Human Rights and Film in a Time of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe and brings many countries to a standstill, the Human Rights Film Network, which consists of over 40 human rights film festivals worldwide, reflects on the impact of this crisis on our communities and members—many of whom were already struggling to survive before this crisis unfolded. We are also looking ahead to how we can navigate through these difficult times.
Human rights film festivals operate at the intersection of film, culture, and human rights advocacy. Our mission is to raise awareness about human rights violations around the world, while also celebrating stories of resistance and resilience. In light of the pandemic, the right to healthcare has become a central issue in human rights discourse.
The coronavirus has forced many of our festivals to cancel, postpone, or shift online. Despite this, our teams have done extraordinary work in reinventing their events in record time, offering online screenings, discussions, and retrospectives. However, we must acknowledge that many of our potential audiences lack access to the digital tools necessary to engage with this content.
Given the uncertainty of the pandemic’s trajectory, it is difficult to make long-term plans. Festivals are facing the dilemma of whether to continue organizing, securing guests, and seeking funding for events that may ultimately be canceled. Most festivals already operate on shoestring budgets, making it even more challenging to mobilize resources when so much remains uncertain.
Our concern stretches beyond the festivals themselves. We screen films in diverse settings: movie theaters, cultural centers, schools, prisons, refugee camps, outdoor spaces, and online. Our audiences include some of the most vulnerable groups—prisoners, refugees, marginalized communities, and others facing injustice. How are these communities, whose lives are often depicted in the films we show, being impacted by the pandemic? The virus is wreaking havoc in prisons, detention centers, and refugee camps, and where it has not yet arrived, there is grave concern about its potential impact in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.
This crisis is a stark reminder that humanity’s exploitation of the environment and rising social inequalities are creating the conditions for future global crises. Film is a powerful tool for telling stories that critically reflect on the changes we need to make, both individually and collectively, to shape a better future for humanity and our planet. As human rights film festivals, we have a responsibility to continue reaching audiences who can help bring about these changes.
Now is the time for us to reflect on how we can shed light on these vital struggles, ensuring that we remain united in solidarity.
In solidarity,
The Human Rights Film Network