Venue: The Grand Palm Hotel - Stardust Cinema  

Tickets: River Walk & Maitisong (Maru a Pula School)

Price: P25 only per day

For more information please call: 71309468

Thursday 15 March

7.00 – 7.30 p.m.

FILM FESTIVAL OPENING BY:

The Attorney General

Dr A. Molokomme

South Africa and post apartheid

7.45 – 8.41 p.m.

Betrayal. South Africa (2006) 56 minutes. Director: Mark Kaplan. Courtesy of Grey Matter Media.

The Director will be present at the screening for a discussion afterwards

In August 1983, a 23 year old student Nokuthula Simelane disappeared without trace while acting as a courier for the

African National Congress’ armed wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe. Thirteen years later, nine members of the Security Police applied for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for her abduction and torture, exposing the role of informers and double agents in her disappearance. Betrayal lies at the heart of her ultimate fate. Where are her remains? What have we learnt from Nokuthula’s story about the conflicts of the past? What can be done to trace and remember the hundreds of South Africans who, like her, are still missing?

Friday 16 March

War and Human Rights

7.30 – 8.41 p.m.

A Letter to the Prime Minister. UK (2005) 71 minutes. Director: Julia Guest. Courtesy of Year Zero Films.

Narrated as a letter to Tony Blair and using original diary extracts, the film follows the remarkable journey of Jo Wilding, in solidarity with the people of Iraq.

She challenges the legality of the devastating economic sanctions imposed on the country and covers her activities in Baghdad before and during the 2003 invasion as well as the non-violent resistance to US/UK policy in the region.

9.00 – 9.57 p.m.

Darfur Diaries: Message From Home Sudan/Chad/USA (2005). 57 minutes. Director: Adam Shapiro. Courtesy of Adam Shapiro.

In October 2004 a team of independent filmmakers left for Darfur, Sudan and eastern Chad. After noticing that the mainstream media offered marginal and inadequate coverage, the team set out with the goal of providing a platform for the people of Darfur (both those inside Darfur and those living in refugee camps in Chad) – to speak for themselves about their experiences, their fears and their hopes for the future. The conflict serves as the ongoing narrative in the film.

Selected “Best of the Fest”, TriContinental Film Festival, South Africa 2006. A segment was screened for the Human Rights Caucus of the US Congress. Officially endorsed by Amnesty International USA.

Saturday 17 March

7.30 – 8.54 p.m

The Middle East Conflict

Goal Dreams. USA (2006). 84 minutes. Directors: Maya Sanbar and Jeffrey Saunders. Courtesy of Clarity Productions

How does a team without a recognised homeland, no permanent domestic league, no place to train and with players and coaches scattered around the world compete in the world of modern football? Founded in 1928, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) is considered one of the oldest football associations in the Arab World. Recognised by FIFA in 1998, the team has risen 70 places in international rankings, while never having been able to play on home soil. The film follows the team as it prepares for the 2006 World Cup and shows the suspension of domestic league games after an Israel air strike on the Palestinian Stadium.

2006 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam – Audience Award

Sunday 18 March

7.00 – 8.27 p.m.

Globalisation and Human Rights

China Blue. USA (2005). 87 minutes. Director: Micha X. Peled. Courtesy of Teddy Bear Films.

This film explores the context within which our cheap ‘Made in China’ merchandise is produced. It looks behind the closed factory gates and gives the anonymous workers a face. 130 million Chinese farmer’s children exchanged their rural life for a job in a factory: the world’s largest migration wave. We see a factory owner talking scornfully about the labourers, and employees who lie about the working conditions during inspections. The shooting of China Blue was interrupted several times by the Chinese authorities, the crew was arrested and interrogated, and tapes were confiscated.

China Film Bureau banned the film in September 2006; Honourable Mention – The Vermont International Film Festival; Nominated for the grand prize – Hawaii International Film Festival 2006; Winner – Doen/Amnesty International Human Rights Award at IDFA ( Amsterdam) 2006

Monday 19 March

Palestine and Human Rights

7.30 – 9.07 p.m.

The Colour of Olives . Mexico (2006). 97 minutes. Director: Carolina Rivas. Courtesy of PRIMAVERA KIN.

This unique documentary shares the life experiences of the Amer family who live surrounded by the infamous West Bank Wall. Their lives are dominated by electrified fences, locked gates and a constant swarm of armed soldiers.

Winner – Women Film Critic’s Courage in Filmmaking Award 2006; Special Mention – Barcelona Docpuolis, 2006; Official Selection – Big Sky Documentary Film Festival February 2007

Tuesday 20 March

Gender and Human Rights – Female Genital Mutilation  

7.30 – 8.23 p.m.

My Daughter, My Sister, Imagine the pain. Belgium (2005), 53 min. Director: Violaine de Villiers. Courtesy of Centre video de Bruxelles (CVB) and radio television Belge Francophone (RBTF).

Khadia Diallo is a Senegalese woman who emigrated to Belgium. In Senegal, she suffered the most extreme form of genital mutilation – infibulation. Once in Belgium, she discovered that this had nothing to do with Islam, contrary to what she had believed. The film explores the experiences of Khadia and other mutilated women and young girls. It shows why it is still very difficult to fight these practices in Africa

Wednesday 21 March

Poverty and Access to Justice

7.30 – 7.34 p.m.

A Garota (The Kid)

The Kid . Brazil (2005) 4 minutes. Director: Fernando Pinheiro. Courtesy of Fernando Pinheiro.

7.34 – 9.12 p.m.

This is a short animated film about poverty, child labour and the loss of childhood.

Mario’s Story. USA (2006). 97 minutes. Director: Susan Koch. Courtesy of Cabin Films.

At age 16, Mario Rocha, a Latino kid from East Los Angeles, was arrested and convicted of murder on the basis of one questionable eyewitness identification and no physical evidence. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. The film explores issues of the legal and justice issues as well as the work of his family and community who worked to overturn his wrongful conviction.

Finalist – Austin Film Festival 2006.

Thursday 22 March

Indigenous Peoples – the Basarwa/San of Botswana and South Africa

7.30 – 8.50 p.m.

Basarwa in the CKGR . The BushMen Life Australia (2002). 20 minutes. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Courtesy of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The film explores the major issues surrounding the situation in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve which led to the court case in 2002. This film predates the ruling of December 2006 but provides an overview of the challenges facing both the Government of Botswana and the Basarwa/San who choose to remain in the CKGR. Central to the film is the question of ‘what is development?’

9.00 – 9.52 p.m.

Bushman’s Secret . South Africa. (2006). 52 minutes. Directors: Rehad Desai and Richard Wicksteed. Courtesy of Uhuru Productions.

When South African filmmaker travels to the Kalahari to investigate global interest in ancient Bushmen knowledge, he meets Jan van der Westhuizen, a Khomani San traditional healer. Jan’s struggle to live close to nature is hampered by centuries of colonial exploitation of the San and of their land. Unable to hunt and gather, the Khomani San now live in a state of poverty which threatens to see the last of this community forever.