The 20th FIFDH announces its programme – Cineuropa

22/02/2022 - The leading Swiss festival and forum on human rights is ready to explore all the burning issues through a selection of films and events

Red Jungle by Juan Jos Lozano and Zoltn Horvth

Taking place in Geneva from 4-13 March, the 20th edition of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) offers an international selection of fiction films and documentaries, as well as debates, interviews, meetings, master classes, exhibitions and a concert by Barbara Hendricks, the festivals patron. The FIFDH is bringing in new audio and video formats, several exclusive podcasts and a selection of films on VoD.

A total of nine films are taking part in the Competition Fiction, with the mixed-animation drama Red Jungle by Juan Jos Lozano and Zoltn Horvth (Switzerland/France) having its world premiere. The section also includes 107 Mothers[+see also: filmreviewtrailerinterview: Peter Kerekesfilmprofile] by Peter Kerekes (Slovakia/Czech Republic/Ukraine), Casablanca Beats[+see also: filmreviewtrailerfilmprofile] by Nabil Ayouch (France/Morocco), Europa[+see also: filmreviewtrailerfilmprofile] by Haider Rashid (Italy/Kuwait/Iraq), Freda[+see also: filmreviewtrailerfilmprofile] by Gessica Gnus (Haiti/Benin/France), Good Madam by Jenna Cato Bass (South Africa), Hit the Road by Panah Panahi (Iran), Luzzu[+see also: filmreviewtrailerinterview: Alex Camillerifilmprofile] by Alex Camilleri (Malta/USA) and Vera Dreams of the Sea[+see also: filmreviewtrailerinterview: Kaltrina Krasniqifilmprofile] by Kaltrina Krasniqi (Kosovo/North Macedonia/Albania).

Furthermore, nine documentaries are included in the Competition - Creative Documentaries, with two of them, Angels of Sinjar by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hanna Polak (Libya/Italy) and Je suis noires by Juliana Fanjul and Rachel M'Bon (Switzerland), having their world premieres at FIFDH. The remainder of the selection features A Night of Knowing Nothing[+see also: filmreviewfilmprofile] by Payal Kapadia (India/France), After a Revolution[+see also: filmreviewfilmprofile] by Giovanni Buccomino (UK/Italy), Invisible Demons by Rahul Jain (India/Finland/Germany/USA), The Last Shelter[+see also: filmreviewtrailerfilmprofile] by Ousmane Samassekou (Mali/France/South Africa), Nelly & Nadine[+see also: filmreviewtrailerinterview: Magnus Gerttenfilmprofile] by Magnus Gertten (Sweden/Belgium/Norway), The Silence of the Mole by Anas Taracena (Guatemala) and Penelope My Love[+see also: filmreviewinterview: Claire Doyonfilmprofile] by Claire Doyon (France).

Also, 20 debates, eight in-depth interviews, six conversations and six activists' talks are featured this year. Among them is a debate with whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, while artificial intelligence and transhumanism will be discussed with neuroscientist Olaf Blanke and philosopher Nita Farahany. Ecology and the rights of nature are at the core of two debates, and green finance will be examined by essayist Lucile Schmidt and explorer Bertrand Piccard. Finally, a discussion about Why Does It Take So Long for Humans to Respect Human Rights? will bring together former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore, neuroscientist Nayef Al-Rodhan and primatologist Richard Wrangham. The FIFDH honours women and gender minorities, welcoming Sudanese photographer Eythar Gubara, artist Chuu Wai Nyein from Myanmar, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat and Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

Finally, the FIFDH is launching a network of podcasts on cinema and human rights in conjunction with its partners, where filmmakers, artists, researchers, authors, journalists, photographers and reporters will share their personal experiences, creative processes and the qualities that make them unique, thus helping to question our identities, build a collective memory and testify to a changing world.

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The 20th FIFDH announces its programme - Cineuropa