| Charter |
 |
 |
|
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
I. AIMS AND ACTIVITIES
The HUMAN RIGHTS FILM NETWORK is a partnership of human rights film festivals around the world, The Network promotes exchange, communication and collaboration regarding the representation of human rights issues in moving pictures. The Network was established in Prague on 18th April 2004. The Network coordinates its activities through e-mail and internet, regular meetings and special events. An assembly of member festivals meets periodically for decision-making and elects a board of coordinators to manage the Network’s activities. Membership to the Network is open to any human rights film festival organization that subscribes to the principles and practices as recognized by the Network and described in this Statement. New festival organizations that have already staged at least one festival can be accepted on recommendation by members and approval of the board of coordinators. Approval will be granted on the basis of festival track record, regularity of events and other basic information. The Network recognizes regional sub-networks as partnerships of geographically close members. However each festival is represented in the festival independently and sub-networks can only be represented through the umbrella network.
1.2 Aims of the Network The Network of Human Rights Film Festivals has been established to:
The Network is dedicated towards activities that: - Promote the distribution of human rights films in theatres, through broadcasting, within educational contexts and at other opportunities. - Exchange knowledge and expertise among member festivals and assist emerging festival organizations. - Collaborate in a human rights films data-base and a Network website. - Promote the knowledge of human rights cinema, and support publications on its issues and its educational and other activities. - Aim to coordinate such practical matters as setting festival dates, rotating film prints and sharing costs of film makers' visits. - Collaborate in reaching out to media attention and visibility, as by issuing press releases for film festivals and events. - Share information and offer opportunities for liaising in fund-raising and financing. - Promote visits and other exchange among human rights film festival staff. - Promote training activities and organize workshops, seminars and the like. - Promote the debate on the ethics, professional codes of conduct and other standards regarding human rights film making, as through seminars and publications. - Help protect members film festivals against interference and pressure (of political and commercial nature) that threatens the independence of their programming. - Promote partnership between founding members and new members within a regional area or a country. - Create opportunities for film makers to meet, exchange experiences, and liaise with the cinema industry, also in synergy with the efforts of film makers associations across the world. - Support film makers dedicated to human rights issues and help protect film makers in danger of human rights violations. - In general, bring forward the mission of member human rights film festivals in promoting respect for human rights.
In various part of the world, throughout the year, human rights film festivals are being staged — from Seoul to Amsterdam, from Johannesburg to Bologna, from Los Angeles to Prague, from Buenos Aires to Warsaw. Film selections specifically dedicated to human rights issues have also been programmed within other international film festivals. Such initiatives have originated from a variety of sources: international and domestic human rights organizations, other non-governmental organizations, universities, cultural foundations, governmental and intergovernmental institutions. The idea of the Network originated in informal contacts between festival coordinators. It was inspired by the shared goal of human rights films festivals of offering screening programs with films dedicated to the exploration and analysis of human rights issues. It was initiated to further the activities of individual festivals and exploit existing synergies and coordination between festivals. The Network was formally proposed following a meeting in Amsterdam, November 2003, and launched in April 2004 in Prague.
The Network strives to promote a broad concept of human rights, on the basis of international standards as embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international law. These rights include: - Integrity rights, such as the right to be protected from torture, killing and arbitrary detention, and the right to be free from discrimination and repression based on nationality, ethnic origin, gender and other personal characteristics. - Political and civil rights, such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to participate in public life, in government and in private organizations. - Social, economic and cultural rights, including the rights to basic needs such as food, water, work, housing, health, a clean environment, as well as participation in cultural and scientific life and copyright protection.
Though the 'human rights film' may be a fairly recent concept, we believe such films have been made during the entire century of moving pictures history. World-renowned directors as well as local film makers have documented human rights abuses or portrayed human rights issues in feature films, and have striven to give a voice and a face to those who were not heard by the powers that be. Such films have superseded common notions of 'left' or 'right'. They have, implicitly or explicitly, been based on human rights tenets even before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established in 1948. Human rights films, in our view, are films that reflect, informs on and provide understanding of the actual state of past and present human rights violations, or the visions and aspirations concerning ways to redress those violations. Human rights films may be harshly realistic, or highly utopian. They may offer gruesome pictures, or show the bliss of peaceful life. They may report, denounce or convey an emotional message. They may forcefully present the views of one group or individual only, or try to convey the opinions of as many of those involved as possible. They may be a highly accurate report of facts, or offer surreal provocation. We believe that human rights films, whatever their format, contents or character, should be 'truthful'. That is, they should inform the viewers on human rights issues and aspirations, and should not intentionally misrepresent the facts or the views or words of those portrayed. They should not be so biased as to invoke hatred and discrimination against groups and individuals, or serve political or commercial interests only. They should be explorative of the issue rather than propagandistic, and not reproduce stereotypes. We strive to promote films that have good cinematographic quality in photography, narrative, rhythm, audio and other technical characteristics – films that are 'engaging' in the sense that they keep the attention of a large audience. However, due the difficult circumstances in which many human rights film are made, we recognize that also films that do not come up to standards of optimal cinematic quality can be forceful and convincing testimonies of human rights violations and ideals. The Network promotes films that allow silenced and marginalized voices to be heard, as a contribution to their empowerment.
The Network recognizes and defends the independence of member festivals from influence and pressure from governmental and non-governmental bodies and individuals, at a local, national and international level. This independence regards the selection and presentation of films, the invitations extended to film professionals and others, the means of publicity, the raising of funds, and all other areas. The Network upholds the principle of freedom of expression and information, whatever the members' affiliations and sources of funding and assistance. Within this criterion of independence, the Network does not impose on members any directives as to their modus operandi, their selection and presentation of films, or their funding.
[A]lliance Ciné (Paris, France) |