About the Festival

Amnesty International is the world's largest human rights organization. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its work in support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty has a proud history of collaborating with artists in all media to build a culture of respect for human rights and human dignity.

Few artistic media have the power to reach across cultures, languages, and even time itself to influence millions of people in the language of our daily lives. Film has such power. Each year dozens of talented filmmakers work against long odds, short finances, and threatening politics to bring to the screen powerful stories of human struggle, sacrifice, and triumph. Some documentary filmmakers have risked their very lives so that we may be moved by far-off stories that, once told, seem very much closer to home.

The Amnesty International Human Rights Film Festival was launched in the United States in 1992 (as the Seattle Human Rights Film Festival) with the purpose of showcasing the best in documentary and fiction filmmaking related to human rights. Many of these films have few other opportunities for public screening. During the past decade, hundreds of films and dozens of filmmakers have come to Seattle to take part in this celebration of human rights filmmaking.

The Festival, which now screens annually in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and San Diego, is proud to make its debut appearance in West Hollywood this May, 2002. Co-presented by the City of West Hollywood, the festival will screen some 15 films, at the Director's Guild of America screening facilities in West Hollywood May 30-June 2, with the goals of bringing an exceptional menu of stories and experiences to the West Hollywood community, and raising awareness of the importance of human rights issues within the filmmaking community.

The Festival will seek to showcase new documentary films on current human rights issues around the world, new fiction films with human rights content, and will also include archival presentations of vintage fiction films-including major studio releases-that offer an exceptional look at serious human rights issues. Amnesty International invites filmmakers, studios, producers, and others to join us in celebrating the power of film and the dignity of the human spirit.

We invite your submissions, comments, and appreciate your support!

CONTACT THE FESTIVAL: filmfest@aiusa.org