The Artivist Film Festival & Awards is an international

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...

and awards ceremony dedicated to recognizing activist efforts of

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

s, specifically in the areas of

human rights Human rights are moral principles or normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for certain standards of hu ...

child advocacy Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who speak out on the best interests of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be a ...

environmental preservation Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health se ...

, and

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their Utilitarianism, utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding s ...

Background

The Festival is held annually and tours internationally. Its mission is to strengthen the voice of activist/ artists (''" artivists"''), while raising awareness for global causes. The festival is produced by Artivist Collective, a nonprofit organization founded in August 2003 by Diaky Diaz, Bettina Wolff, and Christopher Riedesel. The first ''Artivist Film & Awards Festival'' was held April 27, 2007 at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater. Honorees were Ed Begley, Jr.,

Tippi Hedren Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren (born January 19, 1930) is an American actress, animal rights activist, and former fashion model. A successful fashion model who appeared on the front covers of ''Life'' and '' Glamour'' magazines, among others, Hed ...

Mike Farrell Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. (born February 6, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series ''M*A*S*H'' (1975–83). Farrell was a producer of ''Patch Adams'' (1998) starring Robin Willi ...

and France Nuyen. Set to coincide with Earth Day, when the 2nd Annual ''Artivist Film Festival'' began on April 20, 2005,

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

Mayor James Hahn declared the day "Artivist Day", and among the festival's 2005 honorees were James Cromwell and

Mira Sorvino Mira Katherine Sorvino (; born September 28, 1967) is an American actress. She won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Woody Allen's '' Mighty Aphrodite'' (1995). She also starred in the films ...

. The third annual festival was held in

on November 9, 2006, and premiered the film ''

Fast Food Nation ''Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal'' is a 2001 book by Eric Schlosser. First serialized by ''Rolling Stone'' in 1999, the book has drawn comparisons to Upton Sinclair's 1906 muckraking novel '' The Jungle''. The book ...

''. Festival honorees included

Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (; né Bottom; born October 28, 1974) is an American actor. He is known for playing dark and unconventional characters in independent films. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academ ...

Daryl Hannah Daryl Christine Hannah (born December 3, 1960) is an American actress and environmental activist. She made her screen debut in Brian De Palma's supernatural horror film '' The Fury'' (1978). She has starred in various movies across the years, i ...

, and

Matthew McConaughey Matthew David McConaughey ( ; born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. He had his breakout role with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy '' Dazed and Confused'' (1993). After a number of supporting roles, his first succes ...

Board and honorees

Artivist's advisory board includes Congressman Dennis Kucinich, actor James Cromwell, actor/director

James Haven James Haven (né Voight; born May 11, 1973) is an American actor. He is the son of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, and the older brother of actress Angelina Jolie. Early life Haven was born on May 11, 1973 in Los Angeles, California, ...

, and Senator Barbara Boxer. Past honorees include

Ted Danson Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'', for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. ...

Alyssa Milano Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 19, 1972) is an American actress. She has played Samantha Micelli in '' Who's the Boss?'', Jennifer Mancini in '' Melrose Place'', Phoebe Halliwell in ''Charmed'', Billie Cunningham in '' My Name Is Earl'', Sa ...

, Claes Nobel, James Cromwell,

, Ed Begley, Jr.,

, France Nuyen,

, and

, among others.

Award winners

2011

*Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''"Love Hate Love"'' directed by Dana Nachman and Don Hardy *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"Crooked Beauty"'' directed by Ken Paul Rosenthal *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: ''" Surfing Soweto"'' directed by Sara Blecher *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''"Grace"'' directed by Meagan Kelly *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"Green"'' directed by Patrick Rouxel *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''"Saving Pelican 895"'' directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky *Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: ''"Spoil"'' directed by Trip Jennings *Best Short - Environmental Preservation: ''"The Leaves Keep Falling"'' directed by Julie Winokur *Best Feature - International Human Rights: ''"Because We Were Beautiful"'' directed by Frank van Osch *Best Short - International Human Rights: ''"Umoja"'' directed by Elizabeth Tadic

