Spanish Film on Sex Trafficking Wins 2011 Human Rights Film Awards

Spanish actress-turned film director Mabel Lozano (pictured here with producer Monica Lopez and 2010 Award Winner Dearbhla Glynn) scooped top prize in the prestigious ICCL Human Rights Film Awards at the Irish Film Institute this evening (Wednesday, 15 June 2011).

Lozano first caught the public eye in Spain as a model and actress in top-rated television shows such as Los Ladrones van a la oficina (The Thieves Go to the Office) and well-regarded films such as Berlanga’s Paris-Tombuctu (Paris-Timbuktu) and Juarez’s Dile a Laura que la quiero (Tell Laura I Love Her).

More recently, she has developed her career as a film director with an uncompromising focus on womenis rights, children’s rights and human trafficking.

This evening’s winning film Listen to Me is an unflinching look at the human impact of sex trafficking. The film is based on the true story of sex trafficking victim Svetlana Demidovitch and shows how the complicity of her ‘clients’ helps to ensure that human traffickers can continue their trade. The film’s minimalist style and sparse dialogue underscore the power of its message.

Speaking about her film, Lozano said today: ‘This is a film festival about human rights. One of the worst violations of human rights that I can think of is the trafficking of women and girls; the buying and selling of human beings as if they were bags or shoes. I hope that my film and films like it will help to highlight this serious human rights violation’. 

Stars Reveal Rights Awards Shortlist

1 June 2011  

The shortlist for the 3rd annual Irish Council for Civil Liberties Human Rights Film Awards was today (Wednesday 1st June) announced by a celebrity jury, including Irish acting greats Stephen Rea and Brenda Fricker, acclaimed director Ken Wardrop and Senator David Norris.

Representing the cream of entries to the ICCL competition, the shortlist features an eclectic mix of genres and styles – from documentaries to animation – and human rights issues at home and abroad. This year, four of the shortlisted films explore complex issues through individual struggles: a woman faces the loss of her hearing and with it the loss of her career as a professional musician; an artist uses his art to fight the political system; a young man comes out to his family and his fellow rugby players; and a Dublin man takes his struggle for independence for people with disabilities all the way to the European Parliament. The remaining two films examine painful topics – child abuse and sex trafficking – from new and powerful viewpoints.

Jury member Stephen Rea said: 
“As artists, we have the chance to communicate important messages in a unique way and to inspire those around us to open their eyes to the struggles for human rights and equality that occur daily at home and abroad. The ICCL Human Rights Film Awards demonstrates how powerful the art of film can be when it is put to this use.”

Jury member and director of hit documentary His and Hers Ken Wardrop said:
“As filmmakers, we are in a unique position to highlight injustice and call for a more just society through our work, and the ICCL Human Rights Film Awards provide just such an opportunity.”

For information on the shortlisted films, click HERE.

The shortlist will be the subject of an exclusive Gala Awards screening at the Irish Film Institute on the evening of 15 June 2011, where the Jury will announce the winning film. 

Pictured above: 
Shortlisted filmmakers and Jury members pose for Film Awards Shortlist announcement at the Irish Film Classification Office in Dublin, 1 June 2011. 

Rear L-R: Peter O’Doherts (Cameraman, Freedom Driver); Patrick Tierney (Director, Election of Discontent); Hilary Fennell (Director, Hearing Silence); Fran Cassidy (Director, Freedom Driver), James Morris (Jury Member and Chair of Irish Film Board); Jury Member and Director Ken Wardrop; Grainne Humphreys (Jury member and Director of JDIFF); Barry O’Donoghue (Producer, Head Space).
Frond L-R: Jury Members John Kelleher, Stephen Rea, Brenda Fricker, Senator David Norris with Dara Gallagher (star of Freedom Driver) and Elizabeth Petcu (star of Hearing Silence)

>Learn more about the ICCL Human Rights Film Awards

>Watch videos that made the 2011 Competition Shortlist
 

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is an Atlantic grantee.