South Caucasus Film Festival for Peace and Human Rights: “Nationality: Human!” 2008

South Caucasus Film Festival for Peace and Human Rights: “Nationality: Human” is a first film festival dedicated to peace and human rights. The idea of the festival was born in 2005 among the friends and partners of Open Society – Georgia and Heinrich Boell Foundation the latter organizations work in the South Caucasus on projects aimed at reconciliation of the conflicting parties

The Film Festival gives an opportunity for the people of the South Caucasus to view documentary films from around the world. Despite the diversity and cultural differences the stories of human victory or failure, dignity and betrayal, unity and fragmentation are alike worldwide. Thus the audience can relate to the pain and sorrow; joy and happiness of the characters filmed in documentary films.

On April 19-21 GCRT conducted the film festival in in Pankisi Gorge, where Chechen refugees are resided. The following films were shown:

1.      «Shahin» , Finland, 2004, 14 min., Director: Minna Lindroos

2.      «Three comrades», Netherlands, 2006, 99 min., Director: Masha Novikova

3.      «White Ravens», Germany, 2002, 92 min, Director: Tamara Trampe and Johann Feindt

4.      «Punjabi Cab», USA, 2004, 20 min, Director: Liam Dalzell

5.      «Bridge over the Wadi», Israel, 2006, 55 min., Director: Barak and Tomer Heyman

6.      «Enemies of Happiness», Denmark, 2006, 59 min., Director: Eva Mulvad

After each film screening thematic discussions were held.  The audience was actively involved in the discussions; they shared their war experiences with tears on their eyes. Some of the stories were extremely painful.

Refugees suffer from lack of information and communication with the outside world. The festival generated shared reflection on various issues and brought in a positive impulse to the daily life of refugees.