The Square. (Photo: courtesy of Noujaim Films)
The Square, a documentary about the Egyptian revolution, is one of 20 films to be screened at the 18th edition of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, which will take place from 18 to 24 March in London.
Jehane Noujaim's Oscar-nominated documentary will be shown on the festival's opening night fundraiser and reception at the Curzon Mayfair in London. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and film's subjects, moderated by Human Rights Watch UK director David Mephan.
Human Rights Watch is a leading independent watchdog dedicated to defending and safeguarding human rights. The organisation seeks to draw attention to human rights violations, giving voice to the oppressed and holding oppressors accountable. Accordingly, its film festival is meant to shed light on human rights violations captured through the lenses of global filmmakers.
"The film festival brings human rights abuses to life through storytelling in a way that challenges each individual to empathise and demand justice for all," reads the festival catalog.
The films in this year's program fall into five themes: Armed Conflict and the Arab Spring; Human Rights Defenders, Icons and Villains; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights; Migrants’ Rights and Women’s Rights and Children’s Rights.
"This year’s programme demonstrates the risks filmmakers take to capture the stories behind the headlines," said the festival's director John Biaggi.
"We look forward as ever to welcoming many filmmakers and film subjects to festival screenings, which will give audiences insight and understanding into some of the most complex situations in the world today," Biaggi added.
Other significant films that will be showcased in this year's festival include Tala Derki's Return to Homs, which was filmed between August 2011 and August 2013 and zooms in on a group of young revolutionaries in the western Syria city of Homs. Also from Syria are five short films produced by the Abounaddara Collective.
Further highlights include Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me, directed by Khalo Matabane (South Africa/Germany), the Turkish film My Child, directed by Can Canadan, and the Lebanese film Scheherazade’s Diary, by filmmaker Zeina Daccache.
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