Human Rights Week “Freedom to Be Free” open discussions session at Solaris Centre every day from 30th November to 5th December at 17:00
"When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. Some say that has now been achieved. But I know that that is not the case. The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning."
– Nelson Mandela
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. Therefore each visitor of PÖFF should find something of interest to them from the human rights programme.
As a companion to the film programme, there are discussions taking place on themes covered by films. Before the films are shown at Solaris it is possible to discuss the topics with experts. Discussions on topics covered in films will take place before each film is shown on five of the evenings. It is a discussion open to all, where anyone can join in the debate.
TUT Human Rights Centre
