Human Rights & Social Justice
Human Rights and Social Justice address the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals and the promotion of fairness and equality in society. Over time, the focus has expanded to include civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. It is crucial to recognise that human rights violations can occur on both the individual and systemic levels and discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status still exists, with marginalised communities continuing to be disproportionally impacted.
From Women’s Suffrage and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, to the civil rights movement and the #MeToo movement, people have been fighting for their rights and demanding justice for years. Social justice is essential to ensure equal access and rights to resources and opportunities such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment. With the help of documentary films, these issues have been brought to light and are gaining more attention than ever before.
By showcasing real-life stories, documentary filmmakers can bring attention to human rights violations, stimulate dialogue, foster empathy, and inspire action. Documentaries can capture the lived experiences of individuals affected by social injustices, amplifying the voice to those who have been silenced or unseen. Documentaries also serve as historical records, documenting past struggles for human rights and providing valuable insights into the progress made or areas that still require attention. By showcasing the experiences of marginalised communities and successful social justice initiatives, documentary films can raise awareness and promote a more just and equitable world.
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Filmmaker journeys from Melbourne to India , Nepal , Bangladesh & London, exposing the colonial myth of “curry.”
Rachel Lane
From political cartoons to iconic science fiction films, Ron Cobb helped make sense of the future.
When a boy gets Leukaemia (blood cancer), his film maker mother lovingly observes his long road to cure.
When new investigations reopen Adelaide’s most infamous child abductions, a city’s decades-long search for truth begins.
Anthony Mundine’s journey from NRL star to boxing icon challenges concepts of race, identity, and success.
John Hartley
In Far North Queensland a powerful Indigenous social movement resisted injustice and racism in the mid 20th Century.
After surviving Auschwitz, Icek Kapelmeister journeys from Europe to Australia, rebuilding his life as Jack Meister.
Simon V Kurian
A rare insight into the once invisible lives of the LGBTQ+ community in Chennai, in Southern India.
