HUMAN RIGHTS ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL

There’s nothing like a film festival to have you sitting in the dark and munching on lots of popcorn. But the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF to its friends) aims to illuminate as well, raising awareness and generating debate on human rights issues. There’s Bling: A Planet Rock, which follows some of hip hop’s biggest names to Africa and an investigation of the blood diamond industry; The Unwinking Gaze, a portrait of the Dalai Lama’s work for Tibet; and Intervention, a doco based on the Howard government’s Indigenous policies in the Northern Territory. Plus some fun-looking short films, art, music and various associated shenanigans guaranteed to make you think, learn and smile. Melbourne gets its screening from November 12th to 30th, then the festival travels to Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane over the next few months. Visit here to HRAFF it up.