The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, which will take place in the Melbourne CBD between 7 and 26 May, will see the fusion of artistic talent through film and art projects that are all accompanied by a common theme of human rights advocacy. Human rights issues tackled by the festival in order to challenge and inspire the minds of its onlookers include civil war, migration, asylum seekers, poverty, domestic violence, climate change, gender equality and children’s rights.
The cross-section of artistic talent, belief and the locations of each film or art project pay artistic homage to the fact that these basic human rights needs are being suffered globally and are thus a global responsibility of all.
It is not surprising, therefore, that a film surrounding Greece has taken place in this year’s program, shedding light on the prominent humanistic spirit of the
Greek soul that is vibrant and alive in Australia today.
Evaporating Borders is a documentary produced by filmmaker and Cypriot asylum seeker Iva Radivojevic. The documentary is a visual essay that will transpose you into the lives and struggles of those who wish to enter into a life of safety and freedom through Europe’s easiest access point, Cyprus.
Being one of the easiest entry points into the European Union, Cyprus is a popular final destination for refugees escaping countries around the Mediterranean, fleeing for hopes of a better life. The film is narrated in Greek by Radivojevic herself, who guides the audience through the streets of modern Cyprus to try and understand the reality of present day refuge in Cyprus, presenting to the audience why aggression and antipathy towards newly-arrived citizens is quite common and causes a further divide in the nation.
Evaporating Borders was being presented by the Australian Asylum Seeker Resource Centre at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) theatre in Melbourne on Monday 11 May.
After the film’s viewing, a post-film panel took take place, where discussion will centre on the vast movement of refugees in Cyprus and possible solutions to the antipathy that is prevalent there today. Included on the panel’s board wass Greek writer, blogger and political theorist Angela Mitropoulos.
Evaporating Borders has already won at least four awards, including the Doku Fest Balkan Documentary winner for 2014, making it an experience not to be missed.
Take part in this year’s festival to celebrate not only what makes Melbourne a place of humanistic integrity, but the most important global responsibility; human rights.
To buy tickets, head to www.2015.hraff.org.au/event/evaporating-borders/