Man on a Wire, Man ibetween the Hammer and the Anvil, Spectator in a Cinema

The 11th Documentary Film Festival will open and close with two obsessed individuals; the first walked on a high wire for almost an hour between the two tallest buildings of a certain era, the second aspired to introduce a certain amount of harmony and human relations into a ethnically and politically divided town. One could call them outstanding in their respective disciplines. After all, somebody made a film about their endeavours (the first) or desperate attempts (the second).

In this year’s programme, there are many more film characters that don’t have much in common with the classic feature films. Conversely, documentary film is traditionally committed to highlighting the issues of marginalized, overlooked, oppressed and persecuted people, hence this year a special section has been dedicated to them, namely the official competitive section, devised in conjunction with our Festival partner, Amnesty International Slovenia. An international jury will deliberate on six human rights films and award the most convincing one.

Many new features have been introduced; a competitive section, an international jury. The expansion to Kinodvor Cinema, the Festival’s second venue. Is the Documentary Film Festival spreading out? To a certain extent; although in the deluge of specialised, documentary film festivals it has remained a small-scale “player”, it however features a thoughtfully selected programme.

Simon Popek,

CD film programme director

Stronger Than Words

People who make movies about human rights are not just artists; they are – willingly or not – also activists for human rights. Language of images addresses our senses with more strength that a word can. That is why Amnesty International Slovenia welcomes filmmakers by announcing the best documentary human rights film. We are aware of the fact that nothing can better overcome carelessness and encourage activity as a true story can.

Films that explore human rights are our natural allies in our pursuit to reveal violations and to raise public awareness. We both want to tell a story. People need to know about abuses and injustices so they can decide whether they want to contribute to their ending and to make sure that perpetrators will be punished. This is the beginning of individual activism. And this is how we achieve public pressure which in many cases is the only one that can change the world and destiny of individual people.  

I am glad that AIS together with the Documentary Film Festival gives in this new way space to the marginalized, oppressed, abused, and hitherto forgotten. A human rights activist from Zimbabwe, Jenni Williams, said that when incarcerated Amnesty International makes her feel less distressed, less frightened and less alone. Why? Because someone ‘is shouting’ for her and is telling people about her. Documentary films that are in the ‘Amnesty section’ are also shouting and telling. Listen to them. And AIS will enable you to take an initiative.

Nataša Posel
Director of Amnesty International Slovenia