2022 Human Rights Film Festival Line Up, May 20-26

Seventy percent of this year’s filmmakers are women and 70 percent are sharing a story about their own region. This program reflects the festival’s ethos of celebrating diversity of content and perspective. Select films in this year’s festival will be audio described for audience members who are blind or have low vision, and closed captions will be offered for deaf and hard of hearing members of the audience. Human Rights Watch 2022 highlights activism, featuring courageous individuals from around the world standing up to powerful forces and demanding change.

“We are thrilled to be back in theaters after two years away, bringing our audience a full slate of powerful films tackling urgent human rights issues including China, Russia, the climate crisis and reproductive rights,” John Biaggi, Director of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, was quoted as saying in a press release. – This article by Gregg W. Morris

Human Rights Film Festival 2022 Alert

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to Film at Lincoln Center and IFC Center in New York – and streaming to homes across the U.S. from May 20-26. This year’s festival includes 18 in-person screenings in NYC followed by Q&As featuring directors, film participants, and more. Opens with REBELLION, Friday May 20, 7p.m. + streaming online from May 20-26; Closing Night film, THE JANES, Thursday May 26, 7 p.m. and streaming online May 20-26. – By Gregg W. Morris

A Riveting Micro Budgeted Movie With the Heart, Soul and Panache of a Hollywood Blockbuster: JUMP, DARLING

A kinetic, melodramatic romp of orgasmic cinematic delights with a sizzling film score, steamy dance scenes, unflinching cinematographic verisimilitude, savvy directing and acting in a family drama movie genre rarely rendered on screen: A family drama with class fused with drag culture.
  
A few of its many accolades: FilmOut San Diego, US, Best Supporting Actress Cloris Leachman and Best First Narrative Feature, Phil Connell; L.A. Outfest, US, Grand Jury Prize, International Feature Special Mention, Cloris Leachman; Lovers Film Festival, Italy, Young Lovers Jury, Matthew Shepherd Award, Phil Connell. More accolades inside. – Review by Gregg W. Morris.

First Impression of New Hulu Thriller Candy

Within 3 years of moving into a new neighborhood, Candy Montgomery (Jessica Biehl) has an affair, eventually slays, unmercifully, her paramour’s wife (Betty Gore played by Melanie Lynskey), yet, is subsequently acquitted after being arrested and indicted for murder. Review by Luis De Leon.

This WORD Reporter Does Not Feel Safe Without Her Mask

City University of New York Chancellor Matos Rodriguez said students were no longer required to wear masks on campuses but this reporter does not feel safe without her mask on, write’s the WORD’s Nyya Collins. “And if I’m eating food in the third-floor student cafeteria or in other areas where students congregate,  I try to maintain a 6-foot distance.” Another articles in a series about students and the reopening of Hunter for on-campus learning.Picture graphic, Nyaa Collins.