The United Nations Association of New York is pleased to partner with the 2013 Human Rights Watch Film Festival, held this year at two exclusive venues
The Film Society of Lincoln Center
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
165 West 65th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)
New York, NY
IFC Center
323 Sixth Avenue (at West Third Street)
New York, NY
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to New York from June 13-23 with a line-up of inspiring documentaries and dramas that will challenge audiences and generate debate. This year the United Nations Association of New York is proud to present two films addressing a range of issues that touch the LGBT community — THE PARADE, a Serbian comedy about the struggles to stage a gay pride parade, and BORN THIS WAY, a provocative documentary addressing homophobia and violence against LGBT individuals in Cameroon.
This year's New York edition of the festival will take place uptown at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and downtown at the IFC Center.
FILMS
THE PARADE
Monday, June 17 | 9:15 p.m.
IFC Center
Wednesday, June 19 | 9:15 p.m.
Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center
Srdjan Dragojevic's THE PARADE takes a comedic look at Serbia through the lens of one group's fight to hold a Gay Pride parade in Belgrade. When a bulldog is shot, an improbable alliance develops, and it becomes clear to all that so-called enemies are often your greatest allies. In a tragicomic way, the film tells the story about the ongoing battle between two worlds in contemporary post-war Serbian society: the traditional, oppressive, homophobic majority and a liberal, modern and open-minded minority. THE PARADE has proved to be a surprise success in the Balkans, where it premiered to sold-out cinemas across Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Croatia. In Serbia it was the biggest hit of the year, and in Croatia it had the second-highest attendance of any film ever.
Read an article in The Boston Review about the film's success in Serbia
HRW BACKSTORY: Gay men and lesbian women face fierce discrimination in Serbia. Whenever they want to organize a Gay Pride parade, they are attacked by hooligans and not protected by Serbian authorities. Human Rights Watch has documented several of these homophobic attacks. Together with local Serbian organizations, Human Rights Watch met with government officials, members of parliament, judges, lawyers, and other stakeholders in order to advocate for freedom of expression, association and assembly. In spite of these meetings, the authorities banned several Gay Pride Parades in Belgrade.
Presented in association with the Global Film Initiative, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), and United Nations Association of New York.
BORN THIS WAY
Friday, June 21 | 9:15 p.m.
Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center
Saturday, June 22 | 7 p.m.
IFC Center
There are more arrests for homosexuality in Cameroon than in any other country in the world, homosexual relations are subject to punishment of up to five years in prison, and it is almost impossible to come out to one's own family. With intimate access to the lives of four young gay Cameroonians, BORN THIS WAY steps outside the genre of activist filmmaking and offers a vivid and poetic portrait of day-to-day life in modern Africa. This is a story of what is possible in the global fight for equality.
HRW BACKSTORY: Cameroon prosecutes people for consensual same-sex conduct more aggressively than almost any country in the world. Human Rights Watch found that at least 28 people have been prosecuted for same-sex conduct in Cameroon since 2010. Most cases are marked by grave human rights violations, including torture, forced confessions, denial of access to legal counsel, and discriminatory treatment by law enforcement and judicial officials. The March 2013 Human Rights Watch report Guilt by Association found that most people charged with homosexuality are convicted based on little or no evidence. Dozens of Cameroonians do jail time solely because they are suspected of being gay or lesbian.
Both screenings will be followed by discussion with filmmakers Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullmann.
Presented in association with the African Film Festival, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), and the United Nations Association of New York.
Not a Member?
Join for a $25 introductory membership and attend most events for free
(or at Members' prices for special events)
Note for New and Renewing UNA Members:
As processing time may vary for new memberships, new or renewing UNA members signing up for events should be sure to bring a payment transaction receipt when attending for validation.
DISCLAIMER: All ticket sales for events are final. Please remember that your purchase represents your commitment to attend an event — there will be NO refunds issued.
Only UNA-NYC Members have guaranteed admission to all our film events, and attend for free or pay the discounted Members' admission. Our events are well-attended, so we strongly encourage membership with UNA-NYC to guarantee your seats!