Author: Greggory Morris

In BFF 2021 juried competition program, 71 percent of the films were directed by women, 75 percent by people representing BIPOC or API, and 33 percent by people of the LGBTQIA+ community. Seventy percent of the films were written by women, 70 percent by BIPOC or API, 32 percent by people of the LGBTQIA+ community and 87 percent featured a female lead, 81 percent a BIPOC or API lead, and 30 percent an LGBTQIA+ lead.
 

Ninety-six percent of these films had a cast and crew that was made up of more than half of people from these same communities.

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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

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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

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72 Hour Shoot Out Competitions are designed to promote gender and ethnic diversity in media and empower emerging female filmmakers and filmmakers of color, particularly Asian Americans. Judges this year include Marci Phillips (VP, Casting for ABC Primetime), Antony Wong (Program Coordinator at the Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI), of The City University of New York (CUNY)), Daniel Sakaya of CrossingsTV, and more. – Gregg W. Morris

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