Événements à venir.
Maison de l’Amérique Latine - Screening and Presentation
Screening of the film Norma, 52', followed by a presentation and discussion on the book ‘Tant que je crie, ma fille est vivante!’
Speakers: Brigitte Leoni, author of As Long as I Am Alive, My Daughter is Alive, published by L'Harmattan, and director of the documentary Norma.
Moderator: Florencia Valdés, journalist at RFI.
Norma tells the extraordinary story of Norma Andrade, a Mexican mother whose daughter Alejandra was a victim of femicide in 2001 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. After 24 years of fighting for justice, her case has just been accepted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Goethe Institute
“ A Powerful Conclusion to hashtag#16DaysUnidas: Norma - A Quest for Justice
As we concluded our hashtag#16DaysUnidas campaign, we were honored to host the screening of Norma - A Quest for Justice at the Goethe-Institut Mexico. Directed by Brigitte Leoni, this documentary highlights the intersection of systemic impunity and gender-based violence.
The event featured a moving discussion with Norma Esther Andrade, protagonist of the film and renowned human rights activist, who shared her powerful journey. The panel also included insights from:
Karla Micheel Salas Ramírez, Director of the Grupo de Acción por los Derechos Humanos y la Justicia Social A.C. (GADHJS),
David Peña, Legal Coordinator of GADHJS,
Mayra López Pineda, focal point in Mexico for the Unidas Women’s Network, and
Till Feldmann, Representative of the German Embassy in Mexico.
Together, the panelists emphasized the urgent need for systemic accountability, justice, and the amplification of voices against gender-based violence.
This event, organized by the Unidas Women’s Network in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mexico City, the Grupo de Acción por los Derechos Humanos y la Justicia Social (GADHJS), and the Goethe-Institut Mexiko, marked the culmination of our campaign. But, it reinforced our ongoing commitment to combating gender-based violence and highlighted the urgent need for justice, accountability, and the protection of women everywhere. “
Geneva Graduate Institute
Norma - A Quest for Justice is the true story of Norma Andrade, a Mexican mother who became a "madre buscadora" (fighting mother) after her daughter Alejandra was murdered in Ciudad Juarez in 2001, a city where thousands of women and girls have been assassinated since 1993. After 23 years of relentless struggle, Norma is now awaiting the sentence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. If successful, it will be the second feminicide case addressed by the International court since 2009.
“Norma” stands as a voice against the failure of the world to criminalise acts of violence against girls and women, and is a beacon of hope for all mothers seeking justice. Nearly 89,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2022, the highest annual number recorded in the last 20 years, as reported by UNODC and UN Women in 2023.
Welcome remarks:
Corinne Momal-Vanian, Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation
Koen Van Acoleyen, Minister Counselor, Permanent Representation of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva
Brigitte Leoni, Film Director, Parva Productions
This documentary film (2024, in Spanish with English subtitles) will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Corinne Momal-Vanian with:
Norma Andrade, Film Protagonist, and Co-Founder of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa A.C., a Mexican non-profit association of mothers whose daughters have been victims of feminicide in Ciudad Juárez
Adriana Quinones, Head of Human Rights and Development and Deputy Head, UN Women Geneva Office
Alessia Nicastro, Phd Candidate in International Law, Gender Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute
Karla Micheel Salas Ramirez, Norma’s lawyer, and the director of the film will also be available for questions.
The screening is organised in partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation, UN Women, Festival FILMAR en América Latina, The Edelstam Foundation and thanks to the support of Spotlight Initiative, the Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva, and the Service Agenda 21-Ville durable of the City of Geneva as part of the Campagne 25 novembre-Genève.
FILMAR en América Latina
“ FILMAR en América Latina is the largest festival dedicated to Latin American cinema and cultures in Switzerland.
Founded in 1999 and based in Geneva, the FILMAR en América Latina Festival supports independent cinema and filmmakers from Latin America. Every November, it offers audiences the opportunity to watch films rooted in the social and political realities of the continent, featuring both classic masterpieces and new releases, including many premieres. It also serves as a platform that highlights minorities, including Indigenous and Afro-descendant cultures as well as LGBTIAQ+ communities.
With activist and socially engaged films, personal testimonies, retrospectives of influential cinema figures, and debut works by emerging talents, the festival’s programming reflects the richness, diversity, and histories of Latin America across seven sections.
FILMAR is also a space for dialogue and connection between Geneva audiences and Latin American filmmakers who travel to the city for the occasion. Roundtables and conferences on contemporary issues are organized in partnership with Swiss institutions and non-profit organizations. Festival-goers are also invited to fiestas, where they can discover Latin American gastronomy and music during the after FILMAR events.
The festival also places great importance on young audiences, offering a dedicated program for budding cinephiles. Through FILMARcito, children are invited to experience feature films and short film series with their families or in extracurricular settings. Additionally, FILMAR École presents school screenings throughout the year, tailored to different educational levels and disciplines.
Each edition concludes with an awards ceremony, where the Audience Award and the Young Jury Award are presented to two standout films from the competitive sections FOCUS SUD and OPERA PRIMA. “
UNAFF 2024 - International Film Festival - Screenings
“ We are delighted to announce the 27th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival), which was founded in 1998 by Stanford educator and film critic Jasmina Bojic in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The 27th UNAFF will be held from October 17th to 27th in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and at Stanford University with the theme SHARED HUMANITY. It continues our dedication to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with an emphasis on our common destiny and issues fostering it, or standing in its way.
As one of the oldest solely documentary film festivals in the US, UNAFF has grown and earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its fearless independence and integrity. In addition to providing early outlets for films, many of which later went on to win major awards and accolades, UNAFF prides itself in creating a community forum with year-round programs facilitating education and dialogue about different cultures, issues, and solutions.
Over the years UNAFF has screened some of the most acclaimed and talked-about documentaries in the industry, including eight that went on to win Academy Awards and thirty-six that were nominated. “