Powerful, Passionate and Provocative Stories Pack TIFF's Human Rights Watch Film Festival

TIFF® and Human Rights Watch co-present Toronto's 14th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival, with a poignant eight-film lineup that galvanizes an impassioned call for social change through extraordinary stories of struggle, survival and hope. Showcasing brave cinematic works at the forefront of the human rights movement, the festival presents documentary feature films from Afghanistan, Canada, China, Egypt, France, the United States, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Syria, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Running from March 29 to April 6 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the festival kicks off with an opening night fundraising reception followed by a screening of A Syrian Love Story - a documentary that dives into the refugee experience through the telling of a love story between a Palestinian freedom fighter and a Syrian revolutionary who met as political prisoners - and closes with Nick de Pencier's Black Code, which follows cyber stewards who travel the world to expose unprecedented levels of global digital espionage. Additional highlights include the Toronto premiere of Tickling Giants, which follows a popular television show host who has been dubbed "The Egyptian Jon Stewart," and Alanis Obomsawin's We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice, an epic documentary chronicle of a legal battle waged against the injustices inflicted on Indigenous children in Canada.

"Our current state of world affairs serves as a call to action, urging us all to collectively rise up against human rights violations afflicting our neighbours and fellow citizens around the globe," said Helga Stephenson, Chair of the Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival. "We no longer live in a world where we can plead ignorance, and for those seeking the truth, our festival offers empowering and personal glimpses into the world of survivors whose commitment to the fight inspires us to care, and reminds us that now is the time to act. This is a festival of incredible characters and a festival of resilience and hope."

"Recounting stories of corporate corruption, digital activism, freedom of speech, the refugee experience, gender rights, marriage equality and so much more, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival invites audiences to participate in the vital dialogue that surrounds these issues that demand social change," added Magali Simard, Senior Programmer, TIFF. "This lineup of timely, powerful and cinematically engaging films shines a light on the pressing stories and issues around the world that urgently need our attention."

Complete film lineup listed below. All screenings are accompanied by introductions or discussions by filmmakers, Human Rights Watch researchers, or subject-matter experts. Visit tiff.net/humanrightswatch for additional guest information leading up to the festival.

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