A Good Reason to Go Out In Cold Weather: Amnesty Film Fest This Weekend
By Rossland Telegraph
The RSS Amnesty International Club will be hosting Rossland’s first ever Amnesty International Film Festival this Sunday at the Miner’s Hall. RSS’s Kailyn Nelson, one of the founding members of the club, agreed to answer a few questions about the event.
RT: What is the Amnesty International Film Festival all about?
KN: The Amnesty International Film Festival promotes Human Rights and raises awareness about global issues which Amnesty has declared violations of the basic Human Rights. The nation-wide event raises money for Amnesty International, and provides great knowledge. This is the first year it’s been presented in Rossland.
RT: Why should Rosslanders abandon their firesides and venture out into the snow this Sunday evening?
KN: The film festival is a great way to raise awareness and to help out Amnesty International. It supports a good cause, and is a way for the community to do their part.
RT: Will there be any other activities going on at the event?
KN: Ali Greene will be selling T-shirts that she has made as a fundraiser for Amnesty International. The club will also be selling Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate, as well as baked goods.
RT: What prompted you to get involved in Amnesty International?
KN: We have a strong desire to help those less fortunate than ourselves, so when Ms. Nelson started a school club, it seemed perfect. Her excitement and strong willpower was inspiring and contagious. We enjoy ourselves and know that we are making a difference.
RT: The promotional material for this festival includes the phrase, ‘knowledge is power’: Please expand.
KN: It is difficult to make a difference if one does not know what they are assisting in; money only goes so far. With knowledge comes a deeper understanding of our world, and with that, we can truly make a difference.
RT: People often feel hopeless when they contemplate the horrors taking place around the world and thus avoid films like these. What concrete effects do films like these have on political realities? In other words, how will attending these films help the situations they describe?
KN: The most concrete effect of people attending the film festival, I suppose, is that it raises money for Amnesty International, an organization which does make a significant difference around the world, and hopefully it will inspire some people to join AI. It will also provide the idea that power that comes from knowledge – when we are aware of a situation, we can choose to act. This does not have to be a grand action; the small individual decisions we make in our day-to-day life about how we will affect the world around us are just as important. The films will probably encourage reflection and dialogue, and from this will come more change in how we see the world and the changes we want to see and be part of. And who knows? Perhaps it will inspire a grand act, perhaps not immediately but at some time in the future.
RT: Many young people are interested in the issues covered in these films, but their parents might be concerned about the content. How old do you think a person should be to view each film?
KN:
The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. This film is very disturbing, and quite emotionally stirring. People should be mature enough to handle the content, and probably at least fourteen.
Triage. Not as disturbing, this film covers some very harsh realities. It also covers concepts that may need a mature outlook. People should be around thirteen.
World Without Water. There is no age limitation for this film; however, it may be difficult for young children to understand the key ideas.
RT: Where will the money raised at this festival be spent?
KN: All the proceeds will be donated to Amnesty International.
RT: Thank you very much.
The Amnesty International Film Festival:
When: Sunday, February 1st
Where: Miner’s Hall 2185 Columbia Ave, Rossland
Cost: By donation. Coffee, tea, juice and baking will be for sale by donation.
For further information, call Marilyn Nelson at 362.7388.
