The Valencia International Film and Human Rights Festival, Humans Fest, organized by the Justice Foundation since 2009, has concluded its 14th edition with a closing gala in which the screenwriter and main actress Taki Mumladze has received the award for Best Fiction Feature Film of this year's Official Section for A room of my own. For his part, the Best Documentary Feature has fallen into Kenyaof Gisela Delgadillo. The event took place on the night of Saturday, June 10 at the MuVIM, where nearly 200 people from the cultural and social sphere gathered to accompany the presentation of the awards. Of the six films awarded by the juries, four are directed by women.
ABOUT THE WINNING WORKS IN FEATURE FILMS
Ioseb 'Soso' Bliadze is a Georgian director who has emerged in recent years. The script of A room of my own she signs it with Taki Mumladze, who also plays the film's protagonist: Tina, a woman who has lost her way in life and rents a room to Megi, thanks to whom she discovers what it feels like to be free and capable. to make your own decisions. Filmed during the pandemic, this feature film evokes Virginia Woolf's “own room” and reflects the process of inner emancipation of a young survivor of gender violence repudiated by a sexist and conservative society.
According to the jury of this category, A room of my own stands out “for accurately and profoundly portraying a woman's journey towards the discovery of another possible reality of independence and personal freedom; and describe with subtlety and skill how, through the reference of another woman and the care that naturally arises between them, she manages to take the reins of her own life.”
For its part, Kenya is the portrait of a trans woman who lives in Mexico City and witnesses how a friend, who is also a transgender sex worker, is murdered by a client. From there, she begins a fight for justice that involves defending her right to be and that of her companions, as well as facing her own fears. The jury has chosen the proposal by the Mexican Gisela Delgadillo as Best Documentary Feature Film for vindicating “a vulnerable and violated group” that is “in struggle against generalized and global oppression.”
Likewise, they highlight "the narrative treatment that makes the story evolve in line with the proposal, with a main character, Kenya, who is presented naturally, without victimhood or artifice, displaying documentary realism." They also value “a careful montage” that addresses “the story of a collective cause full of sincere characters who provide credibility, far from Manichaeism.”
So much A room of my own as Kenya have been state premieres within the framework of the Humans Fest. In fact, this year the festival had 11 feature films in its Official Section, of which seven have been screened for the first time in Spain. They have joined the two winning films in this sense Opal, The man without guilt y The agitators in fiction and And still I sing next to Old fashion, new life in documentary genre.
OFFICIAL SHORT FILM SECTION
The award to Best Fiction Short Film has fallen into Children's stuff, directed by Bernabé Rico, which shows the reactions in an elementary school when a child goes to the Christmas costume party dressed as Wonder Woman. For the jury, it has been crucial to “address a current and close issue for the public, speaking explicitly about human rights with a feminist perspective and reflecting a constructive and peaceful approach.”
Furthermore, they have decided to grant a special mention in this competitive category to Over Mij from Ali Asgari "for addressing the issue of female oppression and the importance of sisterhood with sober cinematographic language and very credible performances"
On the other hand, Hondarrakof Paula Iglesias, has been the Best Documentary Short Film. A work that talks about the deterioration of the care system through the stories of two women. The jury has chosen him for his “narrative, photographic, sound and documentary work”, as well as “a very cinematic visual and symbolic narrative that, at the same time, makes its particular social complaint about the human rights of women.”
Iglesias has collected the award from Cristina Ramon, the president of the Valencian Coordinator of NGOs, who have been an active part of the festival through the involvement of 66 activists who have participated in one way or another.
RECOGNITIONS IN VALENCIAN KEY
The Official Section of Humans Fest includes two awards for Valencian creations. Thus, the award to Best Valencian Short Film has been awarded to Hàbitatof Elena Escura, “for its originality and emotionality when dealing with a topic that has lost attention, but that continues to be a reality in the daily lives of many people: evictions,” in the words of the jury. For its part, the EDAV award to Best Valencian Short Film Script has been for The way I welcome youof Amparo Fortuny, for its “script where the documentary and testimonial record is skillfully complemented with the fictional record” and for highlighting “the conflictivity of the right/duty of welcoming political and/or economic refugees.”
THE RECOGNITION OF THE YOUNGEST TALENT
Humans Fest has a historical section within its official competition: 1 minute, 1 right, whose objective is to promote cinema as a tool for defending human rights among the Valencian students. This year it has been possible thanks to the participation of students from Comenius Center Educatiu, IES Puçol de Puçol, CEIP Angelina Carnicer from València, Degree in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia, Master in Animation from the Polytechnic University of València and La Nau Gran from the University of Valencia. Chosen by public vote, the winning entry has been One day. No more no less, made by students of the CEIP Angelina Carnicer From Valencia.
The jury of the 14th edition of Humans Fest has been made up of 18 professionals from the cinematographic and social field: Avelina Prat, Laura Herrero Garvín, Elvira Cámara López, Sara Mansanet, Ricardo Macián, Laura Martínez, Pilar Martínez, Fran Fernández, Isabelle Mamadou, Lucy Polo, Sixto García, Eva García, Elena Belenguer, Gloria March, Sénia Mulayali, Jordi Juan Martínez Sánchez, Anna Juesas García and Óscar Valle García.
THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AND PARTICIPATORY EDITION OF HUMANS FEST
Humans Fest celebrated its 14th edition from June 1 to 10. During these days they have been projected 40 movies from different countries, such as Argentina, Morocco, Martinique, Colombia, China, Spain, Mexico, Afghanistan, Slovenia, France and Georgia. Furthermore, the festival has produced and shown seven short participatory workshops.
One of the great novelties of this year has been that, thanks to a collaboration agreement between Fundación por la Justicia and Fundación ELEVEN, five film sessions have been held with audio description, so that people with visual disabilities have been able to enjoy them. Likewise, for the first time in the history of the festival, a video-on-demand platform such as Filmin includes 14 of those 40 films in competition, which expands the reach of Humans Fest to state audiences.
Added to all this are multiple activities in which they have collaborated until 66 activists from 40 entities different. This has been the case of, for example, the so-called Vermouths Humans, a relaxed discussion to reflect with protagonists of different struggles for human rights. Likewise, the festival has completed its program with a photojournalism exhibition: The careers will always be ours, which includes a selection of photos by Eva Máñez about the feminist mobilizations in Valencia.
For the second consecutive year, the cinema has been taken to the streets of the city for free with the “fresh” sessions in the courtyard of the CEIP Ballester Fandos, in the Malva-rosa neighborhood, and in the Plaza Jardín de la Ermita, in the Orriols neighborhood. And finally, a “author cycle” by the hand of Isabel Coixet, who has received this year's honorary award, so he not only attended the opening gala, but also starred in a special screening of My life without me and a colloquium for the 20th anniversary of its premiere.
Humans Fest is part of the international Human Rights Film Network. Its 14th edition is celebrated thanks to the collaboration of the Conselleria de Cooperació, Diputació de València, Ajuntament de València, Institut Valencià de Cultura, Caixa Popular and Teika. For its part, the Valencian regional radio and television station À Punt is the official media of the festival.