“Nationality: Human” -- South Caucasus Documentary Film Festival of Peace and Human Rights

South Caucasus documentary film festival of peace and human rights- “Nationality: Human” took place in Zugdidi. During three day festival there were screened 6 recent documentary films from different parts of the world. Besides screening documentary films, festival included discussions leaded by invited experts. Films from different regions of the world: “My Terrorist”, ”Long Night’s Journey into Day”, ”Enemy Image”, ”S-21; The Khmer Rouge”, ”Checkpoint”, ”Dispensable Heroes” caused diverse ideas and led into tense discussion among film viewers. The audience appeared to be more sensitive to films stressing on the same problems as Georgia is currently facing.

As one of the viewers, student Dato Logua says, seen firms made him think differently than he used to: “When I was told that Zugdidi will welcome film festival on peace and human rights I was interested in it very much. Most of all my interest was caused by the problems that are common not only for Georgia, but which has become actual throughout the world. This films reflect sense and results of conflict in a precisely, that’s why I started to discuss conflict in a new way. I sew that we humans have to think more until we start actions, otherwise we make more mistakes. We are humans that’s why we must think at first and than act says Dato Logua. ” A 

According to the coordinator of the festival Kerstin Nicking, organizers hoped discussion to be as active as it was in Zugdidi. “We were expecting that film would place viewers in the situations of film heroes and it really happened. We were interested in their comments and ideas about film spots and conflict situation in Caucasus region. Audience received this challenge and they were discussing problems of their own country. I hope this festival will evoke intense emotions and interesting ideas that will remain with us for a long time.  At a certain point, I believe these ideas will turn into concrete actions capable of changing our world and the world of our neighbors for the better” says Nicking.

The festival was organized by The Heinrich Boll Foundation. As organizers say films were chosen according to their topics: “Films are really very interesting. It is the documentary film festival which is shown in Caucasus for the first time. One of the most significant features of the festival is that it involves discussions; there are IDPs and students among film viewers, that’s why we think their ideas and opinions are very important and considerable. The goal of the festival is to make people think once more about peace and human rights. We attempt to establish new relationships based on arts, after launching some relationships, people start to exchange their ideas that decreases the level of conflict and violence” cited Matuta Bjalava, co-organizer of the festival.            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Expert of conflict issues Paata Zaqareishvili was invited expert of the festival. He says that there are lots of parallels between festival films and Georgian reality. “First of all, the common issue is the topic of victim. Who is real victim, we or another side? Another moment is the matter of tolerance. For its development society needs discussion even on every hard and harmful topics. The most dangerous thing for society are banned themes, another question is when and where we discuss those harmful issues. Anyway, the right is not the position itself but to declare and state your positions. Everyone is eligible to have his own ideas and positions to any question; no one has to be afraid of stating his ideas. Society has to be ready to welcome and discuss all the issues,” explained Paata Zaqareishvili.

Documentary fil festival “Nationality: Human” will be shown in 25 cities of South Caucasus. Before coming to Zugdidi, festival took place in 4 towns of breakaway Abkhazia. Festival will continue till September and last place to hold a festival will be Tskhinvali.

Nana Sajaia, Zugdidi