Under Our Skin Festival Marks Fourth Year with Powerful Human Rights Films

Returning for its fourth year, the Under Our Skin Film Festival is set to captivate audiences once again at Unseen Nairobi from November 6 to November 15, with complimentary entry for all attendees. This year’s festival is more than just a film showcase it’s a thought-provoking event designed to foster in-depth dialogue and activism around pressing human rights issues. Featuring over 20 films from diverse countries, the festival stands out not just for its impressive lineup but for its dedication to exploring critical social, political, and cultural themes that affect humanity at large.

A Global Platform for Human Rights

The Under Our Skin festival is an integral part of the International Festival on Human Rights, a global initiative aimed at sparking meaningful discussions and inspiring social change through the powerful medium of film. Human rights remain one of the most debated and impactful areas in contemporary society, and this festival acts as a unifying platform where stories, struggles, and victories from different corners of the world are shared with a common goal of fostering understanding and action.

Film, as a medium, offers unique advantages in addressing human rights topics. It can capture the emotional and personal aspects of complex issues, helping audiences connect on a human level with struggles that may feel far removed from their daily lives. By using film to explore these themes, the festival hopes to bridge gaps in understanding and inspire attendees to take actionable steps toward change in their communities and beyond.

Themes for 2024: Expression, Social Contract, and Injustice

Each year, the Under Our Skin Film Festival centers its programming around specific themes, focusing on critical human rights topics with a global relevance. For this edition, three core themes have been selected to steer the discussions and screenings: Expression as a Right, Social Contract Redefined, and Injustice by Design. These themes not only reflect the most pressing issues within the human rights sphere today but also resonate with ongoing social and political movements worldwide.

Expression as a Right
This theme dives into the concept of freedom of expression and the challenges that arise when this fundamental right is stifled. Across the globe, individuals continue to face censorship, persecution, and even imprisonment for exercising their right to speak out. Films under this theme will focus on stories of resilience, from journalists challenging authoritarian regimes to artists finding creative ways to convey their messages in the face of repression. This theme is particularly relevant in an age where digital censorship, fake news, and oppressive regulations frequently intersect with individual freedoms.
Social Contract Redefined
In recent years, society has grappled with the evolving relationship between citizens and their governments. The Social Contract Redefined theme will explore how the implicit agreements between people and state authorities are shifting in response to globalization, social media, and movements demanding accountability and reform. From grassroots protests to landmark court rulings, the films in this category examine the tension between individual agency and state power, prompting attendees to reconsider their own roles in holding their governments accountable.
Injustice by Design
Structural inequality and systemic injustice remain deeply rooted in many aspects of society. This theme will investigate the ways in which laws, policies, and institutional structures perpetuate discrimination, often by design. Highlighting issues like racial profiling, gender discrimination, and economic exploitation, films in this category will challenge audiences to consider the underlying systems that enable these injustices and to think critically about potential solutions. By examining these complex issues, the festival hopes to inspire a deeper understanding of how systemic changes can lead to a more just society.

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Interactive Sessions: Fostering Dialogue and Action

One of the distinguishing features of the Under Our Skin Film Festival is its interactive approach. After select screenings, attendees are encouraged to participate in open discussions, where they can delve into the issues raised by each film. These sessions are not just Q&As but are structured as dialogues, inviting insights and perspectives from diverse voices in the audience. Experts from various fields, including filmmakers, activists, and scholars, will be present to facilitate these discussions, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the conversation.

These interactive sessions align with the festival’s broader mission to create spaces where audiences can engage with complex topics in a meaningful way. By encouraging open dialogue, the festival not only educates but empowers attendees to consider the roles they can play in advocating for change within their communities.

Beyond the Annual Festival: Year-Round Commitment to Human Rights

While the annual festival is a highlight, the Under Our Skin initiative’s commitment to human rights education and activism extends beyond this ten-day event. Each month, Under Our Skin collaborates with educational institutions, rural communities, and grassroots organizations to host screenings that bring critical conversations to a wider audience. These screenings aim to reach individuals who may not have access to the festival itself, making the initiative’s impact far-reaching and inclusive.

In remote areas, these monthly screenings serve as a unique opportunity for individuals to engage with human rights topics that might otherwise feel distant or abstract. By partnering with local groups, Under Our Skin ensures that the content is both accessible and relevant, sparking dialogue in a way that resonates with these communities’ specific concerns and challenges. This year-round programming reinforces the festival’s mission to elevate human rights discourse on a continuous basis, fostering a culture of awareness and empathy.

The Power of Film as a Medium for Change

As film continues to evolve as a medium, its ability to impact audiences on a visceral level remains one of its greatest strengths. Festivals like Under Our Skin leverage this power to convey stories that are often marginalized or silenced in mainstream media. Through compelling narratives, documentaries, and artistic expressions, the films showcased at the festival connect audiences to the lived experiences of individuals facing adversity, ultimately promoting a more inclusive and empathetic world.

Film also has the unique ability to transcend language and cultural barriers, making it a powerful tool for human rights advocacy on a global scale. By curating a diverse selection of films from various countries, Under Our Skin provides a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard, encouraging audiences to look beyond their immediate realities and consider the broader human rights landscape.

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Looking Forward: The Impact of Under Our Skin Festival

As Under Our Skin embarks on its fourth year, its impact within Nairobi and beyond continues to grow. The festival has become a symbol of solidarity, education, and activism within the city, attracting a diverse audience eager to learn and contribute to the global conversation on human rights. Each edition adds new layers to the ongoing dialogue, addressing evolving issues and fostering a community of individuals committed to advocating for positive change.

The festival’s dedication to creating an inclusive, accessible space is evident in its choice to provide free entry, removing financial barriers and ensuring that anyone with an interest in human rights can participate. For attendees, this is more than just an opportunity to watch films; it’s a chance to be part of a movement that champions justice, equality, and the power of storytelling.

Final Thoughts

The Under Our Skin Film Festival has become a vital part of Nairobi’s cultural landscape, offering an invaluable space where films and discussions intersect to explore and advocate for human rights. From its thoughtfully selected themes to its commitment to inclusivity and education, the festival is more than just an event it’s a call to action. By attending, audiences are not only witnesses to these stories; they become part of the solution, engaging in conversations that have the potential to create real-world change. As the festival returns for its fourth edition, it serves as a reminder of the power of community, art, and empathy in building a more just and compassionate world.