2010

*Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''"ReGeneration"'' directed by Philip Montgomery *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"Arena"'' directed by Jota Aronack *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: ''" Kids of the Majestic"'' directed by Dylan Verrechia *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''"Sarah"'' directed by Brandon Hess *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"Africa's Lost Eden"'' directed by James Byrne *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''"Albatrocity"'' directed by J. Ollie Lucks, Iain Frengley, Edward Saltau *Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: ''"Deep Green"'' directed by Matt Briggs *Best Short - Environmental Preservation: ''"The Krill is Gone"'' directed by Jeffrey Bost *Best Feature - International Human Rights: ''"Complexo - Universo Paralelo"'' directed by Mário Patrocinio *Best Short - International Human Rights: ''"Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain"'' directed by Toby Marsden

2009

*Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''"Intelligent Life"'' directed by Brian Malone *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"Rough Cut"'' directed by Taghreed Saadeh *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: ''" Children of War"'' directed by Bryan Single *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''"The One Wayz"'' directed by Linda Chavez *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"Ice Bears of the Beaufort"'' directed by Arthur C. Smith III *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''"Abe"'' directed by Khen Shalem *Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: ''"Belonging"'' directed by Gerard Ungerman *Best Short - Environmental Preservation: ''"Urubus têm Asas (Vultures Have Wings)"'' directed by Marcos Negrão and Andre Rangel *Best Feature - International Human Rights: ''"La Mission"'' directed by Peter Bratt *Best Short - International Human Rights: ''"Intersection"'' directed by Jae Woe Kim

2008

*Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''" Zeitgeist: Addendum"'' directed by Peter Joseph ''(This was the festival opening movie)'' *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"Sovereignty"'' directed by Jonathan Sale *Best Feature - International Human Rights: ''" They Turned Our Desert Into Fire"'' directed by Marck Brecke *Best Short - International Human Rights: ''"Tibet: Beyond Fear"'' directed by Michael Perlman *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: ''"

Bomb Harvest ''Bomb Harvest'' is a 2007 documentary film directed by Australian filmmaker Kim Mordaunt and produced by Sylvia Wilczynski. It explores the consequences of war in Laos as it follows an Australian bomb disposal specialist, training locals in th ...

"'' directed by Kim Mordaunt *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''" Returned: Child Soldiers of Nepal's Maoist Army"'' directed by Robert Koenig *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"Companions to None"'' directed by Bill Buchanan *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''"Blinders"'' directed by Donald Moss *Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: ''" One Water"'' directed by Sanjeev Chatterjee *Best Short - Environmental Preservation: ''"Eudaimonia"'' directed by Jude Shingle

2007

*Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''"

Zeitgeist In 18th- and 19th-century German philosophy, a ''Zeitgeist'' () ("spirit of the age") is an invisible agent, force or Daemon dominating the characteristics of a given epoch in world history. Now, the term is usually associated with Georg W. ...

"'' directed by Peter Joseph *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"The Rich Have Their Own Photographers"'' directed by Ezra Bookstein *Best Feature - International Human Rights: ''" American Drug War"'' directed by

Kevin Booth Kevin Booth (born October 2, 1961) is an American film director, producer, lecturer and musician. He was known for his documentary film series '' American Drug War''. Booth worked with comedian Bill Hicks, until the time of his death on Febr ...

