Amnesty International’s Movies that Matter Festival
Français
Le Festival The Movies that Matter
Le Festival The Movies that Matter a pris la place du Festival de Film d’Amnesty International, dont les dix éditions se sont tenues à Amsterdam. En 2009, le festival s’est déplacé à La Hague, ville de paix et de justice.
Le Festival The Movies that Matter a pris la place du Festival de Film d’Amnesty International, dont les dix éditions se sont tenues à Amsterdam. En 2009, le festival s’est déplacé à La Hague, ville de paix et de justice.
English
The Movies that Matter Festival
The Movies that Matter Festival has taken the place of the Amnesty International Film Festival, ten editions of which took place in Amsterdam. In 2009 the festival moved to The Hague, city of peace and justice.
The Movies that Matter Festival is the Netherlands’ main platform for engaged cinema, with dozens of documentaries and movies of inspired film makers being screened every year. Films that stir the debate about human rights, human dignity and situations where these are at stake. The films often have their first and final screening at the festival.
Apart from the regular film programme an elaborate « in-depth » programme of talk shows and debates, among other things, enables the audience to exchange views with international human rights defenders, film makers, politicians and journalists.
The festival features a festive opening night, an award ceremony on the closing night, an educational programme, special private screenings and activities related to the festival, such as a photo gallery, a play and music performances. Thanks to the support of our partners, a selection of festival films find their way to television and the Internet, and go on a national roadshow in February, March and April.
The festival has two main sections: A Matter of ACT, Amnesty International’s competition programme consisting of ten documentaries that deal with remarkable human rights defenders, and Camera Justitia, the competition programme featuring films on international justice. The latter is organized in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Justice.
Each year a variety of themes are covered. The 2010 edition put the spotlight on gay rights, migration and moving. A selection of the best IDFA human rights documentaries and impressive human rights movies brought to the big screen in 2009, was also presented.
In-depth programme
Unlike other festivals the Movies that Matter Festival presents elaborate in-depth programmes for most film screenings.
In debates, Q&A sessions, workshops, talk shows, seminars and masterclasses visitors can enter into conversation with national and international guests. These programmes also inform the public about, for example, the film’s background and the choices that have been made during its shooting. The contribution of representatives from the world of theatre, politics, science and business, to name but a few, often leads to surprising discussions that give the audience a panoramic view of the subject.
The 2010 festival
After the successful first edition of the Movies that Matter Festival in the Hague in April 2009, the 2010 festival screened 70 films, while 45 in 2009.
This year, the festival attracted nearly 15,000 visitors, a 45% increase when compared to the 2009 edition.
Amnesty International’s main programme A Matter of ACT included 10 documentaries, twice as many as last year. All film directors and virtually all activists portrayed attended the festival, and they were honoured during the festive A Matter of ACT Night.
An array of international guests, among which colonel Desmond Travers, a member of the Goldstone Commission, Uigur activist Rebiya Kadeer, Minister of Justice Hirsch Ballin and former prime minister Ruud Lubbers, took part in daily debates and talk shows. During the debate that followed the documentary Like a Man on Earth, Lubbers called upon the Netherlands to increase its reception capacity for forgotten refugees.
After the screenings of Redlight, Cambodian activist Somaly Mam, ranked among the 100 most influential persons in the world by Time Magazine, gave a moving account of her past experiences in the sex industry and her determined struggle against the sexual exploitation of children.
Mike Bonanno (The Yes Men) caused quite a stir in the Hague with a typical Yes Men action directed against Shell. Pretending to be a spokesperson of Shell and surrounded by numerous ‘staff members’, Bonanno handed out flyers saying’We are sorry. Shell’. The hilarious documentary The Yes Men Fix the World follows The Yes Men during a series of impersonation acts in which they ‘represent’ large companies.
Following the screening of Mugabe and the White African,Vrij Nederland journalist Harm Ede Botje led a debate about the consequences of Zimbabwe’s land reform policy, with the participation of Netherlands Trade Union Confederation president Agnes Jongerius, who visited Zimbabwe recently, Peter Hermes, personal advisor of Morgan Tsvangirai, and director Lucy Bailey.
All together, the elaborate background programme that characterizes the Movies that Matter Festival involved no less than 140 international guests.
The 2010 prize for Best Documentary in the A Matter of ACT programme went to Alberto Arce for To Shoot an Elephant.
Shadi Sadr was awarded the Golden Butterfly for being the most imposing and inspiring human rights defender portrayed in the film Women in Shroud.
The Silver Butterfly for best film in the Camera Justitia programme went to Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson for Mugabe and the White African.
