Film Festival Comes to Pittsburgh

In conjunction with the AGM, Amnesty International USA debuted its traveling film festival this year in Pittsburgh. The festival, which also screens annually in Los Angeles, Seattle and Salt Lake City, featured 13 films in cooperation with Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Special campus screenings were also held at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

According to Dennis Palmieri, a member of the AIUSA staff involved with the project's continuing development, the festival has proven itself to be a great way to experience Amnesty International for the first time. "People are really moved by these films."

Local activist and festival organizer Scott Roller witnessed the impact of this first hand. According to Scott, the festival has been "the biggest awareness builder that Amnesty has ever had in this city." It has had an impact on local group and student group recruitment, too. Following the showing of "The Day My God Died," for example, many audience members stuck around after the showing to sign petitions and find out how to get more involved.

The festival received great coverage in the city's two major newspapers as well as articles in Pulp and the City Paper, two of Pittsburgh's alternative weeklies. In addition, public radio station WYEP provided significant airtime to the Festival.

Festival organizers were able to tap into the energy and creative spirit of both local and student groups in the area. Organizers made a point to hold screenings at both Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh to ensure student involvement.

Due to its success, the festival will likely become an annual event in Pittsburgh.

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