UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION FILM FESTIVAL (UNAFF) CELEBRATES 16 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING DOCUMENTARIES WITH 70 FILMS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, 10 WORLD PREMIERES AND 11 U.S. PREMIERES, TO BE SCREENED OCTOBER 17-27 WITH "INDIVIDUAL TO UNIVERSAL" AS THE THEME. OVER 40 FILMMAKERS TO BE IN ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL
Established in 1998 to honor the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNAFF stands out as one of the most reputable film festivals in the US, exclusively dedicated to documentary filmmaking. Throughout the years, UNAFF has earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its courageous independence and integrity. In addition to providing advance outlets for films, many of which have gone on to win major awards and accolades, UNAFF
This year, as part of the ongoing celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the theme this year is INDIVIDUAL TO UNIVERSAL. UNAFF not only believes that global issues affect each of us individually, but that significant positive change is always initiated locally.
In the eleven days of UNAFF 2013, the festival will present timely and valuable themes from the streets in Afghanistan, Egypt, Ireland and Syria. Topics will include renewable energy, the impact of social media and cyber bullying, the disappearance of online privacy, LGBT refugees and asylum, human trafficking and modern slavery. The ethics of photography and how The New York Times, a Jewish owned newspaper, buried more than one thousand articles about The Holocaust during WWII will also be shown.
The films will be screened in various Bay Area locations: Palo Alto, Stanford University, East Palo Alto and San Francisco. The Festival opens on Thursday, October 17 in Palo Alto with three films: ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: CLOSE TO HOME (USA); TIMBAKTU (India); ALIAS RUBY BLADE: A STORY OF LOVE AND REVOLUTION (East Timor/Indonesia/USA). All three films will be screened at the Aquarius Theatre in Palo Alto.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: CLOSE TO HOME (USA), directed by the award winning filmmaker Anne Makepeace, is an overview of the inspirational life of one of the most important women in American history, Eleanor Roosevelt and highlights her dedication as champion of social justice and racial equality.
TIMBAKTU (India),directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. By showcasing the exemplary efforts of farmers of a tiny village in India, the film explores critical issues of food security and sovereignty. At its heart, this documentary looks at the relationship that a farmer shares with the land and the seeds and raises vital questions about food – the very essence of human life.
ALIAS RUBY BLADE: A STORY OF LOVE AND REVOLUTION (East Timor/Indonesia/USA) directed by Alex Meillier. Intrigue. Romance. Revolution. This action -packed documentary chronicles the tumultuous birth of a new nation in East Timor through a never-before-seen perspective. Kirsty Sword, a young Australian activist, aspired to be a documentary filmmaker, but instead became an underground operative for the Timorese resistance in Jakarta code named “Ruby Blade.”
After the screenings, the Opening Night Party will be held in Palo Alto famous bar GRAVITY with a special performance by international recording artist, John Lester. The City of Palo Alto Mayor Gregory Schraff will deliver opening remarks with all invited filmmakers and celebrities present.
The Festival continues with 10 WORLD premieres including:
Blessed Fruit Of The Womb (Guatemala/USA)
Call Me Ehsaan (Afghanistan/USA)
Extreme By Design (Bangladesh/Indonesia/USA)
Familia Ayara (Colombia/Spain) Hot Water (USA)
Nowhere To Run: Naheed's Story (Iran/Turkey/USA)
11 documentaries will have their U.S. premieres in the Festival including:
The Comic King of Guatemala (Australia/Guatemala)
Correcting The Chalkboard (Canada)
Irish Folk Furniture (Ireland)
My City Pizza (Iran/UK)
Shady Chocolate (Denmark/Ivory Coast)
The Story Of An Egg (USA)
Strong Enough To Fight (USA)
Terms And Conditions May Apply (USA)
Timbaktu (India)
Track by Track (USA)
The War Campaign (Denmark/Iraq/USA)
On October 27, the closing night film will be GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA (USA) directed by Nicholas D. Wrathall. "Life is short but the art is long." - Gore Vidal. No twentieth-century figure has moved as easily and confidently and had a more profound effect in the worlds of literature, drama, film, politics, historical debate and the culture wars than Gore Vidal. This film will incorporate TV clips of Vidal spanning some fifty years, from his historic encounters with William F. Buckley at the 1968 Democratic National Convention to his legendary interviews on Dick Cavett and David Susskind. The film will be followed by an Awards Ceremony and Closing Night party.
For the full program, dates and venues for San Francisco and the South Bay, photos and other details, visit www.unaff.orgor call 650-724-5544.
