Active Vista celebrates the 70th International Human Rights Day through a myriad of activities designed to strengthen promotion and protection of human rights in the country. Now on its 10th year, the 6th edition of Active Vista Human Rights Festival opened last November 26, 2018, at TriNoma Cinema, Quezon CIty, and featured the special advanced screening of “A Private War” – a film directed by Matthew Heineman based on the life of journalist and human rights defender, Marie Colvin (played by Rosamund Pike).
“In this tumultuous times when there is a dire need to galvanize our efforts to uphold, protect, and defend human rights amidst brazen violations, we unleash the power of art and creativity as our weapon,” Active Vista Executive Director Leni Velasco said. “We revisit our imagination to portray the narrative of our times, and to seek light on the truth of the real stories of human struggles.”
Several human rights-themed film screenings are scheduled from December 4-9 at the UP Film Institute, Cinema Centenario, Cinema ’76, Centris, FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo, FDCP Cinematheque Davao, and Handuraw Pizza Restaurant in Cebu City in order to spark meaningful conversations on relevant social issues and to inspire positive change for the society. Included in the program for the Active Vista’s film screenings are the 10 short films selected to compete for the Active Vista Award, short films selected by Out of the Box, and the Austrian Embassy in Manila. The feature films include outstanding documentary films such as Motherland by Ramona Diaz, Call Her Ganda by PJ Raval, Give Up Tomorrow by Michael Collins, All Grown Up by Wena Sanchez, and Yield by Victor Tagaro and Yashihiku Uryo.
The Active Vista also held a 2-day filmmaking workshop to 30 selected participants from all over the country to produce creative outputs that depict compelling stories of human struggles and that will contribute in engaging the public in the protection and promotion of human rights. The workshop shall culminate in a pitching session where in participants shall be given an opportunity to access possible funding, mentoring, and collaborating for their human rights-themed projects.
Velasco highlighted the importance of films as a tool for filmmakers who seek change. “As Active Vista celebrates a decade of presenting stories of human conditions, we reaffirm our belief in cinema as a very powerful tool in social transformation. Through the workshop, we hope to empower aspiring and new filmmakers to make films with social impact goals. “
As part of the festival, a series of gatherings of artists shall be held in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao to present the strong statement and commitment of artists to uphold, protect and promote human rights through the signing of an artists’ manifesto on human rights and dignity. Last December 3, artists gathered at the UP Film Center to express their unwavering collective resolve to uphold, protect, and promote Human Rights. Artists paraded at the RAMPA Red Carpet Walk and made statements on social issues haunting the nation. Film screenings of CineResbak: Decades of Resistance Films and Sakada by Behn Cervantes were also held as a statement against the recent red-tagging of film screenings by the military.
The Artists Gathering in CCP this December 8 shall kick off with an artist talk, titled The Memory Project, at the Bulwagang Juan Luna in CCP from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. “Artist Talk: The Memory Project” is an intergenerational dialogue between artists who lived through and survived martial law, and those in the post-martial law period, on the nexus between artistic expression, rights and dignity. The formal program for the Artists Gathering for Human Rights will be held from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm at the CCP Power House, South Parking Lot (Pasay side), in front of the mural “Ang Mamatay nang Dahil Sa Iyo” by Archie Oclos, one of this year’s CCP 13 Artists Awardees. Several artists and cultural groups like PETA, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, the newly formed Art Forces of the Philippines (AFP), visual artists Carlo Gabuco, filmmaker Paolo Villaluna, writer Rody Vera, and National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Ben Cab are expected to make a statement during the event.
In addition, Velasco said, “Artists play a relevant role in the social struggle — they provide the lens for us to view our society. While their art may not change the world, it may change the way we view it. This gathering of artists reaffirms the commitment of artists to be in the forefront of the struggle to uphold, protect, and defend human rights and dignity with creativity as their weapon.”
The Active Vista Festival also features TIRA-TIRA: Shots Sweets and Scraps, a curatorial experiment and exhibit by three artist-curators and researchers, Angely Chi, Rhine Bernardino, and Ralph Eya at the Pineapple Lab, Makati till December 15. On December 7, 5pm, the Alab ng Puso Concert for Human Rights shall be held at Centris in Quezon City and features performances by Tanya Markova, Ang Bandang Shirley, Bras Pas Pas Pas, Bullet Dumas, and BLKD.
The festival shall culminate on December 9 at the TIYO Craft Kitchen and Bar for the film pitching session and the festival closing party and awards night. Celebrated Dutch filmmaker, Morgan Knibbe shall grace the occasion with the screening of his short film, Shipwreck, Silver Leopard awardee at the Locarno Film Festival 2014.
This year’s Active Vista is part of the HRFest.PH, a larger initiative participated in by more than 40 organizations, groups and institutions nationwide, to strengthen human rights protection and promotion in the Philippines.
