San Sebastian Human Rights Film Festival marks 20th anniversary with rich and committed programme

13.04.23

Universal justice, abortion rights, Ukraine and homelessness will be among the topics covered by the films and talks at the festival, to be staged between 21 and 28 April and likewise including exhibitions at a number of venues around the city.

The film 20,000 Species of Bees (2023), directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, has been chosen for the opening on 21 April at the Teatro Victoria Eugenia of the 20th San Sebastian Human Rights Film Festival, organised by the Human Rights Area of the City Council, and Donostia Kultura. At the inaugural session the Chilean filmmaker and writer Carmen Castillo will receive this year's special award.

The French film Toi non plus tu n'as rien vu (2022) will draw the festival to a close on 28 April, at a gala event likewise held at the Victoria Eugenia, when awards will be handed out for both feature films and shorts.

Most of the screenings this year will take place at the Teatro Victoria Eugenia, along with two sessions at the Teatro Principal. Tabakalera will show three films, comprising the Film and Memory series. This year's programme features a total of 40 films (27 features and 13 shorts) from 32 different countries.

Three films have been made available to students at the city's educational institutions. A total of 10 sessions which will be held in person, at the Teatro Principal. The films are Yoko oporretan (2022), Trash (2020) and Gabi, 8 urtetik 13 urtera (2021).

5 exhibitions form part of the festival programme.

This year there will also be an online game about human rights, Esna TÚ, organised by the Basque Development NGO Coordination Board, to test the participants' knowledge of the subject.

The festival is supported by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, through the Directorate-General for Human Rights and Democratic Culture, and the Basque Government, through the General Secretariat of Human Rights, Coexistence and Cooperation, in addition to the collaboration of such NGOs and organisations as Zehar, Unicef, Gehitu, Amnesty International, UNHCR, SOS Racismo and FiSahara.

The programme will be rounded off with talks offered by the protagonists, filmmakers and experts in the topics of social significance addressed.

The goal of this festival is to encourage reflection, awareness-raising and debate about the different aspects of the defence and violation of human rights, and to help promote active citizenship with a commitment to justice and social fairness.

TICKETS

Tickets (€5) will go on sale on Friday, 14 April, from 11:30 a.m., at the box offices of the Principal and Victoria Eugenia theatres, as well as online.

Invites to the free sessions will be made available to the public on the same day at the box offices of both theatres, and also online.