Do you want to further develop your film’s impact goals and strategies? We are looking for feature-length documentaries on human rights and/or social or environmental issues that are in the final stages of production to participate in our Take on Film & Impact programme on 21, 22 and 23 March 2027.

The submission deadline is 11 October 2026.

Attention filmmakers! Do you have a short or feature-length documentary or fiction film, completed in 2026 or 2027, that addresses human rights issues? We warmly invite you to submit your work for the 2027 edition of the Movies that Matter Festival. The festival will take place from 19 to 27 March in The Hague.

The submission deadline is 1 November 2026.

What does human rights cinema look like in Southeast Asia, and who keeps it alive? Through Cinema without Borders, Movies that Matter supports human rights film festivals around the world, including the 100% Manusia Film Festival in Indonesia. In this article, King Catoy shares his experience at the 2026 edition in Jakarta, reflecting on what it was like to be part of the festival as an “odd one out”.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d share with someone organising a human rights film festival? We posed this question to our past grantees: experienced organisers who’ve navigated the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected moments that come with creating spaces for powerful human rights stories.

For the third installment in our series, we’re looking at partnerships.

In 2026, Filmhuis Den Haag, Movies that Matter, QISSA and wysiwyg are joining forces for ESTAFET: a series of events where The Hague’s film and media community can meet, share knowledge and collaborate.

The third edition, taking place on Saturday 26 September in The Hague, will focus on the theme ‘Redefining the Filmmaker’. After all, what do we actually mean by a filmmaker? More and more creators are working outside the traditional frameworks of filmmaking, distribution and presentation. How can we make space for these different ways of working within a city that has such a strong connection to film?

Our team is on the move this festival season, meeting filmmakers, industry professionals and partners at festivals and industry events around the world. Curious where we’re heading next? Click the button to find out where you can find us in the coming months.