Film programme:
This year’s human rights programme of PÖFF carries an ambitious title - freedom to be free. These words by Nelson Mandela provide a suitable link among the diverse topics dealt with in the films.
The programme entails films that discuss freedom of speech in countries where it is supressed with extreme measures, but also films about people who are repressed because of their political views in the home country. There are also films about children whose childhood had been robbed by warlords, films about the inability to share the neighbourhood with people who are of a different faith and films about people who are presumed guilty by the legal system.
The films take place in Africa, Middle-East, Asia, Central America, but also in outskirts of Europe. As in previous years, there are both documentaries and feature films.
30 November - at 17:00 -
Discussion concentrates on children's rights and specifically on child soldiers in Africa. Estonians who have in one way or the other seen that side of the Africa will come and share their experience.
Mart Nutt - member of the Parliament. In 2007 he took part in
the UN Human Rights Council’s High level Mission to Darfur.
Chairman of the Estonia-Africa Parliament Group.
Kullar Viimne - volunteer in Uganda for 3 months. Recorded material
for a documentary film in reintegrating child soldiers into normal life.
Riina Kuusik - Founder and member of the board of the
Development Cooperation Roundtable and NGO Mondo.
She has worked in refugee camps in Africa.
At the moment she promotes fair trade brand in Estonia.
Jean Van De Velde - Director of the film 'Silent Army"
Film - at 19:00 (also 2.12 at 17:00; 4.12 at 19:45):
Silent Army (Holland, 2008), director: Jean Van De Velde
1 December - at 17:00 -
The topic is the somewhat controversial freedom of religion. Religious extremism is in focus.
Ringo Ringvee - advisor in the Religous Affairs Department of
the Minister of Interior.
Jan Jõgis-Laats - News Director at Eesti Päevaleht (daily news paper).
Kristi Ockba - Estonian origin from mother's side and Yemen origin from
father's side. She spent her childhood in Kuwait and attended university
in Yemen. She was engaged with the Afghanistan twin school project at the Jaan Tõnisson Institute in the current year.
Film - at 18:30 (also 3.12 at 21:45): Bassidji (Iran, France, Bangladesh, 2009), director: Mehran Tamadon
2 December - at 17:00 -
The situation of human rights in the crisis hotspots around the world. Should we be interested in them? Should we care?
Roy Strider - Amnesty Estonia, Citizen's Movement Free Tibet!
Karin Dean - Senior Researcher in the Tallinn University,
main research field is South-East Asia, she has frequently written
in the media on the political, social and economic issues of the states in
South-East Asia, including Burma.
Ivar Tallo - former member of the Constitutional Commission of
Parliament as well as a former Foreign Policy Advisor to
the President of Estonia. Since 1999, Member of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Silver Meikar - Member of the Parliament, also member of the Burma
support group in the Parliament. He has written on the issues of Burma.
Film - at 19:00 (also 5.12 at 21:30): Burma VJ (Denmark, 2008), director: Anders Ostergaard
3 December - at 17:00 -
Discussion concentrates on fair trial, presumption of innocence and corruption in criminal proceedings in Estonia.
Anneli Sihvart - free-lance journalist, has researched and written her
master' thesis on the responsibility of media and journalists
in the context of presumption of innocence.
Jüri Adams - former Member of the Parliament and Chairman of
the Legal Affairs Committee. Chairman of the Council of
Jaan Tõnisson Institute since 2007.
Film - at 19:00 (also 4.12 at 17:30): Presumed Guilty (Mexico, 2008), directors: Roberto Hernandez, Geoffrey Smith
4 December - at 17:00 -
The last open discussion of the human rights week features freedom of thought, specifically the topic of repressions due to political views and the resulting exile.
Umida Nijazova (Usbekistan-Germany) - imprisoned by the Uzbek
authorities after witnessing Andijan massacre (2005).
Granted amnesty after pressure from EU, now a political refugee in
Germany. HRW is about to award her a prize for being
Human Rights Defender of the Year.
Film - at 20:15 (also 30.11 at 17:30; 6.12 at 21:00): For a Moment Freedom (Austria, France, Belgium, 2008), director: Arash T. Riahi
Film - 4.12 at 16:00 (also 3.12 at 21:00): Whisper with the Wind (Iraqi Kurdistan, 2009), director: Shahram Alidi
5 December - at 17:00 -
Film - at 19:00 (also 3.12 at 18:00): Yodok Stories (Norway, 2008), director: Andrzej Fidyk
6 December - at 17:00 -
Film - at 19:00 (also 30.11 at 17:00; 2.12 at 18:00): Firaaq (India, 2008), director: Nandita Das
Information is also available on the Human Rights Centre's
facebook page.
The whole information on the films is available on the
website of the Dark Nights Film Festival.
The human rights programme of PÖFF is organised by:
