For the first time, the Human Rights Film Network has presented the new Human Rights Film Award at the prestigious Cinema for Peace gala during the Berlin International Film Festival. The award honours the courageous work of human rights activists (individuals or groups) portrayed in a HR film. The award is worth EUR 5000 and is presented in cooperation with Cinema for Peace and Amnesty International.

The first Human Rights Film Award winner is Zainap Gashaeva for her outstanding work on documenting war crimes in Chechnya. Mrs. Gashaeva and her organization Echo of War were portrayed in Eric Bergkraut's 2005 documentary "Coca - The Dove From Chechnya". The Human Rights Film Award was presented to Mrs. Gashaeva by Antonio Banderas and Marianne Faithful.

left to right: Anabel Bermejo, Markus N. Beeko (both AI Germany), director Ayfer Ergün (An Ox for a Baby), director James Longley (Iraq in Fragments), Zainap Gashaeva (Echo of War), Taco Ruighaver (Movies That Matter, Amsterdam), Giulia Grassilli (Human Rights Nights, Bologna), Andrea Kuhn (Perspektive, Nuremberg), Leo Hannewijk (Movies That Matter, Amsterdam)