Montenegrin film opens V jubilee Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival 2014

Centre for Civic Education (CCE) opens, at the International Human Rights Day – 10 December – jubilee Fifth Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival 2014 in the Montenegrin National Theatre.

The Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival, the first and only of its kind in Montenegro, creates possibilities to raise awareness amongst the citizens of Montenegro about relevance of human rights, their protection and promotion, and foster a system of values which underpins harmonious relations between different people – whatever the grounds for their difference, through the film as medium.

Intolerance, hatred, violence, discrimination, stigmatization and prejudice against different minority groups (such as LGBT persons, Roma population, persons with disabilities and ethnic groups), misogyny, traditionalist and patriarchal patterns of thought and action are still heavily burdening development of Montenegro into the society culture of human rights. The process of dealing with the past is done slow thus creating a dangerous illusion that Montenegro has nothing to do with the war past in the former Yugoslavia, which was based on the ideas of blood and soil, and it doesn’t contribute to the prevention of similar or ruinous mistakes in the future, preserving and improving the multinational and multi-religious coexistence. The notion of politics as an activity where the public good is not a priority, but limited, particular interest, which calculates and manipulates with values and human lives, especially those who dare to criticize the system, high levels of corruption and crime that undermines the economic and institutional stability does not constitute a favorable environment for building of tolerant society in which all citizens feel equal in status and possibilities and where people are willing to fight and stand up for the rights of those who are not able to make their own.

Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival, will for the first time be open with the Montenegrin film “Living Eyes” at 20h00, directed by Senad Šahmanović. Upon the screening, he will, with the team that worked on the film, present to the audience. The film follows the process of working on the theatre play “Blind people”, which was based on Moris Meterlink’s text. The focus is on young people with visual disabilities, who are participating in the creation of the play. They everyday’s fears, desires, hopes, are interrelated with the roles that they play. Experienced, and professional actors permeate their specific life experience. Their emotions make this a true work of art. The film was produced by Alternative active theater company – ATAK. The film shows members of the theatre ensemble of blind actors “Homer”. After the screening, the film crew with the director will introduce themselves to the audience.

It will be followed by the Montenegrin premiere of the world celebrated documentary “20.000 days on Earth”, directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, which follows a fictitious day in the life of singer Nick Cave, from 21h00. This is the biography about the life of the musician, writer and screenplay writer – Nick Cave. The artistic duo Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth, in their debut movie, combine fiction and reality, private and public life, and narrate 24 hours of fictitious life story of the famous musician. The film begins with the sound of the alarm clock and it ends with an evening walk on the beach after the concert. Including scenes from the Nick’s life, from his childhood through photos from him concerts, to the Cave’s narration, which explains his view of the world, life and above all, his philosophy of writing songs. In the film his colleagues appear, Blixa Bargeld and Kylie Minogue, who remember their collaborative relationship with Cave. This film examines who is the artist, what is the purpose of art, dynamic of the creative process, why is the transformative power of art one of the greatest powers on the planet.

During this year’s Festival edition large number of authors will participate, and from 12 to 13 December, the pilot edition of the Festival will be organized in Kotor, in Cinema Boka. At the opening of the Festival, prizes for the contribution to the Festival will be awarded, and during the closing ceremony the annual prize in the category of individuals and organizations for the affirmation of human rights and civic activism will be awarded.
Fast Forward Human Rights Film Festival 2014 is part of a broader project “Fast Forward Human Rights!”, which the CCE is implementing with the support of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, and co-financing of the Commission for allocation of revenue from games of chance, the Embassy of Canada and the Heinrich Boll Foundation, as well as in partnership with the Montenegrin National Theatre, Beldocs and Cultural Centre “Nikola Đurković”.

In the previous four editions of the Festival, the audience in Podgorica had the opportunity to see 51 films which are covering human rights in an engaged manner. Entrance to all screenings is free of charge. The Festival’s programme and further information can be found at the http://ubrzaj.me/. Spot that promotes the Festival can be downloaded at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQhUhb3qDeo.

Svetlana Pešić, programme associate