Amnesty International Film Festival
November 8-11, 2007
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street , Vancouver , Canada
Advance tickets: http://www.ticketstonight.ca
Photo-journalist to participate in Amnesty International Film Festival
Event listing
November 11
Free public workshop on independent photo-documentation for grassroots social movements, with photo-journalist James A. Rodriguez (mimundo.org). 2:30-4pm in the Vancity Theatre lobby, 1181 Seymour Street . Part of the Amnesty International Film Festival. Everyone welcome to attend.
Media release
The 12th annual Amnesty International Film Festival features an exciting program of powerful and compelling films, as well as a unique exhibition of photographs that document rural land evictions in Guatemala to make way for a Canadian nickel mining project, and a workshop on independent photo-documentation for social justice, both hosted by photo-journalist James A. Rodriguez.
“With moving our film festival to the Vancity Theatre, we are able to offer lobby programs that complement the award-winning films we’re showing inside the theatre,” said festival director Don Wright.
“We’re really pleased to have James here with his photographs of forced evictions in Guatemala , and his offer to share his experience as a photo-journalist with the people of Vancouver .”
Rodriguez will lead a workshop on independent photo-documentation, of particular interest to those involved in grassroots social movements and wanting to document and report on social injustice. The workshop will explore ways to use photography to create awareness of issues that are under-covered by the media. The free workshop takes place on Sunday, November 11, from 2:30 to 4 pm in the Vancity Theatre lobby, 1181 Seymour Street .
Rodriguez will also participate in a panel discussion on the role of the media around reporting and preventing human rights violations. This panel follows a triple-bill of films on Africa (Massacre at Marumbi, Children of Darfur, Radio Okapi – Saturday, November 10 at 7 pm).
Rodriguez is an independent photo-journalist born and raised in Mexico City , educated in Los Angeles , and currently based in Guatemala documenting the country’s post-war social movement after 36 years of brutal civil war. His work has focused on providing exposure to grassroots movements and significant events which have traditionally been ignored by mainstream media.
Themes of particular interest include the usage and distribution of land, historical memory, war reparations, environmental issues, indigenous/peasant struggles, and north-south injustices propelled by corporate greed – in which mining issues are at the forefront. Rodrigeuz has also worked and lived in Japan and Brazil , and his work has been published in newspapers, magazines and internet portals throughout the Americas , Europe and Japan (see www.mimundo.org).
Rodriguez's participation in the AI Film Festival and the exhibition of his photos are co-sponsored by Amnesty's Business and Human Rights program through the Vancouver Business and Human Rights Group.
For more information on the film festival please visit www.ticketstonight.ca or call 604-294-5160.
