On the commemoration of the martial law declaration in the Philippines on Sept. 21, human rights organization Dakila launched the annual Active Vista International Human Rights Festival (AVIHRF) with the theme “Kwento Natin ’To: Reclaiming our Stories as a Nation.”
With film screenings, forums, virtual performances, online exhibits and workshops happening until Oct. 10, the ninth edition of the festival invokes the power of stories—real or imagined—in shaping history to change the narratives of our lives.
Here’s a guide for you to enjoy the festival and be part of reclaiming our stories as a nation as we connect our collective struggles, and hold together as communities in this time of lies and deception.
1. Have a movie marathon through the festival film screenings
The festival is hosting film screenings that depict various human struggles we face as a nation. It’s an exciting lineup of thrilling, heartfelt and thought-provoking stories that provide powerful takes on different civil, political and sociocultural issues. If you haven’t seen these award-winning, critically acclaimed and talked about (both in the country and abroad) films yet, don’t miss the opportunity to watch them during the festival. Front-lining the film screenings are Alyx Carumpac’s “Aswang,” Ramona Diaz’s “A Thousand Cuts” (exclusive screening available in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia), Benedict Mique’s “ML,” Auraeus Solito’s “Pisay,” Treb Monteras’ “Respeto” and Lauren Greenfield’s “The Kingmaker.” A film version of Mae Paner’s four-part monologue “Tao Po” will also be part of the screenings.
Also joining the lineup are Raymond Red’s “Himpapawid,” Glenn Barit’s “Cleaners,” and the late Joseph Laban’s “Bakunawa,” “Chuchera” and “Nuwebe.”2. Take a deep dive into human rights issues through the Viewpoints Festival Forums
The Viewpoints Festival Forums are a series of forums and dialogues that complement focused issues of this year’s festival, including martial law, the administration’s war on drugs, press freedom and democracy. Designed to allow the audiences to participate and share their own narratives, these forums seek to broaden perspectives on our current societal contexts. Audiences may register through activevista.ph/forums.
3. Be one with artists, advocates and organizations through the Festival Panorama Events
Our stories as a nation are both personal and shared. Thus, AVIHRF provides platforms for citizen-led actions to reclaim online and offline spaces through creative expressions to realize their imagined nation.
Active Vista Panorama showcases a range of human rights-themed performances, talks and workshops to present an extensive and wide-angle view of creative pursuits and interventions as transformative tools to take back the real narrative of our nation, including: Common Threads Music Sessions hosted by Quark Henares and Mich Dulce, and with performances from Noel Cabangon, Ang Bandang Shirley; Realizing the Score: Film Music Basics and Appreciation Workshop with Francis De Veyra; Reel Talk: a discussion on finding our nation’s narratives through our own stories.
4. Journey through our past and present times through virtual exhibitions
Made accessible for everyone as we stay at home to lessen health risks, the festival will hold virtual exhibitions highlighting our nations’ struggles in our recent history, from the martial law era to the present administration, through a digital art gallery, a virtual museum and book launch. One of the exhibitions is “Old Mirrors, New Reflection,” a collaboration between MartialLaw.ph and Grade 6 students from Assumption College.
Follow Active Vista and Dakila on Facebook; visit ActiveVista.ph/Festival.
