With so much good stuff, it was hard to narrow it down, but here are 10 documentaries we recommend you definitely grab tickets for at the This Human World Human Rights Film Festival– they will no doubt change and flip your perspective on all kinds of things happening around the world.
20 Days in Mariupol
When: SUN, December 3, 5:00pm, OV with English subtitles
Where: Stadtkino
Film described in a few words: Ukrainian journalists stuck in Mariupol, a city under attack. They show the world what’s happening during the Russian invasion. Even though there are bombs going off and they don’t have much to work with, they keep working hard to share their stories. Sundance Audience Award-winning documentary 2023.
A Letter from Yene
When: TUE, December 5, 6pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Top Kino
Film described in a few words: Manthia Diawara’s movie urges people to think about how capitalism, colonialism, and environmental damage are hurting Africa. He tells the story as someone who owns a house on the beach in Yene, showing how a once busy area of fishermen and farmers is now falling apart because of too much building and the sea eating away at the land.
We, Students!
When: SA December 2, 6:15pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Top Kino
Film described in a few words: In Rafiki Fariala’s first big movie, he shows his life as a student at the University of Bangui. They study economics, chat about their country’s future and discuss everyday things like dating and jobs. As educated young people, they believe they can change their country for the better.
Under the Sky of Damascus
When: SA, December 2, 6pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Breitenseer Lichtspiele
Film described in a few words: In this documentary, young Syrian women create a play that confronts misogyny and sexual violence in Syria. They collect real stories from women, challenging deep-rooted taboos. Despite facing resistance from their families and within their group, they persist.
A Compassionate Spy
When: SUN, December 3, 12:30pm in OV
Where: Top Kino
Film described in a few words: The story of Ted Hall, a young nuclear physicist who leaked U.S. nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union during World War II. Recruited at 18 for the Manhattan Project, he feared a U.S. nuclear monopoly could be catastrophic. Starting in 1944, he shared bomb construction details with Russia.
And Me, I’m Dancing Too
When: FRI, December 1, 8:30pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Schikaneder
Film described in a few words: In a country where dancing is forbidden, Saba defies the rules, expressing herself through movement. This film mixes documentary and fiction to show the struggles of young Iranians under strict cultural norms.
Baby Queen
When: SA, December 9, 8:30pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Schikaneder
Film described in a few words: The film follows Opera Tang’s evolution as a rising drag queen in Singapore. It captures her first steps into the drag scene, her participation in contests, and the unexpected involvement of her supportive grandmother. It highlights the ups and downs of self-discovery in a culture often resistant to diversity.
How I Survived the Pyongyang Film Festival
When: FRI, December 9, 6pm in OV with English subtitles
Where: Schikaneder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcbhS4L1fmg
Film described in a few words: A German filmmaker explores North Korea during the Pyongyang Film Festival, using a 3D camera to reveal the stark contrast between grand propaganda and the daily life of its people. This travelogue serves as a satirical glimpse into the realities of a tightly controlled nation.
Much Ado about Dying
When: SA, December 9, 4:00pm in OV
Where: Top Kino
Film described in a few words: Filmmaker Simon Chambers rushes back to London from India after his Uncle David, a quirky, gay ex-actor who loves reciting monologues from Shakespeare, says, ‘I think I’m dying.’ Simon’s film captures their funny, touching relationship, showing Uncle David living life with a flair for the dramatic right to the end.
Zwischen Baklava & Apfelstrudel
When: WED, December 6, 6:00pmin OV with English subtitles
Where: Breitenseer Lichtspiele
Film described in a few words: This documentary shines a light on the lives of six women in Austria with Turkish and Kurdish heritage. It explores their challenges in life: standing out in Europe as non-white people and seeking freedom in a traditional migrant community. Each woman brings her own story and struggles to the screen, challenging stereotypes about Middle Eastern or Muslim women.
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