8e Amnesty International
Filmfestival Amsterdam, Utrecht en Den Haag 8 t/m 12 maart 2006
Amnesty International Filmfestival
Each spring the Amnesty International Film Festival takes place in Amsterdam, and this year for the first time in Utrecht in The Hague. Since 1995 this film event is a platform for committed film productions about human rights and human dignity. The festival screens both documentaries and feature films. In discussions and talk shows surrounding the films, the film makers, human rights activists and audience have the opportunity to exchange ideas and views. The eighth Amnesty International Film Festival will take place from Wednesday 8 March until Sunday 12 March 2005 in Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.
For more than forty years Amnesty International has devoted itself to the observance of human rights, all over the world. The written and spoken word in the form of rapports, letters to prisoners, governments and international organisations etc.- has proved and still proves to be a powerful medium. Amnesty International emphatically cannot and will not ignore the global shift towards a visual culture. The significance of film (image) as an information source is increasing. Images have the power to break through indifference. The last years have shown numerous examples of the camera helping to start international actions. The making of the film can itself also be seen as a form of campaigning. Due to the more and more advanced and small DV-camera’s it is becoming easier to keep a close eye on regimes in all parts of the world.
Human Rights Night in Rotterdam
In collaboration with Amnesty International and the DOEN Foundation the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2006 (IFFR) a Human Right Night Avenge But One of My Two Eyes (Avi Mograbi, France/Israel 2005) was presented the Amnesty International-DOEN Award. Before the screening of the winning film the chairman of the jury, Goran Paskaljevic, handed out the human right film award to the Dutch distributor, 1 More Film.
Besides director Goran Paskaljevic de jury consisted of writer Yasmine Allas and Maciej Nowicky, organiser of the Human Rights in Film International Film Festival (Warsaw). In the jury report the jury pays tribute to the film because it is a brave and convincing movie that shows shortsightedness of nationalistic thinking in an original manner. Avenge But One of My Two Eyes is part of the programma of the 8th Amnesty International Filmfestival.
Impression Human Rights Night 2006
Host Sophie van der Graaf
Jury: Maciej Nowicky, Goran Paskaljevic and Yasmine Allas
Sandra den Hamer, director IFFR
Copyright: Naomi Nuy
Movies That Matter Gala 2006
On Wednesday night, the 8th of March the 8th Amnesty International Film Festival will open with a special Movies that Matter gala in Pathé Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam. The gala includes the first Dutch screening of Tsotsi. Director Gavin Hood and leading actor Presley Chweneyagae announced their attendance. Astrid Joosten, Dutch television presenter, will be hostess of the night. The gala marks the start of the brand new Movies that Matter Foundation.
Tsotsi is the South African entry of the Oscar for best foreign film and nominated for a Golden Globe. Tsotsi traces six days in the life of a ruthless young gang leader who ends up having to take care for a baby which is accidentally kidnapped during a car-jacking. The forced responsibility it entails, changes his life. Townshipdrama Tsotsi stands for contemporary South-Africa, with the heritage of lawlessness and also the perspective of justice.
Tickets are 40 euros and will allow you to enjoy an impressive full-length programme including the film, music and guest speakers. The exclusive VIP treatment cost an additional 160 euros. Last year at the Amnesty International Film Gala, the film Hotel Rwanda (Terry George, 2004), with three Oscar nominations, enjoyed its opening night. Dutch actress Katja Schuurman performed the opening ceremony, the presentation was in the hands of Anouscha Nzume, while singer Wende Snijders performed. The guests included Dutch royals Prince Friso and Princess Mabel.
Tickets to the film gala may be ordered by sending an email to:filmfestival@amnesty.nl. Type 'Reservation Amnesty International Film Gala 2006' on the subject line. Please give us your name, address, phone number, and specify the number of tickets you wish, and of which type. You can also order by ringing +31 (0)20 773 36 21.
The MOVIES THAT MATTER FOUNDATION springs form the Film Festival-department of the Dutch section of Amnesty International. Supported by Amnesty, DOEN Foundation, Hivos-NCDO Culture fund and VSB fund the foundation will be able to extend its film projects on human rights and human dignity.
China Blue wins Amnesty International-DOEN Award at IDFA 2005
After the screening of the winning film Jeroen Kramer led a discussion during the second IDFA Human Right Night with director Micha Peled, member of the jury Rehad Desai and Anna Pot, Amnesty's staff member human rights and business community.
