Human Rights Film Network has renewed its presence at the 63° Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica / Venice Film Festival (30 August- 9 September 2006), by offering an award to the best feature film dedicated to human rights issues.

The Human Rights Film Network Award Jury, formed by:
Giulia Grassilli (Human Rights Nights, Bologna Film Archive)
Giuseppe Gariazzo (Turin Film Festival, African Film Festival in Milan)
Roberto Silvestri (Film Critic, Il Manifesto)

have decided to signal with a Special Mention the film
DARATT by Mahmat-Saleh Haroun,
because it valorises the subversive force of tradition whilst rebelling on the anachronisms of modernity,

The Human Rights Film Network Award is this year been assigned to the film
WHEN THE LEEVES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS by Spike Lee
for its epic force in telling the human tragedy of the Katrina hurricane. The film has the courage to denounce the institutional negligence which have brought to the violation of life and dignity of people, to the environmental disaster, and to the forced exodus of the Black population of New Orleans.

Human Rights Film Network is an international network of 17 human rights film festivals in the world, created to promote cinema as a tool for denouncing human rights abuses and towards a deeper understanding of contemporary world issues.