Berlin, 16 June 2021 – Under the title "The Art of Change," the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (HRFFB) is entering its fourth year. From September 16 to 25, 2021, the festival will focus on the stories of activists worldwide. For the first time, the HRFFB is showing a retrospective – dedicated to the renowned jurist and chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials Benjamin Ferencz.
"Keeping the memory alive and raising awareness through films like the ones you have chosen is important. Through films, we are able to reach people and really explain what happened," Benjamin Ferencz said in conversation with Festival Director Anna Ramskogler-Witt. The three films in the retrospective – "A Man Can Make a Difference," "Watchers of the Sky" and "Night Will Fall" – trace the life and work of Ben Ferencz.
The fourth edition of the HRFFB is dedicated to resistance and activism: the stories of activists, political masterminds and humanitarian helpers take center stage. Numerous German premieres will be shown.
A selection: International Views on Activism and Resistance
The documentary "Writing with Fire" shows the work of Khabar Lahariya, the only newspaper run by Dalit women in India. In a male-dominated news landscape, Chief Reporter Meera and courageous female journalists break with traditions that exclude women. Shown in cooperation with the SILBERSALZ Science & Media Festival, "School of Hope" focuses on a nomadic tribe from Morocco struggling to provide education for their children, and a young teacher who tries to help them. The film "Fly So Far" follows Teodora Vázquez and a group of 17 women who suffered miscarriages and are now charged with aggravated homicide. A symbol of the extreme criminalization of abortion in El Salvador, they are also an example of empowerment and solidarity.
Honoring Outstanding Documentaries
Three prizes will again be awarded: the Willy Brandt Documentary Award for Freedom and Human Rights, endowed with 5000 euros by the Bundeskanzler Willy-Brandt-Stiftung and awarded by an international jury; the Audience Award; and the Honorary Award for Freedom and Democracy, which was awarded for the first time last year and honored the tireless commitment of Ukrainian opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in the midst of the non-violent protest movement in Belarus.
Side event program around innovations and commitment
This year, the film program will again be accompanied by a comprehensive side event: In addition to the audience discussions following the screenings, there will also be a five-day conference, the Human Rights Forum, which will explore the role of storytelling in strengthening human rights. In addition, the festival will be accompanied by an interactive exhibition that uses virtual reality and multimedia projects to encourage people to get involved. The HRFFB will take place from 16 to 25 September 2021 as an online and in-person festival. The full program will be available starting in mid-August.
Note to editors: Festival Director Anna Ramskogler-Witt is available for interviews. We are happy to arrange interviews with protagonists, directors and other representatives of the partner organisations. Please contact us.
About the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin:
The Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (HRFFB) was initiated by the humanitarian and development organization Aktion gegen den Hunger and has taken place annually since 2018. The festival focuses on stories from around the world that powerfully report on the current state of human rights. HRFFB 2021 is organized by Aktion gegen den Hunger in cooperation with Save the Children. The organizations each set a thematic focus with a curated selection of films on the cross-cutting themes of humanitarian aid and the fight against hunger, as well as children's rights.
Contact:
Aktion gegen den Hunger
Laura Wagener
Tel. 030 - 279 099 776
E-Mail presse@aktiongegendenhunger.de
Website www.aktiongegendenhunger.de
Save the Children
Pauline Schmidt
Tel. Tel. 030 - 27595979490
E-Mail pauline.schmidt@savethechildren.de
Website www.savethechildren.de
