Film screening: UN raises human rights awareness through cinematography

Spanish animation “Sabogal” launches nationwide series to mark Human Rights Day

ISLAMABAD: A series of events under the theme “Human Rights through Cinematography” kicked off with the screening of Spanish film “Sabogal” at the Swiss Ambassador’s residence on Saturday evening. The Swiss Embassy and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) hosted the screening.

While explaining the theme of the film, Swiss Ambassador Marc P George said the idea is to create human rights awareness through films and cinematography.

“Themes like migration, women’s rights and corruption will be highlighted in the films screening throughout the series of events”, he said.

The series will be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad to celebrate Human Rights Day 2015.

Sabogal is co-directed and written a by Swiss-Colombian filmmaker, Juan Jose Lozano. In a skilful blend of animated sequences and archive footage, this unique film immerses the viewers in a myriad of fascinating visuals in which Sabogal, lawyer and human rights defender, investigates the highest levels of corruption in Colombia during the 2000s.

Based on facts and designed by a 140-person team in various countries, the film paints the picture of a corrupt and rotten country, while depicting a character in constant danger and yet obsessively committed in his fight for justice.

UNIC Director Vittorio Cammarota, media officials and various members of the diplomatic community attended the screening, which was followed by a short question and answer session with the director of the film via video conference.

The films selected to be a part of the screening series show that in spite of good policies, it is not always easy to live up to one’s own high standards and ideas. No country is exempt from doing its utmost to ensure that human rights are cultivated, protected and enforced at all levels and in all parts of the world.

The ambassador said his embassy is proud to be the joint organiser of the film series. He also thanked the European Union, the UN and the International Film Festival and Forum of Human Rights, Geneva, for making the series possible.

Other films that are scheduled to be screened till December 13 at various venues include Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s ‘Ho Yaqeen’, ‘Something Better to Come’, ‘The Shelter’, ‘Akiyaya, Journey of Hope’, ‘Journey to Portugal’, ‘My Sweet Pepper Land’, ‘Welcome’ and ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2015.