Flashpoint : 2nd Human Rights Film Festival

Flashpoint

2^nd Human Rights Film Festival

February 3, 4 & 5

M.L. Bhartia Auditorium, Alliance Francaise de Delhi

The first edition of FLASHPOINT Human Rights Film festival was held last year at Alliance Française de Delhi in January 2011 and proved to be successful in raising awareness on several human rights issues.  Following on the highly successful and impactful first edition the 2^nd FLASHPOINT Human Rights Film Festival will be held in New Delhi on February 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th at Alliance Française de Delhi.

The festival will screen 18 films on human rights – both documentaries and narratives that include a selection of films from India or set in India. Some of the human rights issues dealt with are War Crimes, Forced Disappearances, Violence against Women Gays & Transgender, Homophobia, Corruption, Bureaucratic Inefficiency, Surrogacy, etc. The festival will also feature performances, open mike and panel discussions with a view to bring together eminent human rights activists, scholars, filmmakers and everyone interested in human rights issues, together on one platform to ‘Flashpoint’ social change.

This year the festival will screen 18 films that take a critical and empathetic look at several human rights issues – from religious fundamentalism, communal violence, political authoritarianism, war crimes, homophobia, surrogacy, migrant rehabilitation, women empowerment, corruption and poverty. The films shine a harsh beam on human rights violations in, as diverse countries as, Kenya, Senegal, Columbia, Israel, Iraq, Kurdistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, USA and India. This year, for the first time, the festival screens six films that are set in India focusing on human rights issues and human right defenders – Firaaq, Mee Sindutai Sakpal, Cotton For My Shroud, Made In India, In Search Of My Home and Pink Saris. While six of the films have been curated from the Movies That Matter (Netherlands) program, two from Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival, two by guest curator Paul Lee (Canada), rest of the films are handpicked by FLASHPOINT’s festival director Sridhar Rangayan.

Rangayan says, “The festival is an attempt to highlight issues and initiate a dialogue. The first step towards fighting human rights violation is creating awareness. Only when someone knows there is a problem, can one raise a voice and ignite change. Entry to the festival is free and there is no need for pre-registration. We want everyone to be able to see the films and participate in the discussions.”

2^nd FLASHPOINT Human Rights Film Festival is organized by Solaris Pictures in association with Movies That Matter, Alliance Française de Delhi and Ramon production.

For more details visit www.flashpointfilmfestival.com or write to [email protected]