Artivist Film Festival & Awards
Encyclopedia
The Artivist Film Festival & Awards is an international film festival
and awards ceremony dedicated to recognizing activist efforts of filmmakers, specifically in the areas of human rights
, child advocacy
, environmental preservation, and animal rights
.
s ("artivist
s"), while raising awareness for global causes. The festival is produced by Artivist Collective, a nonprofit organization founded in August 2003 by Diaky Diaz, Bettina Wolff, and Christopher Riedesel.
The first Artivist Film & Awards Festival was held April 27, 2007 at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater. Honorees were Ed Begley Jr., Tippi Hedren
, Mike Farrell
and France Nuyen
.
Set to coincide with Earth Day
, when the 2nd Annual Artivist Film Festival began on April 20, 2005, Los Angeles
Mayor James Hahn
declared the day "Artivist Day", and among the festival's 2005 honorees were James Cromwell
and Mira Sorvino
.
The third annual festival was held in Los Angeles
on November 9, 2006, and premiered the film Fast Food Nation
. Festival honorees included Joaquin Phoenix
, Daryl Hannah
, and Matthew McConaughey
.
, actor James Cromwell
, actor/director James Haven, and Senator Barbara Boxer
. Past honorees include Ted Danson
, Alyssa Milano
, Claes Nobel
, James Cromwell
, Mira Sorvino
, Ed Begley Jr., Tippi Hedren
, Mike Farrell
, France Nuyen
, Joaquin Phoenix
, Daryl Hannah
, and Matthew McConaughey
, among others.
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
and awards ceremony dedicated to recognizing activist efforts of filmmakers, specifically in the areas of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, child advocacy
Child advocacy
Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who promote the optimal development of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas.- Rights...
, environmental preservation, and animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
.
Background
The Festival is held annually and tours internationally. Its mission is to strengthen the voice of activist/artistArtist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s ("artivist
Artivist
Artivist is a portmanteau word combining "art" and "activist". Frank Berganza states..."When one pushes for change, , by utilizing their creative ability to communicate in ways of their artistic activity, that is known as Artivism". Artivism developed in recent years while the anti-globalization...
s"), while raising awareness for global causes. The festival is produced by Artivist Collective, a nonprofit organization founded in August 2003 by Diaky Diaz, Bettina Wolff, and Christopher Riedesel.
The first Artivist Film & Awards Festival was held April 27, 2007 at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater. Honorees were Ed Begley Jr., Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren
Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she...
, Mike Farrell
Mike Farrell
Michael Joseph "Mike" Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H . He is an activist for politically liberal causes....
and France Nuyen
France Nuyen
France Nuyen is a French actress.-Biography:Nuyen was born in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Her mother was French, her father Vietnamese. During World War II, her mother and grandfather were persecuted by the Nazis for being Gypsies...
.
Set to coincide with Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
, when the 2nd Annual Artivist Film Festival began on April 20, 2005, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Mayor James Hahn
James Hahn
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn is an American politician. Hahn was elected the 40th Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He served until 2005, at which time he was defeated in his bid for re-election...
declared the day "Artivist Day", and among the festival's 2005 honorees were James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
and Mira Sorvino
Mira Sorvino
Mira Katherine Sorvino is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mighty Aphrodite and is also known for her role as Romy White in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.- Early life :Sorvino was born in Tenafly, New Jersey...
.
The third annual festival was held in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on November 9, 2006, and premiered the film Fast Food Nation
Fast Food Nation
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is a book by investigative journalist Eric Schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the United States fast food industry....
. Festival honorees included Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
, Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
, and Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
.
Board and honorees
Artivist’s advisory board includes Congressman Dennis KucinichDennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
, actor James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
, actor/director James Haven, and Senator Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California . A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
. Past honorees include Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
, Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Jayne Milano is an American actress and former singer, known for her childhood role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? and an eight-year stint as Phoebe Halliwell on the series Charmed. She was also a series regular on the original Melrose Place portraying the role of...
, Claes Nobel
Claes Nobel
Claes Nobel , a native of Sweden, is grandson of Ludvig Nobel and grand nephew to Alfred Nobel, who established the Nobel Prizes....
, James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
, Mira Sorvino
Mira Sorvino
Mira Katherine Sorvino is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mighty Aphrodite and is also known for her role as Romy White in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.- Early life :Sorvino was born in Tenafly, New Jersey...
