At this year’s Watch Docs Festival in Yangon, Burma, attendees will be able to watch 14 documentary films from around the world, 7 of which are Polish. Contributing to the organisation of this event was the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The international film festival Watch Docs's 2013 edition is held in Burma. Watch Docs is one of the two largest film festivals in the world devoted to human rights. It became possible to show this year’s edition in Yangon because of political shifts in Burma since 2011 and because of active Polish involvement in the nation throughout its transformation.
From the 5th to the 7th of September, the American Centre will be showing documentary films related to human rights and freedoms. These film screenings will be accompanied by Solidarity Shorts, workshops on making international documentaries led by the Polish filmmakers Jan Czarlewski and Piotr Stasik.
The target audience is Burmese filmmakers, both young professionals and amateur artists, and the goals are to encourage them to reflect on the contemporary world and intercultural relations. Solidarity Shorts will offer participants an opportunity to express their views on the idea of solidarity in the world today.
Films that will be screened during the festival:
• Seeking Refuge dir. Andy Glynne, 20’
• Wagah dir. Supriyo Sen, 13’
• Mirage dir. Srdan Keca, 42’
• The White Treasure and the Salt Workers from Caquena dir. Eva Katharina Bühler, 52’
• Planet Kirsan dir. Magdalena Pięta, 50’
• The End of Summer dir. Piotr Stasik, 34’
• Poste Restante dir. Marcel Łoziński, 14’
• Ecumenopolis: City Without Limits dir. Imre Azem, 93’
• Petition – The Court of the Complainants dir. Zhao Liang, 124’
• The Last Mountain dir. Bill Haney, 95’
• Phnom Penh Lullaby dir. Paweł Kloc, 98’
• Doctors dir. Tomasz Wolski, 90'
• The Ambassador and Me dir. Jan Czarlewski, 16’
• Art of Freedom dir. Marek Kłosowicz & Wojciech Słota, 71’
Organised by: Lech Wałęsa Institute, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Pandita Development Institute, Helsinki Foundation for Human and Civil Rights and Social Film Institute with the support of the Foundation for International Solidarity, under the patronage of The Myanmar Times.
Sources: press material, author: SW, 15/08/2013
Translation: SMG 16/08/2013