The 8th edition of the Active Vista International Human Rights Festival is upon us!
Slated for this year, in its virtual commemoration, are film screenings, forums, special performances, and an online exhibit. Since its inception, the festival has seeks to inspire discerning citizens to go beyond the last pages of the news, the 280-character tweets, the meeting rooms, and daily social media stories.
With this year’s theme “Walang Pipikit 360” (No One Blinks an Eye), the Festival presents new lenses and perspectives to look into human rights in these historic times.
Gear up and keep your eyes open and your senses ready! We rounded up key events and virtual activities you can participate in throughout the week:
1. Why not a marathon of important films through the Festival Film Screenings
The Festival is hosting film screenings that depict various human rights struggles today. It’s an diverse, rich lineup of thrilling, heartfelt, and thought-provoking stories that provide powerful takes on different civil, political, and socio-cultural issues.
Frontlining the film screenings are Alexander A. Mora’s The Nightcrawlers (by invitation only); Lauren Greenfield’s The Kingmaker; James Jones, and Olivier Sabil’s On the President’s Orders; Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck’s The Cleaners; and Lav Diaz’s Ang Panahon ng Halimaw.
Joining the lineup are Grace Simbulan’s A is for Agustin;Pepe Diokno’s Engkwentro; Victor Tagaro and Toshihiko Uryu’s Yield; Lester Valle’s Walang Rape sa Bontoc; Sheryl Rose Andes’ Pandanggo sa Hukay; Cha Escala and Wena Sanchez’ Nick and Chai; Khavn’s Bamboo Dogs; Benedict Mique’s ML; and Don Gerardo Frasco, Kristoffer Villalino, and Januar Yap’s Huwebes Huwebes.
ABS-CBN’s digitally restored films will also be screened throughout the Festival, including Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, Mike De Leon’s Kakabakaba Ka Ba, Chito S. Roño’s Dekada ‘70, Peque Gallaga’s Oro, Plata, Mata, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Moral.
Completing the lineup are free short film programs revolving around various human rights themes.
The films will be screened online from September 20 to 27 at watch.activevista.ph/activevista. Screening tickets can be purchased through the same website or get discounts and bundles at bit.ly/AVTicketOrder.
2. A deep dive into human rights issues through the Festival Forums
The Festival Forums are a series of discussions and conversations that go in-depth into important human rights issues today. There will be something new to learn, whether you’re a staunch advocate or someone who has been watching from the sidelines.
Joining the forums are human rights workers, public officials, journalists, people from the academe, and artists — people with insights and experience on extrajudicial killings, authoritarianism, disinformation, and youth empowerment.
Registration to all the forums is free. You even get the chance to a free ticket to one of the Festival’s frontlining films when you register! Save your slots through the following links:
State of Terror: http://bit.ly/StateOfTerrorReg
Demystifying Demagogues and Dictators: http://bit.ly/DemystifyReg
Disinformation and Deception Decoded: http://bit.ly/DisinformationReg
Youth at the Forefront: Shaping the Narratives of a Nation: http://bit.ly/YouthForefrontReg
All the forums will also be broadcasted live on Facebook at Active Vista and DAKILA.
3. Be one with artists, advocates, and organizations through the Festival Events
Even in light of these challenging times we are in— one thing that should not be taken for granted and forgotten is that we are not alone.
Joining the Festival are artists, advocates, and human rights organizations from various sectors — and they have special events in store to support rights, freedom, and democracy.
Get to know the punk community, listen to the experiences of veteran artists and political prisoners in the country, join roundtable discussions of regional filmmakers, celebrate the anniversary of the United Nations here in the Philippines, watch artistic performances, and many more!
Catch all the events happening throughout the week live on Facebook at Active Vista and DAKILA.
4. See the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani monument online
On the 47th commemoration of Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of martial law this September 21, let us remember the heroes and martyrs that have come forward in the dark, tumultuous times of the Marcos dictatorship.
To be launched on the same day is the Digital Bantayog, a digitalization of the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani‘s Wall of Remembrance to make it accessible to people from the regions and abroad. A collaborative effort by DAKILA, Active Vista, and Bantayog ng Mga Bayani, it features a 360-degree full-screen interactive exhibit to be hosted in the Digital Museum of Martial Law in the Philippines at martiallaw.ph.
Check out the exhibit and stand in solidarity with the heroes and martyrs as we say #NeverForget and #NeverAgain.
The Active Vista Human Rights Festival is organized by the artist-activist collective, DAKILA through its human rights education center, Active Vista.
To know more about the festival and how to join the events, visit activevista.ph or its Facebook page at facebook.com/activevista.
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