"One World" human rights' documentary film festival opens in Prague

On Wednesday the seventh year of the human rights' documentary film festival "One World" began in Prague. It is organized by the Czech humanitarian organization "People in Need", and over seven days it will feature 120 documentary films from 35 countries.

At the opening ceremony a special prize was awarded to a film called "Peacekeepers" by Canadian director Paul Cowan. The film is about the work of United Nations' troops trying to prevent an ethnic massacre in Congo. The festival organizers are trying to focus on documentaries that explore, question, and challenge the complexities of the times in which we live. So it is no coincidence that it was organized by a charity organization like "People in Need", says the festival founder Igor Blazevic.

"People in Need is an organization working in crisis spots but it is also working here in the Czech Republic in crisis situations like floods. We are also very much involved in work with Roma and socially excluded communities. The festival is one of the main vehicles for the People in Need to draw attention of the Czech public on current affairs and on the challenges of the world we are living in."

Igor Blazevic

Every year "One World" focuses on different human rights issues or problems. I asked Igor Blazevic which topics are being tackled this time.

"There is a number of topics that the festival is dedicated to. Let me just mention a few of them: "Film and Women" - it's not only films about women's rights but it is also films made by female filmmakers. We have approached a couple of very prominent female filmmakers Kim Longinotto from the UK, Lourdes Portillo from Mexico, Barbara Kopple from the United States and Pirjo Honkasalo from Finland. They are really great filmmaking names. We have asked them to help us to select their favourite women's films."

But "Film and Women" is not the only focus this year.

"Other important topics are: 'The Shadows of Africa' - which is about the deep impact that European colonialism had on African continent. Then there is the extremely relevant section of the North Korea which is not so much focused on security issues but it is very much focused and applied on North Korean refugees. There is a section of Bosnia; there is a section about the right to tradition, about the impact of the modern world on the native communities all around the world. There are all together 15 thematic sections: 'Iraq in a hot spot' - bringing a perspective on the current situation in Iraq which is different from the perspective we know from news. There are no clear cut answers but it brings us a little bit more understanding of how complicated the situation is."

Apart from films the festival also offers other events, such as debates with filmmakers and a number of photography exhibitions. After May 5, when the festival concludes in Prague, it will move to a number of other towns around the Czech Republic.