The dramedy Stage Mother by American-Canadian filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald was chosen to close the fourth edition of the 100% Manusia Film Festival on Dec. 10, timed with the commemoration of Human Rights Day.

Since Dec. 3, the film festival, known for promoting awareness on human rights issues, has screened 10 feature films and documentaries, a compilation of four short films, and 13 fringe events under this year’s theme, “Courage”.

According to 100% Manusia director Rain Cuaca, thousands from across the country had taken part in the events, which were held online.

“We are proud to continue to exist on a different platform, but also in a safe way, amid the pandemic this year,

“The online film festival allowed us to experience and learn so many things,” she said at the virtual closing ceremony.

Although the film festival has officially ended, Stage Mother and many other movies were still available at the film festival platform Festival Scope (festivalscope.com) until Monday midnight.

Its fringe events, as well as opening and closing ceremonies, can also be replayed on the YouTube channel 100% Manusia and its social media platforms.

Besides Stage Mother, which won Best Feature Film and Audience Award at the OUTshine Film Festival 2020 and Best of the Fest Audience Vote at the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival, 100% Manusia also featured three Indonesian films and critically acclaimed films from other countries.

The festival was opened with French comedy Stars by The Pound by Marie-Sophie Chambon, which follows a teenage girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut and tries to lose weight to achieve her goal until her three newly found friends step in and help the 16-year-old Lois leave for outer space.

Representing Indonesia was a drama set in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, titled In God’s Design by Dirmawan Hatta. The film tells the story of four people who were born different and have to struggle within their own community.

Short documentary Mother Earth by Chairun Nissa follows the Kendeng Squad, a rock band in the troubled Kendeng region in Central Java, in their attempt to preserve nature and farming culture, and short film Nyalon by Yudhistira Tegar Hermawan, which follows a transwoman spending a day at work in a hair salon, were included in 100% Screen Sho(r)ts.

The 75-minute short film section also included London-based film director Yew Weng Ho’s Mical, which highlighted the discrimination against people with dyslexia, A Terra by Nicolas Olivera that follows a female journalist caught in a crossfire between the Columbian government and the militia, and Norway’s Those Who Love by Jørgen Lorentzen that talks about victims of domestic abuse.

Lorentzen, a Norway journalist who happened to be in Turkey during a foiled coup in 2016, documented his investigation into the incident together with Nefise Özkal Lorentzen in a gripping docu-essay titled A Gift From God.

The filmmakers also talked in a 100% Webinar where they shared their experiences, knowledge and interpretation of the human rights issues captured in their films.

The fringe events included the 100% Exhibition featuring artist Leka Putra, the 100% In Harmony that allowed participants to pick a song and sing without being judged, as well as the new program 100% Heart to Heart: Venting Session -- an hour online consultation with psychologists.

“The programs were designed as a space for people to have discussion, to share their arguments and to raise their concerns about human rights without fear,” said Rain. (ste)

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