Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival

Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival is a four day festival held in Mumbai, India between December 8-10, 2010. It screened eight films from around the world that dealt with human rights issues at macro as well as micro level; from global concerns to indigenous issues. The festival coincided with the International Human Rights Day on December 10th, 2010.

Program 2010

The eight documentaries screened at Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival, were part of the Matter of Act program at Movies That Matter film festival 2010 held in March 2010 at The Hague, Netherlands. The films highlight the extraordinary work done by human rights defenders across the world, and their brave fight against injustice and oppression. These films show what great dangers and threats these activists have to face to do their work. In many of the countries freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial and the right to life are violated.

Festival director Sridhar Rangayan said, “I saw these films as a jury member at the festival in the Netherlands and was so moved by the films, I was determined to bring them to India to share with audiences here.”^[1]

The films dealt with human rights issues like Human Trafficking & prostitution of children; Violation of international laws on war & peace; Atrocities under Military regime; Religious fundamentalism & Homophobia; Political annexation/occupation and oppression; Women dis-empowerment and honor killings; Ravages of Civil War and hostilities and War crimes and killing of innocents.

The screenings were interspersed with panel discussions on each day, the topics of which were: human trafficking and the inadequacy of the law; violence against women; and the rise of religious intolerance, which created the space for lively audience participation. The panelists included filmmakers Bishakha Datta, Vinta Nanda; rights activist Priti Patkar, advocates Colin Gonsalves, PA Sebastian, Flavia Agnes and Usha Andevar. The panels were moderated by Vinta Nanda, Dalip Daswani and Gargi Sen respectively.

Three of the defenders of human rights portrayed in the documentaries, Rebiya Kadeer of East Turkestan, Somaly Mam and Mu Sochua of Cambodia, have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Messages sent by them and some of the film-makers were also shared with the audience at the festival.

“How do we change society, how does one go about igniting change in “this climate of collective apathy to human suffering” said film director and rights activist Mahesh Bhatt who inaugurated the festival together with theatre person Dolly Thakore of Vagina Monologues fame. She said, “This is a wonderful initiative and today’s youth is very conscious and aware of their surroundings. This will open up avenues and provide a direction to youngsters,” said Thakore.^[2]

A wide range of questions emerged from an audience representative of an “emerging” India -

Are the socially sanctioned “honor killings” across the Muslim and Hindu cross-sections of Indian society any different to the state sanctioned “stonings” of the Islamic State of Iran?

How different are the growing fears being experienced under the freedoms enjoyed in democracies controlled by powerful economic cartels, to the fear lived by the people in autocratic regimes? Does “education” necessarily make a “habit” of sensitivity and understanding?

If children growing up in a gay family are subjected to an “unnatural violence” as religious bigots claim, then logically, children growing up in conventional families are subjected to a “natural violence”. This perhaps explains modern society’s tolerance for humanity’s violence as being normative.

How then does one ignite change in a globalized world where the individual has little control over the broader social dynamics managed by the corporate institutions of society? The three day FLASHPOINT Human Rights Film Festival, held from Dec 8-10, attracted a wide spectrum of audience – from social activists, filmmakers, film buffs, to students and even housewives. Everyone was moved, inspired and motivated by the films screened and the panel discussions and wanted to do something to change the human rights violations in their immediate surroundings.

The Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival offered the audience the following first step as a take home message : “Be the change you want to see”, Gandhi had said. Ignite change starting with oneself; small steps one at a time, step after step. Every adult has a measure of control over his own actions to lesser or greater degree. Society is made up of individuals; it will automatically change as each individual becomes a FLASHPOINTER, making the commitment to oneself to embark on the “walk from a position of No to a position of Yes” – leaving behind positive footsteps for our children to follow.

Organizers

The festival was conceived and founded by Sridhar Rangayan who is also the Festival Director. Gargi Sen is the co-Festival Director

The festival was organized by Solaris Pictures (Mumbai) alongwith Magic Lantern Foundation (New Delhi) and Movies That Matter (Netherlands)in association with Alliance Francaise.

External Links

References

[1] ttp://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_movies-that-tell-a-thousand-words_1477637

[2] ttp://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_movies-that-tell-a-thousand-words_1477637

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