Monthly Archives: June 2008

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‘Save the Iron Triangle’

June 18 | Chop Shop | julie

An urban renewal project in the heart of Queens threatens to destroy the gritty industrial landscape that serves as the backdrop for the film Chop Shop, a favourite at this year’s Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

The city intends to turn Willet’s Point, commonly known as the ‘Iron Triangle’, into a complex of office spaces, apartments and a convention center. Currently, the area is home to a number of small businesses, including many auto body or ‘chop shops.’

The film’s young star, Alejandro Polanco, 14, has been advocating for keeping the industrial site saying, “I never saw an area like that.” The New York Daily News has more on the redevelopment plans.

Tagged united states

Egoyan Wins Humanitarian Award

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June 13 | News | julie

Director and Human Rights Watch Toronto Committee member Adam Egoyan has won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. The prize was awarded to Egoyan for his latest feature, Adoration, which is about a teenage boy who tells a false story to his class about his Arab father.

After the win, Egoyan told the press that the movie is provocative, and was a brave choice for the six-member international jury.

Egoyan has won the Ecumenical Prize before, for his 1997 film The Sweet Hereafter.

Tagged adam egoyan, human rights watch

More Awards for Buddha Collaped out of Shame

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June 11 | Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame | julie

Hana Makhmalbaf’s Buddha Collapsed out of Shame was awarded the top prize at the 11th edition of the Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival in Ankara, Turkey.

The debut feature earned the festival’s prestigious International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize, the only FIPRESCI prize given at the event, which is devoted to works by female directors.

For those of you who missed the screening at our own festival earlier this year, Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame will have an additional Toronto screening in late July as part of The Seventh Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies.

Tagged hana makhmalbaf

Guantanamo: Time for Canada to Act. Panel Discussion

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June 6 | News | julie

michelle shephard
Human Rights Watch Toronto Network presents a panel discussion on Guantanamo Bay and Canada’s role in protecting the Guantanamo detainees, Thursday, June 26, 2008, 7 PM, in the Debate Room, Hart House, University of Toronto (7 Hart House Circle).

Confirmed Speakers include Michelle Shephard (pictured above at a book signing), National Security Reporter for The Toronto Star and author of Guantanamo’s Child: The Untold Story of Omar Khadr, and Julia Hall, Senior Counsel, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program, Human Rights Watch. Moderator for the evening is Ziyaad Mia, a practicing lawyer and member of the Advocacy Committee, Human Rights Watch Canada.

This free event is sponsored by the Canadian Council on America-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) and Human Rights Watch Canada.

For more information about the event, e-mail hrwtorontonetwork@gmail.com.

Tagged canada, guantanamo bay, human rights watch, michelle shephard

Canadian Film Selected for Human Rights Watch ‘Youth Producing Change’

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June 5 | News | julie

Islands of the People, a digital story created by four Massett, B.C. teens, has been selected from among more than 250 global submissions to be part of the Youth Producing Change component of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival.

The film will premiere at New York’s Lincoln Centre on June 20, 2008. Supporters are currently looking for donated Aeroplan miles to help get the filmmakers and two chaperones to New York. If you are interested in making a donation, call Janice Abbott or Christiane McInnes at 604.331.1407 or e-mail office@atira.bc.ca.

Islands of the People was originally created for Atira’s Digital Storytelling Project, a hands-on project which supports young people in writing and producing digital stories about their lives, their cultures and their understanding of the world. The five-minute short documents the Haida Gwaii culture through the story of the 13-year-old narrator’s grandmother.

Following the premiere, the movie will travel with the festival to Boston, London and San Francisco.

Tagged canada, human rights watch