Youngsters put human rights on screen
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Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, 19-27 March 2009
Youth Filmmakers from Around the World to Present Their Films in London www.hrw.org/iff ‘Youth Producing Change’ Series to Screen at the Ritzy Cinema on 21-22 March (Founding Presenter: Adobe Youth Voices) (London, 17 February 2009) – The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival (19-27 March), in collaboration with founding presenter Adobe Youth Voices, the global initiative of the Adobe Foundation, is pleased to announce its first exclusively youth-produced programme of short films at the London festival. Selected from over 250 submissions from across the globe, Youth Producing Change will feature nine short films made by young filmmakers from Canada, Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Armed with digital cameras and their own boundless creativity, these first-time filmmakers bravely expose some of the most pressing human rights challenges of our day, tackling such subjects as child labour, women’s rights, indigenous rights, and persecution faced by immigrant communities in the aftermath of 9/11. Youth Producing Change will screen in London on Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. Five of the young filmmakers and one of the subjects of the youth shorts will travel to London from the United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa to attend the screenings of their films: Sofia Snow and Rene Dongo from Boston, Massachusetts for The Countdown; Zachary Lennon-Simon from Brooklyn, New York for Playing with the Other Tigers; Rhiannon Spencer-Jones and Mahsa Khadem from Cumbria, UK for Slave Label and Mthobeli Lithiko from South Africa for Women Empowerment (see below for individual bios). For the majority of the teens in the series, participating in such a high-profile event as the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival marks not only the first time they have made a film, but also their first film festival experience and the first time they have shared their stories with an audience. Following the film screenings, the young people will take the stage to speak about the process of making their films, and about the human rights issues they explore in their work. “Adobe Youth Voices is designed to empower youth around the globe to comment on their world using multimedia and digital tools to communicate and share their ideas, demonstrate their potential and take action in their communities,” said Michelle Mann, director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Adobe Systems Incorporated and executive director of the Adobe Foundation. “The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival provides the ideal stage for youth to express themselves, their opinions and aspirations, and to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.” “Young people are on the front lines of many of the world’s most urgent human rights crises, but it’s all too rare that we have the chance to hear their perspective,” said John Biaggi, director of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival. “The nine short films in Youth Producing Change offer us a chance to see what our world looks like through the eyes of young people coming of age at a time when technology is making the world feel more interconnected and yet our society has become increasingly polarised. Their films share a common sense of hope that their generation can turn society around and live more peacefully.” Submissions for Youth Producing Change came from as far as Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Kosovo, Pakistan, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. All of the films included in the programme were produced by filmmakers who were under the age of 19 at the time of production. In making selections for the programme, the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival also enlisted the help of a youth screening committee. YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE Founding Presenter: Adobe Youth Voices Programme (UK Premiere) Running time: 78m Saturday 21 March, 7:00 p.m. Discussion with youth filmmakers and reception to follow Sunday 22 March, 2:00 p.m. Discussion with youth filmmakers to follow The Countdown Rene Dongo (Fast Forward Program at the Institute of Contemporary Art) – US, 2007; documentary; 6m A plane left the spoken-word artist Sofia Snow’s hometown on September 11, never reaching its destination. Sofia shares her hope that society can work to fill the empty space left by the tragedy that followed. Filmmaker Rene Dongo and Spoken Word Artist Sofia Snow, will travel to London from Boston, Massachusetts to attend the screening Filmmaker: Rene Dongo, 19 Boston native, Rene Dongo began to make short films as a student of the ICA Fast Forward programme. He strives to create new emotions with the use of humor or charged imagery in his films. Dongo has shown his work in festivals across the United States. He is currently a film major at Emerson College. Sofia Snow, 18 Sofia Snow uses the spoken word as a medium for opening eyes and hearts to both local and international issues, and has performed at universities and venues throughout the United States. In 2006, she was named Spoken Word Artist of the Year at the Mass Industry Committee’s First Annual Hip-Hop Awards. An artist and an activist, Sofia also held a seat on the Mayor’s Hip-Hop Round Table as the only youth member, organizing the citywide Hip-Hop Fest, which brings legendary hip-hop artists like KRS-1, CL Smooth, Nice&Smooth, and Rakim. Snow is currently attending University of Wisconsin-Madison with a First