A documentary film festival held this week to mark Human Rights Day on Dec. 1, aims to promote public literacy about basic rights.

In ScreenDocs Expanded scheduled from Dec. 1 to 4, non-profit foundation In-Docs is organizing the screening of over 20 documentary titles produced by Indonesian and international filmmakers under the over-arching theme of human rights issues.

The screenings will be held mostly at the auditorium and pop-up theaters of Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis in Kuningan, South Jakarta, with some reruns at the Institut Français d’Indonésie (IFI) on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta.

“It will be our first time to screen both national and international documentaries in the hope that the audience can become more aware of social issues around them through film,” said In-Docs program director Amelia Hapsari at a recent press conference.

“We believe that documentaries are a valid source of information with the potential to motivate the public to pay attention to and be more tolerant of differences.”

Aside from easing public access to the documentaries, ScreenDocs Expanded will also hold workshops for filmmakers and social activists on strategic plans to produce documentaries with an impact to bring about change in society.

The organizers have also invited Dutch director John Appel to give a public lecture and to present his award-winning documentary.

The documentaries will present various social issues such as the environment, disabilities, health concerns, women’s welfare as well as bigotry and religious tolerance.

“Each screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers about the making of or the inspiration behind it,” said Amelia.

“It’s our goal to build the infrastructure for the development of documentary film making in Indonesia by encouraging the public to watch and to produce documentaries. We also seek the production and distribution of impact-oriented documentaries, with more collaboration to enhance solidarity among us, especially toward marginalized peoples.”

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What’s playing

ScreenDocs Expanded is being held at the Auditorium Erasmus Huis, South Jakarta.

Rising from Silence (Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. -- Documentary/Indonesia/28 minutes/Director Shalahuddin Siregar): Dialita is a choir that sings songs that have been silenced for more than 50 years. This year, the choir is recording and launching an album with young musicians with the aim of getting the younger audience to recognize a dark part of Indonesian history, and to rise from fear and silence.

Rising from Silence (Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. -- Documentary/Indonesia/28 minutes/Director Shalahuddin Siregar): Dialita is a choir that sings songs that have been silenced for more than 50 years. This year, the choir is recording and launching an album with young musicians with the aim of getting the younger audience to recognize a dark part of Indonesian history, and to rise from fear and silence.

Nokas (Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. -- Documentary/Indonesia/76 minutes/Director Alberto Maia): East Nusa Tenggara resident Nokas struggles to get together a burdensome bride price to be able to marry the love of his life, Ci, a pretty young woman who works in a chicken farm. The screening will be its Indonesian premier.

Notes on Blindness (Closing film, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. -- Documentary/UK/90 minutes/Director Pete Middleton, James Spinney): Writer and academic John Hull keeps a diary on audiocassette as he begins to lose his sight. Virtual reality technology is used in the documentary to help the audience discover the world of blindness.

Complete schedule available at in-docs.org/screendocs-expanded

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