Under the theme The Art of Change, the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin presents 40 documentary films from 16 to 25 September 2021, focusing on the current state of human rights around the world. The films highlight the stories of individuals whose rights are severely violated and who fight as activists for change. The films will be shown both online across Germany and offline in selected cinemas in Berlin. The festival is organised by Action Against Hunger in cooperation with Save The Children.
The festival opens with the Sundance Award-winning film SABAYA by director Hogir Hirori, which follows a group of men and women risking their lives to rescue Yazidi women and girls from ISIS slavery. The film powerfully underscores the central focus of the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin, which in 2021 highlights stories of activists who stand up against injustice and human rights violations.
Honorary Patron 2021 – women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul
In May 2018, Saudi Arabia's best-known women's rights activist was arrested along with more than a dozen other women human rights defenders. She was detained for more than three years. She is still not allowed to speak freely.
HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
In addition to the audience discussions about the films, the Human Rights Forum will host a five-day conference exploring the role of storytelling in strengthening human rights. The festival will also be accompanied by an interactive exhibition that encourages personal engagement through virtual reality and multimedia projects.
COMPETITION
The documentary Imad´s Childhood by Zahavi Sanjaviwas awarded the Willy Brandt Documentary Film Award for Freedom and Human Rights. The film Dear Future Children about three activists from Chile, Uganda, and Hong Kong, won the Audience Award. The non-profit organisation Forbidden Stories, which exposed the global misuse of the spyware Pegasus, received the Special Award for Democracy and Freedom.
IMPRESSIONS
