- The annual Human Rights Day Festival is taking place at Constitutional Hill from 21 to 24 March 2024.
- Mmabatho is excited to share with attendees a collection of film screenings, panel discussions and masterclasses.
- She has documentaries in the works and training programs through the NGO Sisters Working in Film and Television.
Human Rights Day commemorates and remembers the tragedy of the Sharpeville massacre, where 69 people lost their lives during the protest the pass laws on 21 March 1960.
This date holds much significance to South Africa’s history and with 2024 being 30 years of democracy in the country, remembering the atrocities of the apartheid regime and the rights every human should be awarded is a large part of our history.
Honouring this day is the sixth edition of the Human Rights Festival, which aptly takes place at Constitutional Hill from 21 to 24 March 2024.
The free-to-enter festival unites NGOs, social justice organisations and think tanks for two jam-packed days of conversations, exhibitions, art, film and live performances.
Bringing her keen eye for visual arts and storytelling is director and screenwriter Mmabatho Montsho, who is at the helm of curating the festival.
Attendees can look forward to a wide range of home-grown and international productions in the realm of human rights activism and social justice.
Mmabatho explains, “It’s an honour to be invited by ConHill to be at the helm of the 2024 Human Rights Film Festival. My role has included sourcing and curating films, panel discussions, workshops, fundraising and initiating long term relationships with relevant partners. Together with ConHill, I look forward to growing the festival and establishing it as one of the defining festivals for filmmakers in Africa in the coming years”
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Having previously curated and produced other exhibitions at the Human Rights Festival, Mmabatho explains to TRUELOVE what she's most looking forward to bringing to attendees at this year's festivities.
"I’m excited by the festival program as a whole. This year is the first time there is a full-on film festival program in the traditional sense. We have a stunning collection of films screening from 10:00 to 20:00, Q&As with filmmakers, a panel discussion and workshops on The Transformative Power of Story as well as a gaming demo and masterclass.
"I am excited to introduce new partners to the festival that I hope will be friends of the festival for years to come. It has been a humbling experience to curate and produce the festival."
21 March 2024:
- 1000 Drums For Palestine
- Milestones to 30 Years of Democracy: Promoting linkages and collaboration in promoting our Constitution and protecting our democracy.
- Understanding the present state in Palestine and sustaining solidarity.
- Identifying proactive roles in both preventing and addressing the perpetuation of GBVF
- The Power of the Queer Vote
- What is the current state of Indigenous People in South Africa, and how do we advance as a multifaceted nation?
22 March 2024:
- Creating safer learning environments by combating bullying & gangsterism at schools
- Voter Conversations Workshop
23 March 2024:
- 30 Years of Democracy: Contemporary Social Youth Issues
- #YVote4U
- The way forward in dismantling racism in South Africa, post 30 years of its Democracy
- The Sounds of Freedom Music Festival
24 March 2024
- 5km We, the People Walk
The renowned filmmaker and Happiness is a Four-Letter Word star has a myriad of successful and impactful credits under her belt include directing for Netflix's Blood & Water and short and long form films like The Groom's Price and Joko Ya Hao.
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Outside of the Human Rights Festival, Mmabatho has much in store that film fanatics and creatives can look forward to, including a range of documentaries in the pipeline.
"I have a couple of documentaries in the works that I’m really excited about. I am also excited about the skills and training programs prepared for the year as a Sisterhood Cinema and Skills & Development committee member of SWIFT (Sisters Working in Film and Television), to name a few things," she shares.
