Library to Host Film Festival Focusing on Human

Candace Braun

The Princeton Public Library will host its first Human Rights Film Festival this week, which will run from Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15. Fifteen documentary films, along with speakers and musicians will be featured.

The power of film can educate and stimulate a broad cross-section of concerned citizens, said organizer and librarian Pamela Groves: "These films by courageous filmmakers take us around the world, and address a variety of human rights issues. By screening these powerful films we hope to create awareness, encourage dialogue, and most importantly, celebrate the human spirit."

Although the first film screening is set for Thursday at noon, with Thirst, the festival will formally kick off at 5 p.m. with music by Princeton singer and songwriter, Ranjit followed by an opening reception at 6 p.m., where residents can meet some of the festival's filmmakers. At this time the library will also screen Amnesty International Concert For Human Rights, which features performances by Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen, and Shania Twain.

Several screenings will be followed by moderated discussions, including a talk by filmmakers Susan and Alan Raymond on their film How Do You Spell Murder?, which chronicles a year in the life of illiterate prisoners in the N.J. State Prison portrays the powerful connection between illiteracy and crime. Strange Fruit, which explores the racial significance of the Billie Holiday song of the same name, will be followed by a discussion moderated by Mark Taylor, professor of theology and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Among the other films to be shown are Children in War, which discusses the effects of war and terrorism on children in foreign countries; Deadline, which tackles the topic of the American capital punishment system; and Promises, which tells the story of seven children who live in diverse areas of Israel/Palestine.

The program will close on Sunday, at 4 p.m., with a screening of Tami Gold's Every Mother's Son, a film about the mothers of three victims of police brutality. Ms. Gold will discuss the film along with Iris Baez, one of the mothers featured in the film.

The festival is co-sponsored by the library, Global Cinema Cafe, Princeton University, the Princeton Chapter of Amnesty International USA, ABC Literacy, and POV. National Video Resources has provided partial funding for the festival.

All of the films will be screened in the library's Community Room, which is on the first floor next to the main lobby.

"The festival will provide an opportunity for our community to come together in new ways, and hopefully inspire us to take action to work toward positive change, locally and in the world," said the library's Ms. Groves.

For more information on the Princeton Human Rights Film Festival, call (609) 924-9529, ext. 241, or visit www.princetonlibrary.org/phrff.