18 February 2020

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival today launched the ICCL Human Rights in Film Award, and a new ICCL Lifetime Contribution Award. Both awards were launched by the jury who will decide on the winning film.

Ailbhe Smyth (Co-Director of Together for Yes and lifelong activist) will chair the jury for the ICCL Human Rights in Film Award. Ailbhe is joined on the jury by Brendan Courtney (broadcaster and fashion designer), Andrea Horan (campaigner and presenter of the United Ireland podcast), Bulelani Mfaco (spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland), and Aoife Kelleher (film director and writer).

The Human Rights in Film Award celebrates films which showcase human rights as a force for good in the world and allow audiences to learn about the many forms activism can take.

Five films are nominated for the Human Rights in Film Award 2020:

Street Leagues (dir Daniel Holmes) follows the men and women of the Irish Homeless Street Leagues as they overcome homelessness and addiction through the power of sport. The film documents their journey to playing in the Homeless World Cup and features Colin Farrell who is an ambassador for the street leagues. See it on: Saturday 29th Feb 18.00 Cineworld

Hearts and Bones (dir Ben Lawrence) follows a war photographer and a South Sudanesse refugee who become friends in Western Sydney and find much in common despite their differences. An impressive narrative feature debut from Ben Lawrence the winner of last year’s Sydney Film Festival documentary prize for “Ghosthunter.” See it on: Saturday 29th Feb 20.00 Cineworld

Santiago Italia (dir Nanni Morretti) is set during the Chilean coup d’etat which led to Pinchet’s dictatorship and focuses on efforts by the Italian embassy to relocate those endangered by the regime. Told through the stories of survivors, Santiago Italia is an inspiring expression of hope in terrible circumstances. See it on: Saturday 7th March 18.30

Balloon is the latest film from Tibetan director and author Pema Tseden, whose last film Jinpa won Best Screenplay Award in Venice’s Horizons section last year. The film is quasi-documentary style and follows a Tibetan sheep farming family through a seismic event. See it on: Saturday 7th March 20.30

Herself (dir Phillyda Lloyd)tells the story of Sandra, a young Dublin mother struggling to provide her two young daughters with a home to grow up in. When it becomes clear that the local council won’t provide that home, Sandra decides to build it herself from scratch. See it on: Sunday 8th March 18.15  Cineworld

ICCL also announced our brand new Lifetime Contribution to Human Rights Award.

Director Liam Herrick said:

For years ICCL has celebrated the importance of the arts and especially film in raising consciousness of human rights. This year we’re delighted to announce that we will present a Lifetime Contribution to Human Rights Award alongside the film award. ICCL will honour a person who has used their fame and influence to advance the cause of human rights both at home and abroad; a person who passionately advocates for a better world.

The ICCL Human Rights Film Award and the ICCL Lifetime Contribution to Human Rights Award will be presented at a ceremony in Dublin’s RHA on 6 March. A prominent Irish actor – to be announced on the night – will be the recipient of the latter award.

ENDS/

Notes for editors:

Ailbhe Smyth is a feminist, socialist and LGBT activist. She has been at the forefront of social change in Ireland, having opposed the 8^th Amendment in 1983 and subsequently spearheaded the movement to repeal it. She was the Convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment and a Co-Director of Together For Yes. Alongside Orla O’Connor and Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018.

Andrea Horan is a campaigner and changemeker. She is the founder of Tropical Popical, The Hunreal Issues, No More Hotels, and co-presenter of Don’t Stop Repealin’ and United Ireland with Una Mullally. She worked in strategic communications for 15 years and gave a Tedx talk on ‘Escaping the Economy of More’ and recently held the exhibition ‘Renailssance’ at the National Gallery of Ireland. Andrea was recently awarded the Irish Tatler Woman of the Year 2019 in the Influence category.

Aoife Kelleher is an award-winning film and television director. Her debut documentary feature film, ‘One Million Dubliners’ received numerous awards, including Best Irish Feature Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh, Best Irish Feature Documentary at the Sky Road Film & TV Festival, Best Irish Film of 2014 by The Irish Times and an IFTA award. In 2018, Aoife was IFTA-nominated for Best Director for the RTÉ documentary, We Need To Talk About Dad, which was also nominated for Best Documentary. Recently she directed The Case of Majella Moynihan, a documentary about a garda recruit who was dismissed from the force for having pre-marital sex with another garda recruit.

Bulelani Mfaco is spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland. MASI is a grassroots campaign group which campaigns against direct provision and deportations, defends the fundamental right to seek asylum, and agitates for a more humane asylum process. He cut his campaigning teeth in his native South Africa where from an early age he was involved in protests for adequate housing, access to land, healthcare and improved policing. Bulelani has a Masters in Politics from UCD.

Brendan Courtney is a broadcaster, fashion designer and optimistic crusader. He has been branded Ireland’s most influential fashion journalist, and is one half of design house Lennon Courtney, which he set up with his friend and Off the Rails co-presenter Sonya Lennon. Brendan is outspoken in his support of the rights of others and recently called for the creation of Safe Injection Spaces for drug users in Ireland. Brendan’s documentary “We Need to Talk About Dad” which addressed issues with older care through his family’s story sparked a national debate, caused law reform and has had him appointed to the advisory board of Sláinte Care by the Minister for Health.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is Ireland’s leading independent human rights campaigning organisation. We monitor, educate and campaign to secure human rights for everyone in Ireland.

For media queries, including press passes to the award ceremony:

Sinéad Nolan: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie 087 4157162