The Raoul Wallenberg institute is about to host Lund’s very first Human Rights Film Festival. The promising programme ranges from utterly recent topics of migration and people in exile to women’s rights and historically important lessons.
Most offices get rather quiet on Friday afternoons. Not so the Wallenberg Institute, two weeks before their very first film festival. After initial uncertain ten minutes of waiting in the shadily yard of the brick wall building close to the Law Faculty, Lundagård met with the main organisers of Lund’s first Human Rights Film Festival.
Want to allow a broader discussion
The Danish Director, Morten Kjaerum, Guest Professor Mark Gibney from the US, and their Senior Communications revealed the initial idea was to start a collaboration project with the Institute’s branch in Istanbul. Time constraints narrowed the project down to solely Lund and the result is the Film Festival starting this week.
The overarching aim, is to allow a broader discussion on relevant Human Rights issues outside the legal and academic environment, the Institute usually operates with.
“To some people ‘Human Rights Film Festival’ might sound like preachy, moral movies”, Mark Gibney is afraid. Hence, to counter these associations, the organisers felt the need to highlight that all films in the programme are outstanding movies. The fact that three of the films in the programme were nominated for an Oscar supports their claim.
Want to reach new audience
On the first sight many of the presented stories might appear to be regionally or historically far away from today’s Southern Sweden.
Panels, talks and resuming sessions framing the actual screenings present a bridging attempt. Many issues at stake can have a direct impact on us. The most recent example of people on the move and the protection of refugees is only one aspect of many.
Through the Festival, the organisers hope to reach out to new audiences, that would maybe not traditionally be interested in the discussed matters.
Steep price – by student-measurements
The decision not to hold in Campus, but starting a cooperation with Kino, reflects the idea to attract students and non-students alike. However, the ticket fee could be a bit more student-friendly.
8€ per screening are a pretty steep price for a student budget. The good news is, thanks to additional funding, approved after our interview, students can now get hold of a pass and visit four screening for the price of three!
While the preparation for this year are on full speed, the incentive is to make this event an annual happening.
INFO
http://lundhumanrightsfilmfestival.se/
When: 4-7 March
Where: Kino, Lund
Conversation partners were:
Gabriel Stein, Senior Communication Officer
Mark Gibney, Visiting Professor of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Morten Kjaerum, Director