, Ed Begley Jr., Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren
Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she...
, Mike Farrell
Mike Farrell
Michael Joseph "Mike" Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H . He is an activist for politically liberal causes....
, France Nuyen
France Nuyen
France Nuyen is a French actress.-Biography:Nuyen was born in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Her mother was French, her father Vietnamese. During World War II, her mother and grandfather were persecuted by the Nazis for being Gypsies...
, Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
, Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
, and Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
, among others.
2010
- Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: "ReGeneration" directed by Philip Montgomery
- Best Short - Artivist Spirit: "Arena" directed by Jota Aronack
- Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: "Kids of the MajesticKids of the MajesticKids of the Majestic is a 2009 documentary film made in Bangalore, India. It was directed by Dylan Verrechia, and co-produced by Suhas Radhakrishna that follows a group of orphans in the Majestic railway station of Bangalore....
" directed by Dylan VerrechiaDylan VerrechiaDylan Verrechia is a French-Danish-American filmmaker. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Verrechia's works have screened at over 50 film festivals around the world, including the Atlanta Film Festival.... - Best Short - Children's Advocacy: "Sarah" directed by Brandon Hess
- Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: "Africa's Lost Eden" directed by James Byrne
- Best Short - Animal Advocacy: "Albatrocity" directed by J. Ollie Lucks, Iain Frengley, Edward Saltau
- Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: "Deep Green" directed by Matt Briggs
- Best Short - Environmental Preservation: "The Krill is Gone" directed by Jeffrey Bost
- Best Feature - International Human Rights: "Complexo - Universo Paralelo" directed by Mário Patrocinio
- Best Short - International Human Rights: "Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain"
2009
- Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: "Intelligent Life" directed by Brian Malone
- Best Short - Artivist Spirit: "Rough Cut" directed by Taghreed Saadeh
- Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: "Children of WarChildren of WarChildren of War is an award-winning, feature-length documentary film directed by Bryan Single and released in 2010. Filmed in northern Uganda over a period of three years, the story follows the journey of a group of former child soldiers as they undergo a process of trauma therapy and emotional...
" directed by Bryan Single - Best Short - Children's Advocacy: "The One Wayz" directed by Linda Chavez
- Best Feature - Animal Advocacy: "Ice Bears of the Beaufort" directed by Arthur C. Smith III
- Best Short - Animal Advocacy: "Abe" directed by Khen Shalem
- Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: "Belonging" directed by Gerard Ungerman
- Best Short - Environmental Preservation: "Urubus têm Asas (Vultures Have Wings)" directed by Marcos Negrão and Andre Rangel
- Best Feature - International Human Rights: "La Mission" directed by Peter Bratt
- Best Short - International Human Rights: "Intersection" directed by Jae Woe Kim
2008
- Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: "Zeitgeist: AddendumZeitgeist: AddendumZeitgeist: Addendum, is a 2008 documentary film produced and directed by Peter Joseph, and a sequel to the 2007 film Zeitgeist: The Movie. Zeitgeist: Addendum is itself followed by the 2011 film Zeitgeist: Moving Forward.-Synopsis:...
" directed by Peter Joseph (This was the festival opening movie) - Best Feature - Human Rights: "They turned our desert into fire" directed by Marck Brecke
- Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: "Bomb HarvestBomb HarvestBomb Harvest is a 2007 documentary film directed by Australian filmmaker Kim Mordaunt, and produced by Sylvia Wilczynski. It explores the consequences of war in Laos as it follows an Australian bomb disposal specialist, training locals in the skill of detonating bombs while trying to stop...
" directed by Kim Mordaunt - Best Short - Children's Advocacy: "Returned: Child Soldiers of Nepal's Maoist ArmyReturned: Child Soldiers of Nepal's Maoist ArmyReturned: Child Soldiers of Nepal's Maoist Army is a 2008 documentary film directed by American filmmaker Robert Koenig, and written by Robert Koenig and Brandon Kohrt. The documentary premiered in Hollywood, CA at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in 2008 at the 5th Annual Artivist Film Festival, where...
" directed by Robert KoenigRobert Koenig (filmmaker)Robert Koenig is an Emmy Award nominated American film director, producer, writer and editor... - Best Feature - Animal Rights: "Companions to none" directed by Bill Buchanan
- Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: "One WaterOne Water (documentary)One Water is a documentary film directed by Sanjeev Chatterjee and Ali Habashi. The film premiered at the 2008 Miami International Film Festival on 22 February 2008.-Film:...
