“This year selected films bring in front of the public key social topics, such as domestic violence, organized crime and corruption, mafia and state capture, as modern slavery as a new form of exploitation,” says Kujtimn Cashku, the executive director of the film festival
TIRANA, Sept. 18 – Some 43 films have been selected to participate in the eight edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival which this year focuses on domestic violence. Feature and short films, documentaries from all over the world will screen at the festival for one week at the Marubi Film School in Tirana from September 23 to 28.
“This eighth anniversary finds IHRFFA in a stage of maturity at both national and international levels. IHRRFA has become part of the worldly map of film festivals for human rights. This year selected films bring in front of the public social key topics, such as domestic violence, organized crime and corruption, mafia and state capture, as modern slavery as a new form of exploitation, virtual revolutions and media power, cultural disregard and updated ephemeris, mild brain bombing and its keeping under control, identity, multi – identity and universal culture, etc,” says Kujtimn Cashku, the executive director of the film festival.
Detlef Palm, UNICEF Representative in Albania and Chairperson of the Board of the IHRFFA says “”Human rights are not just violated in distant wars, dictatorial regimes or far-flung crises. Every country has its share of human rights issues, and so does Albania. There was a public outcry when women got killed by enraged husbands. Far fewer people get disturbed by people being evicted from their dwellings without any place to go. There is some public concern when children cannot reunite with their parents because of passport issues.”
The International Human Rights Film Festival Albania continues to be a platform for such public dialogue. It means to promote the understanding that lasting solutions are only those that protect and promote the dignity and human rights of those most at risk.
“One focus of this year’s festival is gender-based violence, a hideous issue that many people still think of as “sensitive”. I am sure that the films will provide more insights on how other countries and cultures deal with this gross violation of human rights, and perhaps the Festival – and all of us – will contribute to making a difference in Albania,” Detlef Palm adds.
Theodore S. Orlin, the IHRFFA Honorary President, says this festival, by bringing the filmmaker together with advocates and members of the international community, offers students and the general public an opportunity to discuss and consider the messages they saw on the screen. “The consideration of the problems associated with ‘domestic violence’, via the art of film making hopefully will contribute to the public attitudes and response to these violations of human rights.”
The International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania (IHRFFA) began in 2006 as an initiative of the Marubi Academy of Film and Multimedia and other international organizations operating in the country. Since its inception, this festival has become an annual tradition during September.
Sensing that domestic violence is a worrying phenomenon in our society, the IHRFFA’s selection committee, decided to dedicate this topic, a full day of the festival. Films selected by the subject, are not geographically limited to Africa or Asia, but they bring to us thrilling pictures, on the European continent next-door.
Austria is one of the main donors of the Human Rights Film Festival through funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation.
Austrian movies screening in the festival:
Tuesday, 24th of September:
18:45 Marta’s Suitcase (Marta’s Koffer)
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