Competition

Activist Lens

Eight inspiring documentaries about the work of human rights activists from all over the world. Meet the activists during our festival, where they engage with the public and participate in an impact and networking programme to raise awareness of the film, expand their work and network.

Activist Outreach

With our Activist Outreach programme, we support film screenings in the activists’ home country to raise awareness of the film and their work. You can find more information and an overview of the projects we have supported here.

Nominations

Cutting Through Rocks

As the first woman ever elected to the council of her small Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions. She trains teenage girls to ride motorcycles, encourages them to pursue an education and tries to stop child marriages. But Sara’s resilience and combative style bring her many ene...

Kikuyu Land

Kenyan journalist Bea Wangondu dives into the injustices and land disputes surrounding the tea plantations in her ancestral homeland Kikuyu. While her investigation slowly becomes deeply personal, she uncovers long-suppressed stories: tea fields hiding contested histories, families carrying untold wounds, and a communi...

Traces

Psychological portrait telling the stories of six women who survived sexual violence and torture during Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Led by Iryna Dovgan, they fight for justice and recognition. In the face of massive trauma, Iryna encourages them to rebuild their lives. Very inspiring. ‘This is my weapon with which...