As racism and xenophobia continue to rise within the highest echelons of power, this year\u2019s festival presents cinematic works that expose and humanize cases of legalized and legitimized oppression of the disenfranchised that demand the world\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
Now celebrating its 30th year, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival truly reflects its ethos of celebrating diversity of content and perspective, providing a public cinematic forum for voices that are either silenced or marginalized in the media. Half of the films in this year\u2019s edition are by filmmakers with roots in the region they are covering, half were directed or co-directed by women, and the majority of this year\u2019s selection were directed by filmmakers of color.<\/span><\/p>\n The Human Rights Watch Film Festival is co-presented by Film at Lincoln Center and the IFC Center. All screenings will be followed by in-depth panels with filmmakers, film subjects, Human Rights Watch researchers and special guests.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople\u2019s ability to show resilience and courage in the face of fear, oppression, and even violence is sometimes overshadowed by the regimes and prejudice they are fighting against,\u201d <\/span>said John Biaggi<\/b>, Director <\/b>of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival<\/b>. \u201cThis year\u2019s film festival shines a light on people around the world who continue to resist both extreme political movements and individual cases of discrimination. They stand against world leaders stoking fear and hatred, and they stand against people in their own communities who balk at the notion of diversity. We should not only celebrate the voices of these brave individuals, but also recognize their courage and dignity.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTogether we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Film at Lincoln Center and 30 years of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in 2019,” said Lesli Klainberg<\/b>, Executive Director <\/b>of FLC.<\/b> \u201cWe’re so proud to continue partnering on this essential showcase<\/span> of human rights films, which have been such an integral part of our organization’s history and mission, and give a platform to spread the word about these important issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIFC Center is honored to continue working with HRWFF to bring this important and inspiring group of films to New Yorkers,\u201d said John Vanco<\/b>, Senior Vice President <\/b>and General Manager <\/b>of IFC Center<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n With intense focus on the rise of tyranny and oppression, often politically sanctioned, around the world, the HRWFF presents stories from the frontlines of human rights battles in Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Palestine, South Africa, the United States and elsewhere. Opening Night features Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche\u2019s Advocate<\/i><\/b>, which documents the challenges faced by Jewish Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel and her colleagues in their efforts to represent Palestinian clients \u2014 from non-violent demonstrators to armed militants \u2014 in an increasingly conservative Israel where the government, courts and media seem stacked against them.<\/span><\/p>\n This year\u2019s edition also features Eunice Lau\u2019s Accept the Call<\/i><\/b>, which charts the struggles of Muslim youth growing up in the U.S. where they confront racism, prejudice and FBI counterintelligence operations; James Jones and Olivier Sarbil\u2019s On the President\u2019s Orders<\/i><\/b>, a shocking and illuminating investigation with stunning access into the inner workings of President Rodrigo Duterte\u2019s brutal \u201cwar on drugs\u201d in the Philippines; and Bassam Jarbawi\u2019s Screwdriver<\/i><\/b> (Mafak<\/b>), <\/i>shot entirely on location in the West Bank, which follows a young man returning home after 15 years in an Israeli prison that immerses viewers in a distinctly Palestinian story while tackling the universal trauma of reintegration after incarceration.<\/span><\/p>\n With over half the films in 2019\u2019s program directed or co-directed by women, this year\u2019s festival highlights the female directorial voice. The program intimately explores the personal experiences of women filmmakers who confront human rights issues that affect women. Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang\u2019s One Child Nation<\/i><\/b> is a personal exploration of China\u2019s One Child Policy, including forced sterilizations and abortions, and the collective trauma and generational impact it had on Chinese citizens. In the deeply moving Born in Evin<\/i><\/b>, Maryam Zaree, born inside the infamous Evin prison in Iran, explores the lifelong effects of incarceration on a generation of former political prisoners and their children.