Movies that Matter Festival 2023: The Hub’s Top Picks
By Hannah Terry
Camera Justitia is a competition for films focused on international struggles for justice supported by Gemeente Den Haag and vfonds. The films highlight the highs and lows of activism and tell the important stories of global fights for justice. On Camera Justitia Day The Asser Institute and VU Amsterdam are hosting programmes that will dive deeper into central themes of the Camera Justitia competition and develop a deeper understanding of how films can be a catalyst in fighting for justice.
Here are The Hub’s picks from the Camera Justitia Competition:
The true story of public prosecutors Julio Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo, taking the top brass of Argentina’s dictatorship to trial. However, the junta’s supporters still hold much power, making it an extremely difficult – and dangerous – job. Superbly acted testament to the power of truth and justice.
After two months as a prisoner of war, Ukrainian military Lilia returns home to her husband and family. But she cannot escape her trauma, and on top of that turns out to be pregnant from one of her captors. Yet, Lilia refuses to be a victim. Raw drama, impressively acted.
Following the screening there will be a talk with the director Maksym Nakonechnyi.
Journalist Sean Langan confronts two of the British IS members known as ‘The Beatles’. They were the brutal guards of many hostages, including the executed war correspondent James Foley, a close friend of Langan. Also, with honest, emotional and nail-biting interviews with other first-hand witnesses.
Following the screenings on March 25 and March 26 there will be a discussion with the filmmakers Søren Klovborg and Damsgård Andersen.
Also make sure not to miss these two films with discussions to follow:
Two men fight against the growing and far-reaching Chinese influence in Ecuador. Paúl Jarrín leads the indigenous resistance against China’s plundering of Ecuador’s natural resources. Journalist Fernando Villavicencio exposes the government corruption that facilitates a Chinese economic takeover.
Following the screening, activist Paúl Jarrín Mosquera will give a talk about the implications of the economic takeover and how they impact the future of Ecuador. On March 27 the screening is presented for free in partnership with the European Commission.
To power the green economy, a new frontier is found for extracting minerals: the deep sea. But mining the ocean floor may have enormous unforeseen consequences. And who really owns the deep sea anyway? With amazing, otherworldly images, and fantastically narrated by Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Game of Thrones).
Following the screening there will be a moderated discussion with Marga Veeneman (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Carol Königel (World Wildlife Fund) to discuss the implications of the films and how Europe can transition to a more sustainable future.
Movies that Matter is a member of The Hague Humanity Hub Information for the programmes, films, and screenings can be found here.
