with cellphone cameras to document the pillaging of the country’s natural resources.

Home Truth

Issue: Domestic violence
A mother pursues the case involving the death of her three young daughters after being abducted by their father in violation of a domestic violence restraining order.

Complicit

Issue: Workers’ rights
An ill Foxconn factory worker takes his fight against the global smartphone industry to demand better working conditions for all.

The Blood Is At The Doorstep

Issue: Police violence
A family struggles to find answers and challenge a criminal justice system after an unarmed black man was shot 14 times and killed by police.

Grab your crew and support the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

We will see you there.