Amnesty International presents:
Reel Awareness - Toronto's Human Rights Film Festival, 22nd to 25th November 2007
Posted: 18 November 2007
Each year, talented filmmakers work against threatening politics and dangerous conditions to bring to screen moving accounts of human rights abuse, resistance, and struggle. Told through film, these stories have the power to take us away from our own lives, and examine the complexity of the human condition. These are the stories that simply have to be told.
It is in this spirit that Amnesty International proudly presents the 2nd Annual Reel Awareness: Toronto Human Rights Film Festival. Following the success of last year’s film festival, Amnesty International chose eight powerful and gripping films, from a wide-range of human rights related documentaries, which will be screened over the four-day festival.
On Thursday, November 22nd, the festival opens with the Toronto premiere of Tambogrande: Mangos, Murder, Mining. This epic and colourful tale from Peru describes how a group of mango and lime farmers successfully unite together for their cause. Using non-violent means, they confront corrupt politicians and the global mining industry, who have threatened their lives and work. One of the film’s protagonists, Ulises Garcia, will be in attendance and available to answer questions after the screening.
Other highlights include Bling – a Planet Rock. Thishard-hitting documentary, which follows musicians Pall Wall and Raekown from the Wu-Tang Clan and reggae idol Tego Calderon to Sierra Leone’s diamond mines and refugee and amputee camps, shows how the flashy world of commercial hip-hop played a significant role in the 10-year civil war in Sierra Leone; and War/Dance -- the story children who pursue their dreams of becoming national dance champions, in the midst of Uganda’s brutal civil war. Radio Okapi, The Peace Weapon dramatically reminds us of the importance of presenting fair and balanced journalism in its account of the Rwanda genocide.
Other compelling human rights stories are told through such films as Enemies of Happiness, Made in LA, Child Slavery and Shame. Panelists, speakers, and a question and answer period will take place directly after each film. The festival will also feature a photo exhibition featuring works by James A. Rodriguez (www.mimundo.org).
Festival location and ticket information
WHERE: National Film Board Cinema, 150 John Street
WHEN: Thursday November 22 – Sunday November 25, 2007
Tickets are pay-what-you-can at the door.
Festival Program
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
7:00 9:30pm TAMBOGRANDE: MANGOS, MURDER, MINING
Ernesto Cabellos and Stephanie Boyd / Peru / 2007 / 86min
more info...
Toronto premiere
Adventurous pioneers have transformed Peru’s harsh northern desert into a fertile valley of mango and lime orchards. But their work is threatened when gold is discovered by a Canadian mining company. Fear, violence and murder rock their once quiet community. In the midst of chaos, a martyr's vision unites farmers and leads them down a revolutionary path of non-violent resistance. These brave men and women confront corrupt politicians and the global mining industry in an epic and colourful tale of resistance.
- Main Competition Award, Dignity and Work Film Festival (Poland)
- 52nd Valladolid Film Festival, Spain, October 2007
GUEST SPEAKERS: Ulises Garcia, film protagonist and Shanaaz Gokool, Business and Human Rights Team,
Amnesty International
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
7pm - 9:30pm BLING: A PLANET ROCK
Raquel Cepeda/US/2007/87min
View trailer >>
Toronto premiere
BLING is an 87-minute documentary that takes a hard-hitting look at how the flashy world of commercial hip-hop played a significant role in the 10-year civil war in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The term “bling” refers to the shine emanating from polished diamonds that represent the status symbol for hip-hop luminaries and fans alike. BLING follows three hip-hop celebrities: Raekwon (Wu Tang Klan), Paul Wall and Reggaetón king, Tego Calderon. They visit the capital of Freetown where they survey the devastated country, meet the hip-hop community, as well as encounter refugees and former child soldiers first hand. The film effectively captures the hip-hop community's reaction to the human rights violations and the complexities that still exist, while presenting a much needed global perspective for our youth through the dominant voice of hip-hop.
Q&A session after the film
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
2:30pm - 4:30pm ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS
Evan Mulvad and Anka al-Erhayem/Denmark/2006/59min
More info >>
In September 2005, Afghanistan held its first parliamentary elections in 35 years. Among the candidates for 249 assembly seats was Malalai Joya, a courageous, controversial 27-year-old woman who had ignited outrage among hard-liners when she spoke out against corrupt warlords at the Grand Council of tribal elders in 2003. ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS is a revelatory portrait of this extraordinary freedom fighter and the way she won the hearts of voters, as well as a snapshot of life and politics in war-torn Afghanistan.
- Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Prize : Documentary
- International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, Silver Wolf Award
Guest speaker: Nora Kerr - Action Network on Women’s Human Rights, Amnesty International
5 - 7 pm SHAME
Mohammed Naqvi / Pakistan, USA / 2006 / 90min
In June 2002, Pakistani Mukhtaran Mai was raped while her father, uncle, and a dozen other men looked on. The rape was her punishment for an offence allegedly committed by her brother. The family was burdened with shame and Mukhtaran tried to commit suicide. Later, she decided to go public with her story and press charges against the rapists. Shame tells the story of a strong woman who built two schools and a crisis centre for women in her village and, by resisting patriarchy and oppression, became an example for women elsewhere.
- Women in Leadership Award, Fullframe Documentary Film Festival, Chicago
GUEST SPEAKERS: Raheel Raza, Director for Women’s Affairs, Muslim Canadian Congress and Nora Kerr- Action Network on Women’s Human Rights, Amnesty International
7:30 - 10:00 pm RADIO OKAPI, THE PEACE WEAPON
Pierre Guyot / France/ 2006 / 52min
Toronto premiere
In 1994 “the thousand hills radio” in Rwanda followed minute by minute the last genocide of the 20th century when over a million people died. The Democratic Republic of Congo also experienced a devastating civil war that produced millions of victims. With the help of journalists, Radio Okapi was born from a will to do things differently: to bring people fair and balanced information and to make radio an instrument of peace.
- “Autrement Vu” Award, Festival International du Grand Reportage et du Documentaire de Societe (France)
- Special Jury Prize, Festival International du Film des Droits de l’Homme de Bangui (Central African Republic)
GUEST SPEAKERS: Olivia Ward, Foreign Affairs writer, Toronto Star; Daniel Baird, Arts Literature Editor,
WALRUS Magazine; Beth Berton-Hunter, Media Officer, Amnesty International
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
2:30 - 4:30 pm CHILD SLAVERY
Richard Alwyn/BBC/UK /2007/ 90min
It's almost 200 years since the abolition of slavery in most countries. But across the world, the slave trade is booming like never before - a business worth billions of dollars a year. As many as 14 million children are enslaved today worldwide - more than at any time in history. Children are bought and sold like bags of sugar. They break stones in quarries, clean and cook for their owners, work the plantations and service Western sex tourists. They are beaten, abused, denied any contact with their family and often worked to death. Many of their captors do not see the practice as wrong. This film tells five extraordinary stories of children around the world, who share their experiences of slavery in their own words.
Q&A session after the film with Renee Saviour, Amnesty International
5 - 7pm MADE IN LA
Almudena Carracedo / USA / 2007 / 70min
More info >>
Toronto premiere
Made in L.A. follows the remarkable journey of three Latina immigrants working in L.A.’s garment factories as they launch a three-year battle to bring a major clothing retailer to the negotiating table. In intimate vérité style, Made in L.A. offers a rare and poignant glimpse into this “other” California, where immigrants toil for sub-minimum wages.
- Silverdocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival
- Los Angeles Film Festival
GUEST SPEAKER: Gloria Nafziger- Refugee Coordinator, Amnesty International
7:30 - 10pm WAR/DANCE
Andrea Nix Fine & Sean Fine / USA / 2007 / 105min
more info...
War Dance tells the story of Uganda's brutal civil war through the eyes of children. For their entire lives, Dominic, Nancy and Rose lived in a dangerous war zone. War Dance follows their historic journey to the Uganda National Music and Dance Competition. Devastated by the horrors of war, they carry the hopes and dreams of their village as they struggle to become national champions.
- Audience Choice Award, Hot Docs 2007
- Best Documentary Award, Sedona International Film Festival
- Documentary Directing Prize, Sundance Film Festival
GUEST SPEAKERS: Mariatu Kamara, former child-victim of war, Susan McClleland, journalist, recipient of 2005 Amnesty International Media Award, Shelley Saywell, filmdirector (A child’s history of war) and Anne-Marie Kamanye, AMREF Canada's Programmes Manager