Amid the illusion of stability and progress, one with sharper eyes will not be oblivious to the truth: our society is built on intertwined crises– material and ideal. Despite our many efforts, it is tempting to think that nothing has changed. This seemingly endless labyrinth of darkness has dimmed our light, as many succumb to helplessness and denial, fear, and desperation.
But what if things were different?
The 12th edition of the Active Vista Human Rights Festival, through its theme Espekulasyon, invites us to wander together into the realm of possibilities–to imagine a future where gripping into hope does not bleed, and a better reality is within reach through arts, music, and cinema.
By spotlighting stories from the peripheries through nine satellite regional festivals, Active Vista takes its viewers to see humanity not as it is but as what it could be, opening conversations through films, performances, art, and music, ushering them in a critical discourse through forums and talks that encourage in-depth reflection on a future beyond what is.For in this world of uncertainties, where the future is bleak, to speculate is to resist.
FESTIVAL OPENING
The 12th Active Vista Human Rights Festival (AVHRF) opens with a FREE SCREENING of Roman Bondarchuk’s THE EDITORIAL OFFICE. Officially selected at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, this thought-provoking satire reflects the urgent realities of our nation, where truth faces off against fake news and political maneuvering. Critically acclaimed and described as “a hell of a film and a hell of a ride,” this will leave you questioning the power of the media and the future of democracy.
September 19, 2024, Thursday
4PM Registration, 5PM Program
UPFI Film Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Seats are limited—and admission is FREE! Reserve your spot now: bit.ly/AVHRFOpening-Public
20/20 Film Screenings
The AVHRF presents cinema that challenges our visual acuity. In 20/20, it brings focus to narratives of different stories at the margins of our sight to see the world in 20/20 — with an awareness of those in the peripherals, with sharpness and clarity of vision, with a depth of perception, and hopefully, through the lens of humanity.
Panorama Festival Events
Panorama showcases a range of human rights-themed events to present an extensive and wide-angle view of creative pursuits as tools to uphold and mainstream human rights stories. This year’s panorama includes a public gig (powered by Funkybeat and 123 Block), an art market (in partnership with Comuna and Good Intentions), cartooning workshops and exhibit (with Cartooning for Peace, Rappler, and French Embassy in Manila), a staged reading (with the Virgin Labfest), and the awarding of the Frames, the AVHRF Short Films Competition.
Viewpoints Festival Forums
Viewpoints tackle pressing issues in our nation through a series of fora and dialogues that complement the film selections of the festival. This year’s Viewpoints zooms into the delicate theme of critical thinking and democracy in anticipation of the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections. These fora present and dissect important issues through the lens of various voices and dynamic ways of seeing the narratives in the broader societal context and perspectives.
PERSPECTIVE: Weaving Narratives for Change
A new addition to the AVHRF, Perspective is a series of festival events, talks, and workshops that brings together storytellers, creatives, filmmakers, artists, journalists, civil society organizations, activists, and human rights and democracy advocates to foster collaboration for the human rights cause and to weave the power of narratives with social movement strategies in driving positive social change and in shaping progressive democratic futures.
Satellite Festivals
Happening simultaneously with the events in Metro Manila, the satellite festivals co-create the main festivals’s platforms for citizen-led actions to reclaim spaces and engage more people in seven key cities nationwide:
CEBU | BACOLOD | ILOILO | CAGAYAN DE ORO | DUMAGUETE | LAGUNA | MANILA
Event and Media Partners
The 12th AVHRF is made possible with the continued support of our events and media partners.
The 12th AVHRF runs from September 19 to October 6, 2024. ALL events are FREE unless stated otherwise. To know more about the details and event access, follow or message DAKILA and Active Vista.
#AVFEST2024 #AVFESTEspekulasyon #AVFEST #FactsFirstPH #ML52
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ABOUT DAKILA:
DAKILA – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism is an organization of artists, cultural and development activists, students, young professionals, and individuals creatively building a movement of heroism toward social transformation.
ABOUT ACTIVE VISTA:
ACTIVE VISTA – Active Vista is a human rights education institution that strives to empower every citizen to be an agent of social change. Our vision is a society where the rights of all are upheld, and where each of us enjoys the freedom to live and be. We dare you to dream with us that future.
ABOUT ACTIVE VISTA HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL:
ACTIVE VISTA HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL – The Active Vista Human Rights Festival is an annual event that celebrates rights, freedoms, and dignity. The festival happens on the occasion of commemorating the Martial Law Anniversary in the Philippines every September.