<\/span><\/p>\n Filmmaker Beryl Magoko embarks on a journey towards self-acceptance in In Search<\/i><\/b>\u2026<\/i>, winner of the festival\u2019s Nestor Almendros Award, in her work about the role of societally imposed shame in the practice of female genital mutilation. Other works by women filmmakers include <\/span>Accept the Call<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Advocate<\/i><\/b>, <\/span>No Box for Me<\/span><\/i><\/b> and The Sweet Requiem<\/i><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n Extending the festival\u2019s broad span of global films made by filmmakers with roots in the regions they are focusing on, Rehad Desai\u2019s Everything Must Fall <\/i><\/b>challenges the presence of deep-seated discrimination in South Africa. The film is a detailed examination of student protests that coalesce into a national movement, calling for an end to exclusion in the higher education system. Tuki Jencquel\u2019s Est\u00e1 Todo Bien <\/i><\/b>is an incisive look at the current collapse of Venezuelan institutions, and how failing healthcare systems reflect the long-term challenges of a population fighting to survive. <\/span><\/p>\n The festival closes with Hans Pool\u2019s explosive and riveting Bellingcat<\/i><\/b> \u2013 Truth in a Post<\/b>–Truth World<\/b><\/i>, which follows the rise of the controversial \u201ccitizen investigative journalist\u201d collective known as Bellingcat, dedicated to redefining breaking news by exploiting open-source investigation to expose the truth behind global news stories. <\/span><\/p>\n The HRWFF is proud to continue its exciting partnership with MUBI, a curated online cinema streaming the best films from around the globe. MUBI presents a new hand-picked film every day \u2014 whether its an acclaimed masterpiece, a cult classic or a festival-fresh gem. MUBI will be streaming select films from Human Rights Watch Film Festival during the New York 2019 event. Learn more at <\/span>https:\/\/mubi.com<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The complete line up is as follows.<\/span><\/p>\n Advocate<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche, Israel,-Canada-Switzerland Public screenings and special programs will take place at Film at Lincoln Center<\/span><\/b>\u2019s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center<\/b>, (<\/span>144 W. 65th St<\/a><\/span>) (<\/span>FLC<\/span><\/b>) and at the IFC Center<\/b>, <\/span>323 Avenue of the Americas<\/a><\/span> (IFC<\/b>). The opening night film, Advocate<\/i><\/b>,<\/i> will screen at Film at Lincoln Center<\/b>\u2019s Walter Reade Theater, <\/b><\/span>165 W. 65th St.<\/a><\/span> (WRT<\/b>) (between Amsterdam and Broadway<\/b>). <\/span><\/p>\n All screenings followed by a Q&A session<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Thursday<\/span><\/b>, June 13 Friday<\/span><\/b>, June 14 Saturday<\/span><\/b>, June 15 Sunday<\/span><\/b>, June 16 Monday<\/span><\/b>, June 17![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/HRWFF_Logo_2016_RGB-150x150.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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\n<\/span>Bellingcat <\/span><\/i><\/b>\u2013 Truth in a Post-Truth World<\/b><\/span><\/i>, Hans Pool, Netherlands
\nAccept the Call<\/span><\/i><\/b>, <\/span><\/i>Eunice Lau, U.S.
\nBorn in Evin<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Maryam Zaree, Germany-Austria
\nEst\u00e1 Todo Bien <\/span><\/i><\/b>\u2013<\/span><\/i> It<\/b>\u2019s All Good<\/b><\/span><\/i>, Tuki Jencquel, Venezuela-Germany
\nEverything Must Fall<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Rehad Desai, South Africa
\nIn Search<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u2026<\/span><\/i>, Beryl Magoko, Germany
\nNo Box for Me<\/span><\/i><\/b>. An Intersex Story <\/b><\/span><\/i>(Ni d\u2019\u00c8ve ni d\u2019Adam. Une histoire intersexe<\/i><\/b>) Floriane Devigne, France
\nOn the President\u2019s Orders<\/span><\/i><\/b>, <\/span>James Jones and Olivier Sarbil, UK and U.S.
\nOne Child Nation<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang,\u00a0U.S. and China
\nScrewdriver <\/span><\/i><\/b>(Mafak<\/b>)<\/span><\/i>, Bassam Jarbawi,\u00a0Palestine, U.S. and Qatar
\nThe Sweet Requiem<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, India and U.S.
\nWhen We Walk<\/span><\/i><\/b>, Jason DaSilva, U.S.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
Program and Public Screening Schedule
\n<\/span><\/b><\/i><\/h3>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>7<\/span><\/b>:00 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 Advocate <\/i><\/b>(108m<\/b>) \u2014 WRT
\n<\/b>Opening night reception to follow screening.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>6<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 When We Walk <\/i><\/b>(78m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>9<\/span><\/b>:00 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 One Child Nation <\/i><\/b>(85m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>3<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 One Child Nation <\/i><\/b>(85m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>6<\/span><\/b>:00 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 Accept the Call <\/i><\/b>(83m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>8<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 On the President<\/i><\/b>\u2019s Orders <\/b><\/i>(72m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>3<\/span><\/b>:00 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 In Search<\/i><\/b>… <\/i>(90m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>5<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 Accept the Call<\/i><\/b> (83m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>8<\/span><\/b>:00 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 Screwdriver<\/i><\/b> (108m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>6<\/span><\/b>:15 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 On the President<\/i><\/b>\u2019s Orders <\/b><\/i>(72m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>8<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 Everything Must Fall <\/i><\/b>(85m<\/b>) \u2014 FLC
\n<\/b>6<\/span><\/b>:30 p<\/b>.m<\/b>. \u2014 In Search<\/i><\/b>… <\/i>(90m<\/b>) \u2014 IFC