Combining both practical and theoretical approaches, Activist Film Festivals explores the concept of film festivals as environments of negotiation – spaces wherein the socio-political
identities of communities and individuals are confronted and shaped. Spanning the trend for activist and human rights films from the militant cinematic movement of the 1970’s to the
present-day, the book tracks the emergence of the politicized spectator and debates the seemingly irreconcilable notions of activist films as a means of ‘humanitarian communication’ versus
cinemas of suffering.
With case studies covering San Francisco’s LGBT+ festival, Brazil’s International Disability Film Festival and the Bristol Palestine Film Festival amongst others, the book’s engagement with
topical socio-political issues firmly underpins it’s relevance to a present-day, resurging activist climate.
Building on the growing international trend of film festival scholarship, this book brings together contributions by academics, film producers and directors, as well as film festival
organizers to question the role of the spectator as an active agent for social change. The edited collection provides a comprehensive overview of the activist film landscape and asks: how
successful are activist film festivals in producing politically engaged spectators? And can film directors and festival organizers attempt to extend the life of a film beyond the moment of
exhibition?