*Best Short - International Human Rights: ''"The Worst Job in the World"'' directed by Jens Pedersen *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: '
Glue Boys
'' directed by Phil Hamer *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''"Girl Stars: Anita the Beekeeper"'' directed by Vikash Nowlakh *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"Beyond Closed Doors"'' directed by Hugh Dorigo *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''"Sharks - Stewards of the Reef"'' directed by Holiday Johnson *Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: ''"Out of Balance"'' directed by Tom Jackson *Best Short - Environmental Preservation: ''"Anthropology 101"'' directed by Wayne Brittendon

2006

*Best Short - Human Rights: ''"A QUESTION OF LOYALTY"'' directed by Randall Wilkins *Best Feature - Human Rights: ''" Occupation 101"'' directed by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish *Best Short - Children's Advocacy: ''"DAUGHTERS AND SONS: PREVENTING CHILD TRAFFICKING IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE"'' directed by Sarah Feinbloom *Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: ''"SITA: A GIRL OF JAMBU"'' directed by Kathleen Man *Best Short - International Environmental Preservation: ''"FREEDOM FUELS"'' directed by Martin O'Brien *Best Feature - International Environmental Preservation: ''" Crude Impact"'' directed by James Jandak Wood *Best Short - Animal Advocacy: ''" THE MEATRIX II"'' directed by Louis Fox *Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: ''"MAD COWBOY"'' directed by Dr. Michael Tobias *Best Short - Artivist Spirit: ''"BELIEVE"'' directed by Synthian Sharp *Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: ''"CLASS ACT"'' directed by Sara Sackner

2005

*Best Short – Environmental Preservation: ''"OIL AND WATER"'' directed by Corwin Fergus *Best Feature– Environmental Preservation: ''"OIL ON ICE"'' directed by Dale Djerassi *Best Short – Animal Advocacy: ''"WITNESS"'' directed by Jennifer Stein *Best Feature – Animal Advocacy: ''" Earthlings"'' directed by Shaun Monson *Best Short – International Human Rights: ''"

Seoul Train ''Seoul Train'' is a 2004 documentary film that deals with the dangerous journeys of North Korean defectors fleeing through or to China. These journeys are both dangerous and daring, since if caught, they face forced repatriation, torture, and po ...

"'' directed by Jim Butterworth, Lisa Sleeth &

Aaron Lubarsky Aaron Lubarsky is a documentary filmmaker known for his work on the HBO documentary '' Journeys with George'', the PBS documentary ''Seoul Train'' and '' Sportsfan''. After graduation from Stanford University's Documentary Film Program, he w ...

*Best Feature – International Human Rights: ''"TRUDELL"'' directed by Heather Rae *Best Short – Children's Advocacy:
"HUMMINGBIRD"
' directed b
Holly Mosher
*Best Feature – Children's Advocacy: ''"STOLEN CHILDHOODS"'' directed by Len Morris *Best Short – Artivist Spirit: ''"EMMANUEL'S GIFT"'' directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Lax *Best Feature – Artivist Spirit: ''"HOPE"'' directed by Catherine Margerin

2004

*Best Feature – Environmental Preservation: ''"BLUE VINYL"'' directed by Judith Helfland *Best Short– Environmental Preservation: ''"GOOD RIDDANCE"'' directed by Nick Hilligoss *Best Feature – Animal Rights: ''"CHATTEL"'' directed by Rebecca Harrell *Best Short– Animal Rights: ''"4 DAYS"'' directed by Richard Hauck *Best Feature – Children's Advocacy: ''"BORN INTO BROTHELS"'' directed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski *Best Short – Children's Advocacy: ''"OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER"'' directed by Joel Venet *Best Feature – Human Rights: ''"WE INTERRUPT THIS EMPIRE"'' directed by Rana Freedman *Best Short – Human Rights: ''"BID 'EM IN"'' directed by Neal Sopata *Best Feature – Artivist Spirit: ''"A LIFE OF DEATH"'' directed by Dawn Westlake *Best Short – Artivist Spirit: ''"OUTSIDE THE LINES"'', Directed by Markus Stilman *Audience Award: ''"NOTHING WITHOUT YOU"'' directed by Ted Mattison and Paul Kelleher

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Artivist Film Festival and Awards Contemporary art awards Political art Film festivals held in multiple countries Cultural festivals in the United States Human rights film festivals Environmental film festivals in the United States International art awards