The Swedish Human Rights Film Festival: an Interview with Gabriel Stein

The Swedish Human Rights Film Festival is returning for the third consecutive year in March. Initiated by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Lund, the festival combines screenings of relevant human rights films with fresh analyses from researchers and experts in the field. With the hopes of reaching a new audience through more approachable material, the festival uses new art to prompt a necessary conversation on human rights.

Gabriel Stein from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute speaks with Pynx Media about film as an empathy creator, the current state of the human rights landscape, and which of the festival’s events he is most exited about.

Pynx Media: Could you tell us about the concept behind the human rights film festival, and how it started three years ago?

Gabriel Stein: A human right festival per se is not a new concept; there are a lot of different ones around the world. At the institute we are thinking about how we can reach a new audience. Many times human rights is slightly too academic. That is important — but it is just as important to reach new audiences with more approachable material. We launched the film festival back in 2016; this is the third time now.

PM: What are you hoping festival goers will take away from the event — from watching the films and listening to the talks?

GS: We want people to, first and foremost, have the opportunity to watch something that moves them, but then have that followed up with real world analysis based on actual facts and knowledge. The beauty is that we combine human rights films with fresh analyses, from researchers and experts who are on the ground, so that you can expand your awareness about these issues. And, hopefully, learn about what you can do to make the world a better place and to improve human rights for everyone.

PM: What is the advantage of using film as the medium to convey human rights ideas?

GS: Until virtual reality and augmented reality came, film was the number one empathy creator known to mankind. It opens up the heart, and it opens up your mind. It allows you to put yourself in other peoples’ shoes like pretty much no other medium can. That is the power of virtual reality and augmented reality now; I think it will be challenging film. Next year we are looking to have a virtual reality element to this festival. It could be the first human rights virtual reality festival slash fair in Europe, or potentially the world.

PM: In what ways are you combining the screenings of films with in-depth analysis from experts in the field?

GS: Every year we try to have a combination of researchers and people working on these issues to elaborate upon issues that are touched on — and go deeper. Generally we try to have a Swedish context since we are in Sweden. We will take a film like ‘Anita’ and the #metoo campaign, and we will talk about — yes, the film — but also about what the situation is with the #metoo campaign in Sweden. What can the judiciary do to improve the way they handle sexual harassment cases?

In the case of ‘A Letter to the President,’ where we are talking about women’s rights in Afghanistan, we are going to have two people from Afghanistan (but living in Sweden) elaborate on women’s rights and the situation in Sweden.

We try to draw the bridge between what is happening out there and what is happening in Sweden. Another thing we want to emphasize is that in Sweden we tend to think of human rights as issues that are outside of Sweden, but that is not the situation. There are many serious human rights issues, and potentially violations, in Sweden. We try to draw those connections.

PM: Themes of this year’s festival include the #metoo movement, ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, and challenges that asylum seekers face. What are your views on some of the challenges that we are seeing in society today?

GS: There is no doubt that we are surprised where things have gone when it comes to human rights developments around the world in the past five years. We are at a place where most human rights experts, and many foreign policy experts, didn’t think we would be at — with the rise of authoritarian leaders, the role back on human rights, the shrinking of public spaces, freedom of speech, freedom of association, massive propaganda, fake news, manipulation. Not to mention the attack on the institutions themselves: the EU, the United Nations.

There is no question that there are challenges. Part of the idea with this film festival is to address those challenges, or at least to offer an opportunity for the audience to think outside the box on what can be done.

At the institute we work around the world to educate about human rights — to prosecutors, to guards in prisons, at universities, with court clerks, national human rights institutions; we run a master’s program here at Lund. This is a long-term process. You can’t just snap your fingers and think that human rights are going to be improved. It is a long-term process and discussion; it takes time. You have to be patient.

PM: Have you noticed a change in the way people are talking about these issues, or wanting to become more involved?

There is an urgency, of course. I think most people would agree that life feels a lot more urgent right now. Not just from a human rights side, but there is climate change as well. We have been looking at the connection between climate change, the environment and human rights. Those are very much related. No doubt, there is more of an urgency. I think that is a good thing, because it is urgent.

There has been a push back, and now people have to think outside the box on how they are going to protect institutions and protect the successes that have been made. But also, potentially change the approach in a number of ways. It is not always crystal clear how that is going to work out, it can be sloppy at times. We are kind of in a new paradigm.

PM: Do you have a particular film or speaker that you are looking forward to at the film festival?

GS: I’m super exited about ‘The Venerable W,’ especially since we have Chris Sidoti coming. He is in the middle of issuing reports to the UN on the situation in Myanmar with the Rohingya people. That is going to be very fascinating.

I’m also very interested in ‘Anita’, which is kind of like #metoo before there was #metoo. It is a very famous case in the 1980’s with the Supreme Court Justice in the US. But honestly, all these films are so good. It is a good combination of documentary and feature films. There is something for everybody.

PM: After attending the festival, what are some ways in which people can become more involved with promoting human rights and contributing to change?

We are not going to tell them to go do this or go do that. We plan on having at least one question for every participant at the Q&A to say: ‘what do you suggest people can do to make improvements?’. Where can there be change? How do we move forward with these issues? We will leave it up to people to be inspired, and hopefully a bit shocked and moved — moved to action.

The Swedish Human Rights Festival takes place between March 16th and March 18th in Lund. You can purchase The Purple Pass for 225 SEK, which includes tickets to three films, a limited edition 100% organic tote bag, and a chance to win a gift certificate to one of five local restaurants and cafés in Lund.