FIFDH a platform for human rights

The International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) is mobilized to denounce all human rights violations. During one week, the public, filmmakers, victims, journalists, writers, human rights defenders together with policy makers and economic decision makers will meet and dialogue off the United Nations Human Rights Council. Because indifference is the first enemy of human rights, the FIFDH creates a platform, a space for commitment open to every one, at the very heart of Geneva, the international “capital” of human rights.

TRIBUTE TO ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA
This year’s edition of the Festival is dedicated to Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist who was assassinated recently and whose presence at the Festival was a landmark. One day will be devoted to “Russia, freedom assassinated”.

A FILM A SUBJECT, A DEBATE
Through its concept, “A film a subject, a debate”, the FIFDH means to highlight every place where human rights are violated. Among the themes that will be addressed this year: women and violence, Burma and the multinational corporations, Darfur and the obligation to protect, torture, poverty and microfinance, freedom of the press and the control of the Internet. Every day the abuses to human dignity will be denounced uncompromisingly during diverging debates.

PARTICIPANTS
Among this year’s guests: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. Witnesses and victims of human rights violations, representatives of the international justice – Luis Moreno-Ocampo –, NGO representatives – Robert Ménard –, political and economic decision makers – Michel Rocard, Milan Kucan –, human rights defenders – Stéphane Hessel –, together with journalists from Libération, filmmakers – Nacer Khémir –, and press cartoonists – Plantu –, will participate in the debates and answer the questions from the public. The program also includes a masterclass with Abderrahmane Sissako.

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY
The members of the International Jury will be the French-Moroccan singer Sapho, the Argentinian pianist Miguel Angel Estrella and the Egyptian writer Alaa Al Aswany (author of Yacoubian Building). They will award the FIFDH Great Prize, sponsored by the City of Geneva to acknowledge the artistic quality of a film, and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) Award encouraging the commitment of a filmmaker to the defense of human dignity.

FESTIVAL DIRECTION AND SPONSORS
The managing board of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights comprises the Festival managers, representatives of Human Rights Watch (HRW), the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Amnesty International (AI) and the University of Geneva.

The Festival wishes to thank its sponsors: late Sergio Vieira de Mello, Louise Arbour, Barbara Hendricks, William Hurt, Ruth Dreifuss, Robert Badinter, Jorge Semprun, Ken Loach, Hubert Nyssen, Amos Gitaï.