The jury, consisting of Hans van Mierlo, Victoria Bruce en Rehad Desai chose China Blue as best documentary on human rights at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2005. They awarded the Amnesty International-DOEN Award to director Micha Peled. The film will also be shown at the 8th Amnesty International Film Festival in March 2006.
For the touching and personal treatment of a global human rights issue, one that effects not only the subjects in the film, but the millions who will view this film as well. For raising important questions that we believe will give many people the ability to respond in an appropriate manner. For drawing us into this story with unprecedented access to the world of a sweatshop in China, the Amnesty International-DOEN Award goes to China Blue by Micha X. Peled.
STORY UNDONE, winner of the Amnesty International-DOEN Award IFFR 2004 The Camera as Witness and Weapon
Story Undone (Iran/Ierland/Singapore 2004) directed by regisseur H. Yektapanah (1963), is a film about two filmmakers who follow a group of Iranian refugees on their way to Turkey. The camera in this film is a witness and a weapon both. This Iranian film will be showing in cinemas in the Netherlands early next year. Story Undone was awarded the Silver Leopard at the film festival of Locarno and won the Amnesty International-DOEN Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. As a result of the latter prize the Amnesty International Film Festival is now releasing the film in Holland. The copy in question, imported for a limited time, has English subtitles.
In Story Undone shows a documentary maker and his camera man making a news report about illegal immigration and human trafficking in Iran. By bribing the human traffickers the two are given permission to join a group of migrants on their bus ride to Turkey. The migrants themselves are reluctant to admit these two eavesdroppers into their midst. They have a change of heart, however, when the group of illegal travellers is stopped by the police at the Turkish border. The filmmakers invent a ruse. They con the police into believing that they are making a film and that the illegal migrants are actors. Story Undone takes an original approach to the topic of illegal immigration and human trafficking, which it treats with a bitter humour.
Actress Reneé Soutendijk, chair of the Amnesty International-DOEN jury, lauded the film for its direct, humouristic and original way of telling a story about people who cross frontiers in their quest for freedom and fulfilment.
AI was able to import Story Undone temporarily with support from the Stichting DOEN. This foundation strives towards a safe and humane world and believes that films can be eye-openers, giving people a broader view of the world. Stichting DOEN uses funds from the National Postal Code Lottery to subsidise this project.
Screenings Story Undone can be seen at the following locations:
Sunday
8/1
Breda
Chassé Cinema
Monday
23/1
Maastricht
Lumière
Thursday
26/1
Maastricht
Lumière
Sunday
29/1
Groningen
Images
Monday
30/1
Tilburg
Filmfoyer
Wednesday
15/2
‘s Hertogenbosch
Verkadefabriek
Monday
20/2
Utrecht
Louis Hartlooper Complex
Wednesday
22/2
Amsterdam
Het Ketelhuis
Sunday
26/2
Apeldoorn
De Gigant
Monday
27/2
Arnhem
Filmhuis Arnhem
Tuesday
28/2
Alkmaar
Provadja
More dates and locations may follow.
Lord of War
Starting 3 November, the American full-length film Lord of War (Andrew Niccol, 2005) will be showing in cinemas throughout the Netherlands. Lord of War is about the doings of an American arms dealer. The film stars US actor Nicholas Cage, who since making the film has become an active member of the Control Arms campaigne. The film demonstrates how seriously inadequate supervision of the arms trade is and presents an insight into the poignant consequences.
Paradise Now
Now showing in various cinemas, this is the winner of the Amnesty International Film Prize at the recent Berlin International Film Festival. The film, shot in Nablus, offers a dignified insight into the daily life of ordinary people living in grim circumstances. It gives a legitimate reason for opposing suppression, but offers no excuse for killing other people. The young Palestinians Khaled and Said have been friends since they were children and are 'elected' to execute a suicide attack in Tel Aviv. After a last evening with their families, whom they are not allowed to say goodbye to, they leave for the border post with bombs strapped to their body. But the operation does not go entirely according to plan. The two friends lose sight of each other and each is forced to make his own decision regarding the next destination.
On Wednesday night, the 8th of March the 8th Amnesty International Film Festival will open with a special Movies that Matter gala in Pathé Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam. The gala includes the first Dutch screening of 
The Camera as Witness and Weapon
