[hr-education-na] Human rights films

Dear Colleagues,

National Video Resources (NVR) promotes the use of independent film and
video by community organizations, other nonprofits, libraries and schools.
We have compiled the "Viewing Race" and "After 9/11" collections, which
offer discounted rates for nonprofits for films chosen by our special
screening panels of experts, including educators and filmmakers.  Go to:
<http://www.viewingrace.org/> to see the films, essays and related web
resources.

NVR is now in the process of curating a collection of 10 human rights
films, which will be distributed FREE of charge to 300 libraries in the
United States. The selected libraries will commit to sponsoring viewing
and discussion programs with the films.  As you can imagine, choosing only
10 is difficult.  They need to encompass issues in the US as well as
internationally.  They must be effective as films first, visual and
emotive as well as smart and analytical.  They should be able to
effectively stimulate and encourage discussion. When done effectively, it
is a plus that a film allows for discussion of more than one subject area.
As a whole, we hope that the ten videos will comprise a human rights
curriculum.

I'd like to know what films human rights educators feel can be effective
for North American audiences (in all their diversity).  We will be
selecting libraries in every state of the union, in large city and small
town alike, and of diverse backgrounds.  But ultimately, it's about the
most effective films.  A shorter rather than longer list is best; we're
looking for films that are strong enough to be in the top ten.

Please think about films that stimulate discussion for general audiences.
For instance, the documentary "War Photographer" allows for dialogue about
war and suffering, about human rights abuses associated with conditions of
work, about the media and media coverage of war, about the very nature of
seeing, about art even.  That makes for a rich video.

Finally, please do not nominate feature films. The collection we
distribute will consist of documentaries (traditional and innovative).
Films may be subtitled.

We would need to have recommendations made sooner rather than later. We
hope to chose the films in the early summer and then do the call to
libraries for proposals in the fall.

Thank you,

Blanca

Blanca Vazquez
Viewing Race
Project Coordinator/Website Editor
National Video Resources
73 Spring St., Suite 403  [NOTE new office number]
New York, NY 10012
212 274-8080
212 274-8081 (FAX)
Blanca@nvr.org
www.Viewingrace.org


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