Cinema for Peace presented premiere of „The Lady“
Berlin, February 13th, 2012 – This year’s Cinema for Peace Gala taking place on February the 13th at the Gendarmenmarkt concert hall in Berlin, honours Burma as one of the night’s central themes. In association with Universal Film, the Cinema for Peace Foundation brought further recognition to Burma by showing esteemed French film director, Luc Besson’s, most recent work „The Lady“, representing the life Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The film as well as lead actress Michelle Yeoh will receive the “International Human Rights Film Award’’ at this year’s Gala. Amnesty International, Cinema for Peace, and the Human Rights Film Network present the award.
Over the past ten years, through the medium of film, Cinema for Peace has supported the struggle for human rights, social justice, humanitarianism, and environment protection; this year, Burma is of particular importance. In 2011, with a petition of over 12.000 signatures, Cinema for Peace demanded the release of activist and comedian Zarganar, after Aung San Suu Kyi’s urgent appeal to support human rights activists in Burma through the Cinema for Peace Gala. On October, 12th, 2011 Zarganar and 200 prisoners were released. In more recent development, Burma has seen additional release of captive prisoners, and the announcement of political elections, of which Aung Sann Suu Kyi will likely support. Since his release, Zarganar has organized his own film festival in Burma greatly intriguing the people of the nation with these serious issues.
Cinema for Peace also initiated the documentary film “The Prison Where I Live’’, with funding donated by Rex Bloomstein and the German comedian Michael Mittermeier. The film shows Rex Bloomstein’s interview with Zarganar under the military junta prior to his being held captive. Two years after the interview, Bloomstein and Mittermeier travelled to Burma to collect additional footage about Zarganar. Zarganar’s declaration as a voice for the Burmese, points out how his humour remains alive even under the rule of dictatorship.
Cinema for Peace will continue to take a stand for democracy, freedom of opinion, and human rights, through its fight for Burma.
