(New York, May 29, 2009) The world premiere of the second edition of Youth Producing Change, an innovative program of youth-produced short films from across the globe, will be presented on June 19-20, 2009, by the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival (June 11-25), in collaboration with the founding presenter, Adobe Youth Voices. Ten films will be shown this year, selected from over 300 international submissions.
Armed with digital cameras and their own boundless creativity, the first-time filmmakers featured in the series bravely expose some of the most pressing human rights challenges of our day, tackling such issues as child labor, immigration, access to clean water, sexual violence, police harassment, HIV/AIDS in Mozambique, and teen homelessness in New York City. All of the films were produced by filmmakers who were under the age of 19 at the time of production.
The Youth Producing Change program will be shown at the The Film Society of Lincoln Centers Walter Reade Theater on Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 20 at 2 p.m. Many of the young filmmakers from Brooklyn, to Seattle, to Mozambique will make the trip to the festival to present their films to local audiences, advocating for their issues and sharing their production experiences.
It is my hope, and that of my crew, that through the exposure of In My Shoes at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, audiences will gain sensitivity and become aware of the growing issue of youth homelessness and be inspired to address the issue in their communities, said Zanetta King, 17, of New York.
Enabling young people to comment on the issues that matter to them, to their communities, and ultimately, to our world is a primary goal of the Adobe Youth Voices program, and the reason why were proud to support the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, said Michelle Mann, director of corporate social responsibility for Adobe Systems Incorporated and executive director of the Adobe Foundation. The festival provides the ideal stage for youth to express themselves, and to inspire a dialogue for change.
The festival will hold a youth news conference for the young filmmakers from 4 to 7 p.m. on June 19 in the Furman Gallery of the Walter Reade Theater. The Youth Producing Change filmmakers visiting the festival will participate in this youth-centered news conference to share their production experiences with local youth filmmakers. Registration for this exclusive event is free, and is open to members of the press and youth-based organizations.
