Before last night's screening of "Darfur Diaries," Jen Marlowe, one of the film's three creators, described her experiences visiting genocide-torn Darfur, a region in western Sudan, in October and November of 2004. Marlowe - who traveled with colleagues Aisha Bain and Adam Shapiro to collect stories and testimonies from refugees and survivors - cited the trio's "responsibility to the people who trusted us with their stories." Following the screening, which took place in List 120, she spoke further about the political situation in Darfur, saying, "Let's take the focus off of what to call (the genocide in Sudan) and look at how to end it."
Marlowe's statement could serve as a slogan for the entire first annual Human Rights Film Festival. Lisabeth Meyers '06, the events chair for the Darfur Action Network, conceived of the idea for the festival.
"I knew of ('Darfur Diaries'). I had been to some of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York this summer, and I had seen this movie 'Seoul Train,' which we're showing, and I knew I wanted to bring it to Brown," Meyers said.
Others in DAN suggested films as well, but "Seoul Train," which traces North Korean refugees' attempts to escape to South Korea, would need alternative sponsorship, given its lack of connection to Darfur. Meyers started contacting various public service organizations across campus for support and suggestions, and the Human Rights Film Festival was born.
Meyers had already been in touch with Carly Edelstein '08, the chair of Tzedek Hillel, a community service and social action umbrella organization. "I had this idea of focusing on more educational ideas - we've had lectures and film nights (this year, but we) had people interested in Darfur," Edelstein said. She and Meyers ultimately became the driving force behind the festival, along with a committee of about eight student leaders from various organizations.
One of these leaders was Andrea Titus '08, president of Brown's chapter of Amnesty International, a group that was mainly responsible for the festival's massive budget. "Amnesty held a small (film festival) last year with only a few films, and not many people came. So we're hoping to attract people from many different service groups on campus," Titus said.
Grant money for the festival, in addition to various on-campus sponsorships, went to a variety of outlets. Screening rights for the films cost $300 to $500 each, Meyers said, and each film is accompanied by a topical speaker - in several cases one of the film's makers - who had to be brought to campus.
"Born Into Brothels" - which won director-producer Ross Kaufman an Academy Award - and "Devil's Miner" are both accompanied by talks from their acclaimed creators. "Devil's Miner" filmmaker Kief Davidson will arrive fresh from his film's New York City premiere to attend the screening in List 120, Edelstein said.
The festival's planners focused on "finding speakers who could bring the cause back to Brown." The hardest aspect of planning the festival "was money - both raising it and having all the groups bring in their money. It's all working, but it's just been an obstacle with such a big coalition of groups," Edelstein said. Meyers also recalled the difficulty she and her peers faced in both finding films and securing screening rights, often from major distribution companies.
The festival's organizers "tried to choose films that (exhibited) diversity of issues and geography (and) appeal," Meyers said.
Though neither Meyers, who is graduating, nor Edelstein, who plans to study abroad, will be present next year, they hope to establish the festival as an annual event.
"Next year, we'll have more legitimacy; (it will be) something that's been done before," Meyers said. DAN, Tzedek Hillel and several other heavily involved organizations, she added, have students ready to assume leadership roles for the second annual festival.
The festival runs through Monday night and concludes with a closing panel on filmmaking and activism, which Meyers said she hopes will provide some courses of action for student viewers. Monday's events will also feature a screening of "Pasajes de JunÃn," a short film co-directed by Jessica Weisberg '06 while working in Apuela, Ecuador, on a Swearer International Fellowship. The film, which Weisberg made with Williams College senior Benjamin Brown, explores the community of Intag and its resistance to the influence of and potential overrunning by mining companies. "Pasajes de JunÃn" has been screened at various colleges and universities with people who "have connections to the area," which is "one of the most biodiverse areas in the world," said Weisberg, who leapt at the opportunity to screen the film during the festival.
Overall, the festival's organizers hope to "inform and inspire," said UNICEF co-chair Katherine Campo '08. After each screening, there will be what Edelstein calls an "activist table" with information for students interested in learning about and doing more for the issues featured onscreen.
"There are so many different ways to get involved," Meyers said.
Titus concurred. "We want students to know there are public service organizations; they can act on these issues."
