As we head into autumn, how is everything in your world? Where is our world currently headed?

Can the blooming jasmine at the head of the street hear the cries of Syrian refugees? Can the ashes of incense piled up in temples see the embers left behind by a Russia-Ukraine firefight?

The year 2023 continues to be one of unrest. Apart from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, armed conflicts have escalated across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Refugee numbers around the world have reached new highs, while human rights violations from authoritarian regimes remain rampant. The Earth seems unable to stop boiling, with each falling domino manifesting a fragmented and chaotic landscape. However, this tumultuous era also offers a crucial opportunity to reexamine the progress of human rights.

The theme of the 7th Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival is “Gone with the War”. The festival’s programming team has carefully selected 20 outstanding short and feature-length films from 14 countries, divided into two main sections: “War and Human Rights” and “Human Rights Lens”. The subject matter spans individuals to communities, regional points of view to global perspectives, exploring not just the scars of war but also the poeticism of displacement. These relentless filmmakers used their lenses as pens, engraving with light and shadow, leaving behind enduring testimonies to this era and offering powerful lessons for future generations.

< The Sunny Side of the Street > & < Have a Nice Day >

Date: 2023.11.20 MON 18:20-20:40

Venue: R101, Waishuanghsi Campus, Soochow University

Post-screening Discussion with Dr. Chen Ju-Chen

< And Miles to Go Before I Sleep >

Date: 2023.11.22 WED 18:20-20:40

Venue: R101, Waishuanghsi Campus, Soochow University

Post-screening Discussion with  Feng Ting-Yun, Research Fellow