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Seoul Festival to Feature 26 Human Rights Films

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The 11th Seoul Human Rights Film Festival (SHURIFF) opens Friday to provide the capital's residents with films carrying a special message _ the significance of human value.

Created by the Sarangbang Group for Human Rights, an active non-governmental organization, the film festival aims to promote awareness of various human rights issues, from the suffering of illegal immigrants to lives torn apart by the war in Iraq, and discrimination faced by minority groups.

A total of 26 films, including 13 foreign works, will be screened until May 24. Nick Bloomfield's "Ghosts" will open the festival. The film is based on the true story of a Chinese woman and her strenuous life as an illegal laborer in Britain. The heroine of the true story actually plays the role of herself in the movie and brings to life her experience.

SHURIFF will celebrate "Minorities' Day" on May 20 and touch upon issues affecting these groups. Pieces such as "Politics in Love" and "The Person De Leo N" deal with homosexuality and transgender identity, respectively. Viewers can also see director Kim Myung-joon's "Our School", a noted documentary film tracing the experience of Japanese-born ethnic Korean students.

The last day of the festival is dubbed "Antiwar Day for Peace". Moviegoers can watch the documentary film "Iraq in Fragments" by James Longley, which portrays numerous lives shattered by war. Participants in the festival can also take part in a forum and converse with anti-war activists.

The festival organizers recognize the difficulties handicapped persons tend to have viewing movies, and so will ensure that everyone will be able to appreciate the films shown throughout the festival. For those who have impaired hearing, both foreign and domestic films will be subtitled, and sign language interpreters will provide their services during talks with the directors.

Those with visual disabilities will be able to enjoy the films, as the organizers will provide have voiceovers and narrations for the movies through headphones. Other physically handicapped individuals will be assisted by volunteers to explore the various features of the human rights festival.

In the spirit of supporting human rights and the right to freely access art, all films can be viewed free of charge. The festival will be held at Seoul Art Cinema, located in Jongno-gu. For more information, visit http://www.sarangbang.or.kr/hrfilm

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