Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents: TransMilitary Get Tickets | View Trailer

TransMilitary

Directed by Gabriel Silverman, Co-director Fiona Dawson / 2018 / 93 minutes An opening reception will be held at 6:00 pm. The film begins at 7:00 pm. After the screening join us for a discussion with film subject US Army Corporal Laila Villanueva; Major Veronica Zerrer, US Army retired; and LGBT Rights Researcher Kyle Knight from Human Rights Watch. “It is our time now to step forward and say, ‘OK, it’s not about what gender I am, it’s about if I can get the job done. And we for years have shown that, so why not acknowledge us?” - Laila Villanueva, film subject, TransMilitary The military is the largest employer of transgender people in the United States. Amid rapidly changing policies that technically at present bans them from serving, 15,500 troops identify as transgender. TransMilitary documents four brave men and women who risk their families’ livelihoods by coming out to the Pentagon’s top brass in the hope of attaining the equal right to serve. With a new commander-in-chief at the helm, they must traverse a series of successes and defeats, as their careers hang in the balance. Audience Award for Documentary, South by Southwest Film Festival 2018. Photo credit: © TransMilitary Tickets may be purchased per film, or a festival pass can be bought to attend all of the films within the festival.

About HRWFF:

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to MOPA on January 31 - February 2. Now in its ninth year, the festival presents a unique program encompassing five films and discussions that address a wide range of human rights issues from around the world. Filmmakers and Human Rights Watch experts will be present to discuss many of the issues raised by films and their impact around the world.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you for your generous support: David D. Dodge Foundation

Financial support for MOPA’s film programming is provided by the City of San Diego

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents: Roll Red Roll Get Tickets | View Trailer

Roll Red Roll

Directed and Produced by Nancy Schwartzman / 2018 / 80 minutes After the screening join us for a discussion with film subject Alex Goddard. Roll Red Roll is a true-crime thriller that goes behind the headlines to uncover the deep-seated and social media-fueled “boys will be boys” culture at the root of high school sexual assault in America. At a pre-season football party in small-town Steubenville, Ohio, a heinous crime took place: the assault of a teenage girl by members of the beloved high school football team. What transpired would garner national attention and result in the sentencing of two key offenders. But it was the disturbing social media evidence uncovered online by crime blogger Alex Goddard that provoked the most powerful questions about the case, and about the collusion of teen bystanders, teachers, parents and coaches to protect the assailants and discredit the victim. As it painstakingly reconstructs the night of the crime and its aftermath, Roll Red Roll uncovers the engrained rape culture at the heart of the incident, acting as a cautionary tale about what can happen when teenage social media bullying runs rampant and adults look the other way. The film unflinchingly asks: “why didn’t anyone stop it?” Tickets may be purchased per film, or a festival pass can be bought to attend all of the films within the festival.

About HRWFF:

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to MOPA on January 31 - February 2. Now in its ninth year, the festival presents a unique program encompassing five films and discussions that address a wide range of human rights issues from around the world. Filmmakers and Human Rights Watch experts will be present to discuss many of the issues raised by films and their impact around the world.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you for your generous support: David D. Dodge Foundation

Financial support for MOPA’s film programming is provided by the City of San Diego

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents: Anote's Ark Get Tickets | View Trailer

Anote's Ark

Directed by Matthieu Rytz / 2018 / 80 minutes After the screening join us for a discussion via Skype with the film editor and co-founder of EyeSteel Films Mila Aung-Thwin, and Environment and Human Rights Division Director Marcos Orellana from Human Rights Watch. “I want to emphasize that climate change is not a political issue. It's not entirely an economic issue. It's an issue of survival. Maybe today for countries like mine. But in the future, for the planet as a whole.” -Anote Tong, film subject, Anote’s Ark What if your country was swallowed by the sea? The idyllic Pacific nation of Kiribati will be submerged within decades due to climate change. As President Anote Tong passionately embarks upon a race against time to save his people and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture, islanders are already feeling the pressure to relocate. Sermary, a young mother of six, must decide whether to use a sought-after lottery visa and leave her children behind to build a future for her family overseas. Set against the backdrop of international climate negotiations and the fight to recognize climate displacement as an urgent human rights issue, Anote’s Ark presents personal stories that serve as cautionary tales for the entire world. Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival 2018. Tickets may be purchased per film, or a festival pass can be bought to attend all of the films within the festival.

About HRWFF:

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to MOPA on January 31 - February 2. Now in its ninth year, the festival presents a unique program encompassing five films and discussions that address a wide range of human rights issues from around the world. Filmmakers and Human Rights Watch experts will be present to discuss many of the issues raised by films and their impact around the world.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you for your generous support: David D. Dodge Foundation

Financial support for MOPA’s film programming is provided by the City of San Diego

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents: Charm City Get Tickets | View Trailer

Charm City

Directed by Marilyn Ness / 2018 / 107 minutes After the screening join us for a discussion with filmmaker Marilyn Ness; Film subject Alex Long; and Christopher Wilson, Associate Director, Alliance San Diego. During three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore, Maryland, award-winning filmmaker Marilyn Ness takes viewers beyond the headlines and into the lives of community members, police, and government officials as they attempt to reclaim the future of their city. City Councilman Brandon Scott is a rare young voice in the government’s call to divert funds from policing to programs that build opportunities and combat poverty. Senior community leader “Mr. C” and his colleague Alex Long spend their days in the streets working with youth to provide positive structure and safety. Charm City speaks to a nationwide crisis, where the grit and compassion of citizens offer humanity as a way forward. Tickets may be purchased per film, or a festival pass can be bought to attend all of the films within the festival.

About HRWFF:

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to MOPA on January 31 - February 2. Now in its ninth year, the festival presents a unique program encompassing five films and discussions that address a wide range of human rights issues from around the world. Filmmakers and Human Rights Watch experts will be present to discuss many of the issues raised by films and their impact around the world.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you for your generous support: David D. Dodge Foundation

Financial support for MOPA’s film programming is provided by the City of San Diego

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents: The Unafraid Get Tickets | View Trailer

The Unafraid

Directed by Anayansi Prado and Heather Courtney / 2018 / 87 minutes After the screening join us for a discussion with filmmakers Anayansi Prado and Heather Courtney. “We have years of activism under our belts. Now we just fight harder, we fight smarter, and we fight as one.” – Alejandro, film subject, The Unafraid High School seniors Alejandro, Silvia, and Aldo, like most of their friends, are eager to go to college and pursue their education. However, their home state of Georgia not only bans them from attending the top five public universities, but also deems them ineligible for in-state tuition at public colleges due to their immigration status as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients. In response, these three ambitious and dream-filled students divert their passions towards the fight for education in the undocumented community. As President Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric against immigrants gains momentum, and amid constant threat of losing their DACA status and being deported, The Unafraid follows these inspirational members of the generation of “undocumented, unapologetic and unafraid” young people who are determined to overcome and dismantle oppressive policies and mindsets. Tickets may be purchased per film, or a festival pass can be bought to attend all of the films within the festival.

About HRWFF:

Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to MOPA on January 31 - February 2. Now in its ninth year, the festival presents a unique program encompassing five films and discussions that address a wide range of human rights issues from around the world. Filmmakers and Human Rights Watch experts will be present to discuss many of the issues raised by films and their impact around the world.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you for your generous support: David D. Dodge Foundation

Financial support for MOPA’s film programming is provided by the City of San Diego