Wave full tuition scholarship to continue working on hip-hop poetry. She is passionate about her art and about its power to help people recognize – and hopefully inspire them to act against – injustice, whether it is taking place locally, nationally, or internationally. Women Empowerment Athenkosi Mbemba and Mthobeli Lithiko, in collaboration with Sonwadile Daza, Ongezwa Dingana, and Siphokazi Makaleni (Bridges to Understanding) – South Africa, 2007; documentary; 5m Reflecting on the harsh reality mothers face in raising children alone in their township, these young South African filmmakers celebrate their mothers’ resilience to overcome the obstacles that lie before them. Mthobeli Lithiko will travel to London from South Africa to attend the screening. I Want My Parents Back Aaron Dominguez, Euniz Gonzalez, Argenis Herrera, Garrett Hayes, Khirye Rice, Melly Jenny, Nathan Villalobos, Omar Flores, and Cody Marshall (Media Arts Center San Diego) – US/Mexico, 2007; documentary; 11m (English and Spanish) The impact of US immigration policies hits home when the undocumented parents of the Muñoz family are deported without warning to Mexico, leaving their three young American-born children behind. Islands of the People Amber Good, Raven Hausman-Hayward, Justin Klevgaard and Jesse Williams (Atira Women’s Resource Society, in partnership with the Old Massett Youth Program) – Canada, 2007; documentary; 6m (English and Haida) Amber Good is a 13-year-old Haida girl with a very important role to play. Facing the dark history of colonization and forced assimilation that nearly wiped out her culture in Haida Gwaii, a region in British Columbia, Good makes a commitment to learn the Haida language from her grandmother Nonnie Mary Swanson, one of the last living people who can speak, read, and write it. The True Cost of Coal Brittany Hunsaker, Autumn Nikki King, and Willa Johnson (Appalachian Media Institute, Appalshop, Inc.) US, 2007; documentary;14m Coal mining has been a way of life and death in eastern Kentucky for over 100 years. But the communities there that provide the workforce for the mining industry continue to occupy some of the most poverty-stricken and contaminated areas of the United States. As energy prices soar and the government and coal companies unite to increase coal extraction, mountain communities rally to protect their rights. The Hidden Cost of Cashmere Zane Scheuerlein (Member of Open Youth Networks) – US, 2007; documentary; 3m The Hidden Cost of Cashmere cleverly links America’s appetite for cheap consumer goods with desertification and the growing environmental crisis. A Maid Is Not a Slave (Mbindaan Du Jaam) Mariama Maréna, Seynabou Ciss, Dioundiouba Diagne, Marietou Ndoye Seck, Salimata Sow, Aissatou Gueye Seye, Aminata Dème, Dieynaba Koné (Mariama Ba Girls Boarding School) – Senegal,2007; drama; 5m—drama (French with English subtitles) Kiné, a young Senegalese girl, is sent to the city to work as a maid in order to support her family back home. When her employers begin to abuse her, who is there to protect her? Slave Label Philosophy students from Queen Elizabeth School in partnership with Whitewood & Fleming – UK, 2007; documentary; 18m How much do your new jeans cost? Who made them and how much did they get paid? Two teenage girls embark on an eye-opening journey as they discover the dark truth behind the clothing industry and take a stand for change. Rhiannon Spencer-Jones and Mahsa Khadem will travel to London to attend the screening Filmmaker: Rhiannon Spencer-Jones, 18 Rhiannon Spencer-Jones is 18 and currently reading history at the University of Glasgow. She is also studying social and economic history and theatre studies. She enjoys singing and playing music, politics, films, and debates. Slave Label was her first film project, created in her final year at secondary school in Cumbria. She hopes to be involved in more film projects at university. Filmmaker: Mahsa Khadem, 19 Mahsa Khadem is a 19-year-old undergraduate student, currently reading English literature and language at Oxford University. Her other areas of interest include comparative religion and international development. She enjoys travelling, learning more about other cultures, and is a member of the Bahá’í Faith. She is originally from Cumbria in the north of the United Kingdom. Her first experience with film production was during the making of Slave Label, a project undertaken with her philosophy class during her final year of secondary school. She hopes to get involved with more film-based projects in the future. Playing With the Other Tigers Zachary Lennon-Simon (Reel Works Teen Filmmaking) – US, 2007; documentary; 10m The story of two childhood best friends, Amr, who is Muslim, and Zach, who is half-Jewish. When Amr is harassed after 9/11, their friendship takes on added significance. Zachary Lennon-Simon from Brooklyn, NY will travel to London to attend the screening Filmmaker: Zachary Lennon-Simon, 18 Zachary Lennon-Simon is currently in his first year at State University of New York (Purchase) to study film, writing, and American history. He produced his film Playing With the Other Tigers while at ReelWorks Teen Filmmaking. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * For full festival details and downloadable images please see the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival website at: www.hrw.org/iff Box Office information: THE RITZY CINEMA: 0871 704 2065 / www.picturehouses.co.uk Special rate for young people (16 and under): Youth (16 and under) £4; Group of 6 youth tickets for £20. Please check box office for regular student and adult rates and to book tickets. |
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