Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival was a four-day festival held in
Mumbai,
India between 8–10 December 2010. It screened eight films from around the world that dealt with
human rights issues at a macro as well as at a micro level; from global concerns to indigenous issues. The festival coincided with the
International Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is list of minor secular observances#December, celebrated annually around the world on 10 December every year.
The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, ...
on 10 December 2010.
Program
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 work done by
human rights defenders across the world and the dangers they face in their work, which are not always in countries where
civil liberties
Civil liberties are guarantees and freedoms that governments commit not to abridge, either by constitution, legislation, or judicial interpretation, without due process. Though the scope of the term differs between countries, civil liberties may ...
are honored. 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."
The films dealt with human rights issues like
human trafficking
Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extrac ...
and
prostitution of children
Child prostitution is prostitution involving a child, and it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The term normally refers to prostitution of a minor, or person under the legal age of consent.
In most jurisdictions, child p ...
; Violations of
international laws
International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...
on
war and
peace; Atrocities under
military regimes;
Religious fundamentalism and
homophobia
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...
; women's rights and
honor killings; and civil war and the killing of innocents.
Each day of the screenings, panel discussions were held on each topic screened. The panelists included filmmakers Bishakha Datta, Vinta Nanda; rights activist Priti Patkar, advocates
Colin Gonsalves
Colin Gonsalves is a designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and the founder of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN). He specializes in human rights protection, labour law and public interest law. He has been awarded Right Liveliho ...
, PA Sebastian, Flavia Agnes and Usha Andevar. The panels were moderated by Vinta Nanda, Dalip Daswani and Gargi Sen respectively. Three of the activists portrayed in the documentaries:
Rebiya Kadeer
Rebiya Kadeer ( ug, رابىيە قادىر, translit=Rabiye Qadir; born 15 November 1946) is an ethnic Uyghur businesswoman and political activist. Born in Altay City, Xinjiang, Kadeer became a millionaire in the 1980s through her real estate ...
,
Somaly Mam
Somaly Mam ( km, ម៉ម សុម៉ាលី ; born 1970 or 1971) is a Cambodian anti-trafficking advocate who focuses primarily on sex trafficking.Pesta, Abigai"Somaly Mam's Story: 'I Didn't Lie. ''Marie Claire'', September 16, 2014. Acce ...
, and
Mu Sochua
Mu Sochua ( km, មូរ សុខហួ; born 15 May 1954) is a Cambodian politician and rights activist. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Battambang from 2013 to 2017, a seat which she previously held from 1998 to 2003. She was a member a ...
, have been nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize. Messages sent by them and some of the film-makers were shared with the audience at the festival. Film director and
rights activist Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt (born 20 September 1948) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter known for his works in Hindi cinema. A stand-out film from his earlier period is ''Saaransh'' (1984), screened at the 14th Moscow International Film F ...
inaugurated the festival by asking "how do we as a society... go about igniting change in 'this climate of collective apathy to human suffering'" together with theatre actress and director
Dolly Thakore
Dolly Thakore is a veteran Indian theatre actress and casting director.
Early life and career
Dolly Thakore was born as Dolly Rawson at Kohat on 10 March 1943. Trained in radio and television with BBC London, she returned to India to become one ...
. Of the festival, she said "This will open up avenues and provide a direction to youngsters".
A wide range of questions and discussions emerged from the audience of social activists, filmmakers, and film buffs, such as whether
honor killings are different from
stonings, how different are democracies with
cartels and autocracies, what the relationship is between violence and families, and how individuals can effect change in the world.
Organizers
The festival was conceived and founded by
Sridhar Rangayan, who is also the festival director. Gargi Sen is the co-director. The festival was organized by
Solaris Pictures (Mumbai) along with Magic Lantern Foundation (New Delhi) and Movies That Matter (Netherlands) in association with the
Alliance française.
External links
Official site
References
{{reflist
Documentary film festivals in India
Human rights film festivals
Festivals in Mumbai
Mass media in Mumbai
Film festivals in Maharashtra