British films at the International Human Rights Film Festival

On 25 September the International Human Rights Film Festival screened the British movie “Queens of Syria”. The film was introduced by United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Nicholas Cannon, who praised the festival as an opportunity to keep the debate around human rights issues going. “IHRFFA also helps in sensitising the public to the wide range of issues covered by the general heading of human rights and it demonstrates the power of film as a medium to address these issues” Mr. Cannon said.

 “Queens of Syria” directed by Yasmin Fedda follows the life some Syrian women refugees exiled in Jordan and who are working to create and perform their own version of Euripides’ “Trojan Women”, the timeless Greek tragedy about the plight of women in war. In a moment of cross-cultural contact across time, the Syrian women’s experience is woven into their own version of the play.

In addition to Fedda’s movie, a series of ten short public information films produced during the Second World War and the immediate post-war period were streamed throughout the festival. These films deal with different topics, from general elections in 1945 to education for children with disabilities. Introducing the films, Mr. Cannon said that while these are old films, the principles and ideals they shown remain valid.

This year’s marks the 10th anniversary of the International Human Rights Film Festival organised in Tirana by Marubi Academy of Film and Multimedia and has become through the years the main regular cultural event focusing on human rights.