2021 Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival | Community Screenings and Post-Screening Discussions
Last edited: 2026-08-30
Many violations remain invisible because cultural norms and mainstream values make them seem natural, stripping some groups of a meaningful voice in society. Dominant narratives can also conceal structural injustice and make us overlook what individuals actually experience. Human-rights work therefore requires us to listen seriously to people whose voices are marginalized, excluded, or suppressed.
"We believe film can create empathy, allowing audiences to experience lives beyond their own and understand other people's circumstances. We sincerely invite everyone to take part in this year's festival, online or in person. We believe the combination of film and human-rights education can continue to grow and help us reflect on what citizenship means in contemporary society." - Chen Chun-Hung, Convener of the Selection Committee
The JRF Taichung Office was pleased to participate in the 2021 Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival. For the first screening, HackMD Community Manager Hsu En-En joined us to discuss youth protest movements in Dear Future Children and her own experience in social movements. For the second, Attorney Lin Chun-Ju, Director of the JRF Legal Policy Department, discussed the political, social, economic, and human-rights issues behind the Philippine drug war depicted in Aswang. For the third, Attorney Lin Tzu-Cheng, a member of the JRF Standing Executive Committee, discussed how journalists confront disinformation and defend the responsibilities of the news media in Sieged: The Press vs. Denialism.
Screenings
10/23 - Dear Future Children
▮ Franz Böhm
▮ Germany / United Kingdom / Austria
▮ 2021 | Color | 89 min.
Hong Kong, Chile, and Uganda are thousands of kilometers apart, yet young people in all three places confront deep generational conflict. The film follows three young activists fighting respectively for democracy, social equality, and climate justice, showing both the ideals and methods of a global generation of youth activism. They inherit political, social, and environmental problems created before them, while their anger and demands are often ignored by those in power. Through their actions, what will this generation say to the children of the future?
Lin Pei-Jung Attorney
SpeakerHsu En-En HackMD Community Manager / Freelance Writer
Time:
10/23 (Sat.), 14:00-16:00
Location:
JRF Taichung Office
In-person screening; limited to 30 attendees
11/06 - Aswang
▮ Alyx Ayn Arumpac
▮ Philippines
▮ 2019 | Color | 84 min.
In Philippine folklore, the aswang is a monster that hunts in the darkness. The film uses that figure as an image for President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs," following a boy whose parents were both imprisoned on drug charges, workers at a funeral home operating around the clock, and journalists and clergy who witnessed the illegal detention of drug suspects. Their intersecting stories expose corruption, extrajudicial killings, and the human cost of a campaign that nevertheless continued to enjoy broad political support.
Wang Chen-Yun Deputy Director, JRF Taichung Office
SpeakerLin Chun-Ju Attorney / Director, JRF Legal Policy Department
Time:
11/06 (Sat.), 14:00-16:00
Location:
JRF Taichung Office
In-person screening; limited to 30 attendees
11/20 - Sieged: The Press vs. Denialism
▮ Caio Cavechini
▮ Brazil
▮ 2020 | Color | 117 min.
As COVID-19 devastated Brazil and two health ministers left office in succession, the country faced an uncontrolled public-health crisis and cemeteries filled with new graves. President Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly minimized or denied the pandemic, refused reporters' questions, and accused the media of spreading fake news. Confronted with mounting deaths, official denial, online conspiracy theories, and relentless disinformation, how could Brazilian journalists continue performing the public responsibilities of the press while facing isolation, hostility, and misunderstanding?
Chang Hua-Che Legal Specialist, Judicial Reform Foundation
SpeakerLin Tzu-Cheng Attorney / Standing Executive Committee Member, Judicial Reform Foundation
Time:
11/20 (Sat.), 14:00-16:30
Location:
JRF Taichung Office
In-person screening; limited to 30 attendees
Notice
- The format may be adjusted in response to COVID-19 conditions and Central Epidemic Command Center policy. In-person screenings will generally proceed when the alert level is Level 2 or below.
- Because of venue and public-health considerations, masks must be worn throughout the event. Only drinking water is permitted on site.
Event Contact
Hsieh Chia-Chen / Advocacy Specialist, Judicial Reform Foundation
This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Chinese text. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.