Acclaimed human rights movies for Hamilton
This year, Hamilton proudly presents the Hamilton Human Rights Film Festival in association with WINTEC School of Media Arts and the annual SPARK International Festival of Media, Arts and Design.
Critically acclaimed international films focussing on human rights will feature in a festival showing at the Lido in August.
Curator and organiser of the festival John Mandelberg says this is the first such event in the city since 2008.
“It gives us the opportunity to create a festival that looks at human rights issues in a different light through real and tragic stories. The movies are based on touching subjects and have been told keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issues.
“I sincerely hope that this festival gets a great response and marks the beginning of a successful annual Human Rights Film Festival in Hamilton.”
The festival will feature some critically acclaimed national and international stories from New Zealand, Australia, Guatemala, Germany, Russia and Palestine which depict the journeys and hardships of people from various walks of life.
Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka, directed by Te Oti Takarangi Joseph is the story of a group of Taranaki children who follow the footsteps of their ancestors, passive resistors from Parihaka. El Oro O La Vida (Gold or Life) directed by Alvaro Revenga depicts mining conditions in Guatemala. It sheds light on the invasion of Central America by large multinational corporations and the disregard for human rights in the region.
The second day showcases two internationally acclaimed documentaries based on real-life incidents. A Bitter Taste of Freedom is a Russian documentary directed by Marina Goldovskaya. It recounts on the life and career of assassinated journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.
Goldovskaya records the personal and professional life of a journalist who was brave enough to speak the truth. Al Bier (The Well) is a short drama directed by Ahmad Habash that narrates the story of the day after a massacre. It talks about three Palestinians who share the dream of leaving their homeland for a safer place.
Not all true stories have to be depressing and some talk about success, perseverance and ambition. Two such movies are proudly presented on the final day of the festival. Murundak, written, filmed and directed by Natasha Gadd and Rhys Graham brings out the story of an aboriginal protest music group called The Black Arm Band. It brings you some of Australia’s paramount domestic musicians and their journeys with songs of resistance and freedom. Tha PA Boys released this year on Waitangi Day. Written and directed by Himiona Grace, it closely follows the story of Maori reggae band while on a quest to discover their roots and themselves. Erde, Hölle, Himmel (Earth, Hell, Heaven) is another powerful film by Kiwi director Pennie Hunt. A short film based on a refugee settlement in Germany, it is a story that highlights the difference between lives within the four walls of a resettlement and the world beyond it.
The film festival runs from the August 8 -10 at the Lido. After the showcasing on Saturday and Sunday a one-hour discussion will give audiences the chance to meet the filmmakers.
Information is available on the Facebook Page. Tickets cost $10 per screening or $35 for four screenings.