In the youth competitions the Students’ Choice Award and the Movie Squad All Rights Award were awarded to Reporter of Eric Daniel Metzgar and No One Knows About Persian Cats of Bahman Ghobadi, respectively.
Tibet in Song by Ngawang Choephel received the VARAgids audience award.
The Movies that Matter Festival has taken the place of the Amnesty International Film Festival, ten editions of which took place in Amsterdam. In 2009 the festival moved to The Hague, city of peace and justice.
The Movies that Matter Festival is the Netherlands’ main platform for engaged cinema, with dozens of documentaries and movies of inspired film makers being screened every year. Films that stir the debate about human rights, human dignity and situations where these are at stake. The films often have their first and final screening at the festival.
Apart from the regular film programme an elaborate « in-depth » programme of talk shows and debates, among other things, enables the audience to exchange views with international human rights defenders, film makers, politicians and journalists.
The festival features a festive opening night, an award ceremony on the closing night, an educational programme, special private screenings and activities related to the festival, such as a photo gallery, a play and music performances. Thanks to the support of our partners, a selection of festival films find their way to television and the Internet, and go on a national roadshow in February, March and April.
The festival has two main sections: A Matter of ACT, Amnesty International’s competition programme consisting of ten documentaries that deal with remarkable human rights defenders, and Camera Justitia, the competition programme featuring films on international justice. The latter is organized in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Justice.
Each year a variety of themes are covered. The 2010 edition put the spotlight on gay rights, migration and moving. A selection of the best IDFA human rights documentaries and impressive human rights movies brought to the big screen in 2009, was also presented.
In-depth programme
Unlike other festivals the Movies that Matter Festival presents elaborate in-depth programmes for most film screenings.
In debates, Q&A sessions, workshops, talk shows, seminars and masterclasses visitors can enter into conversation with national and international guests. These programmes also inform the public about, for example, the film’s background and the choices that have been made during its shooting. The contribution of representatives from the world of theatre, politics, science and business, to name but a few, often leads to surprising discussions that give the audience a panoramic view of the subject.
The 2010 festival
After the successful first edition of the Movies that Matter Festival in the Hague in April 2009, the 2010 festival screened 70 films, while 45 in 2009.
This year, the festival attracted nearly 15,000 visitors, a 45% increase when compared to the 2009 edition.
Amnesty International’s main programme A Matter of ACT included 10 documentaries, twice as many as last year. All film directors and virtually all activists portrayed attended the festival, and they were honoured during the festive A Matter of ACT Night.
An array of international guests, among which colonel Desmond Travers, a member of the Goldstone Commission, Uigur activist Rebiya Kadeer, Minister of Justice Hirsch Ballin and former prime minister Ruud Lubbers, took part in daily debates and talk shows. During the debate that followed the documentary Like a Man on Earth, Lubbers called upon the Netherlands to increase its reception capacity for forgotten refugees.
After the screenings of Redlight, Cambodian activist Somaly Mam, ranked among the 100 most influential persons in the world by Time Magazine, gave a moving account of her past experiences in the sex industry and her determined struggle against the sexual exploitation of children.
Mike Bonanno (The Yes Men) caused quite a stir in the Hague with a typical Yes Men action directed against Shell. Pretending to be a spokesperson of Shell and surrounded by numerous ‘staff members’, Bonanno handed out flyers saying’We are sorry. Shell’. The hilarious documentary The Yes Men Fix the World follows The Yes Men during a series of impersonation acts in which they ‘represent’ large companies.
Following the screening of Mugabe and the White African,Vrij Nederland journalist Harm Ede Botje led a debate about the consequences of Zimbabwe’s land reform policy, with the participation of Netherlands Trade Union Confederation president Agnes Jongerius, who visited Zimbabwe recently, Peter Hermes, personal advisor of Morgan Tsvangirai, and director Lucy Bailey.
All together, the elaborate background programme that characterizes the Movies that Matter Festival involved no less than 140 international guests.
The 2010 prize for Best Documentary in the A Matter of ACT programme went to Alberto Arce for To Shoot an Elephant.
Shadi Sadr was awarded the Golden Butterfly for being the most imposing and inspiring human rights defender portrayed in the film Women in Shroud.
The Silver Butterfly for best film in the Camera Justitia programme went to Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson for Mugabe and the White African.
In the youth competitions the Students’ Choice Award and the Movie Squad All Rights Award were awarded to Reporter of Eric Daniel Metzgar and No One Knows About Persian Cats of Bahman Ghobadi, respectively.
Tibet in Song by Ngawang Choephel received the VARAgids audience award.
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