" directed by Sanjeev Chatterjee
2007
- Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: "ZeitgeistZeitgeist, the MovieZeitgeist: The Movie is a 2007 documentary film by Peter Joseph. It asserts a number of conspiracy theory-based ideas, including the Christ myth theory, alternative theories for the parties responsible for the September 11 attacks in 2001 and that bankers manipulate the international monetary...
" directed by Peter Joseph - Best Short - Artivist Spirit: "The Rich Have Their Own Photographers" directed by Ezra Bookstein
- Best Feature - Human Rights: "American Drug War" directed by Kevin Booth
- Best Short - Human Rights: "The Worst Job in the World" directed by Jens Pedersen
- Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: "Glue Boys" directed by Phil Hamer
- Best Short - Children's Advocacy: "Girl Stars: Anita the Beekeeper" directed by Vikash Nowlakh
- Best Feature - Animal Awareness: "Beyond Closed Doors" directed by Hugh Dorigo
- Best Short - Animal Awareness: "Sharks - Stewards of the Reef" directed by Holiday Johnson
- Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: "Out of Balance" directed by Tom Jackson
- Best Short - Environmental Preservation: "Anthropology 101" directed by Wayne Brittendon
2006
- Best Short - Human Rights: "A QUESTION OF LOYALTY" directed by Randall Wilkins
- Best Feature - Human Rights: "Occupation 101Occupation 101Occupation 101: Voice of the Silenced Majority is a 2006 documentary film on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directed by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish, and narrated by Alison Weir, founder of If Americans Knew...
" directed by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish - Best Short - Children's Advocacy: "DAUGHTERS AND SONS: PREVENTING CHILD TRAFFICKING IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE" directed by Sarah Feinbloom
- Best Feature - Children's Advocacy: "SITA: A GIRL OF JAMBU" directed by Kathleen Man
- Best Short - Environmental Preservation: "FREEDOM FUELS" directed by Martin O'Brien
- Best Feature - Environmental Preservation: "Crude ImpactCrude ImpactCrude Impact is a 2006 film written and directed by James Jandak Wood. It is a documentary about the effect of fossil fuels on issues such as global warming, the environmental crisis, society and the questionable practices of oil companies...
" directed by James Jandak Wood - Best Short - Animal Awareness: "THE MEATRIX IIThe MeatrixThe Meatrix is a short flash animation critical of factory farming and industrial agricultural practices. It has been translated into over 30 languages and watched by more than 15 million people...
" directed by Louis Fox - Best Feature - Animal Awareness: "MAD COWBOY" directed by Dr. Michael Tobias
- Best Short - Artivist Spirit: "BELIEVE" directed by Synthian Sharp
- Best Feature - Artivist Spirit: "CLASS ACT" directed by Sara Sackner
2005
- Best Short – Environmental Preservation: "OIL AND WATER" directed by Corwin Fergus
- Best Feature– Environmental Preservation: "OIL ON ICE" directed by Dale Djerassi
- Best Short – Animal Advocacy: "WITNESS" directed by Jennifer Stein
- Best Feature – Animal Advocacy: "EarthlingsEarthlings (documentary)EARTHLINGS is a 2005 movie about humanity's use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and for scientific research. The film is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix features music by Moby, directed by Shaun Monson and co-produced by Maggie Q, all of whom are practicing vegans.-Synopsis:Covering...
" directed by Shaun MonsonShaun MonsonShaun Monson is an animal, human and environmental rights activist. He is best known for writing, directing and producing the 2005 documentary Earthlings, which covers major animal rights issues within industries such as pets, food, fashion, and science.... - Best Short – Human Rights: "Seoul TrainSeoul TrainSeoul Train is a 2005 documentary that deals with the dangerous journeys of North Korean defectors fleeing through or to China. These journeys are both dangerous and daring, since if caught, they face forced repatriation, torture and possible execution....
" directed by Jim ButterworthJim Butterworth (entrepreneur)Jim Butterworth is a technology entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker. He is the co-founder of the nonprofit documentary production company Incite Productions, and a director and producer of the award-winning film Seoul Train. He is also the holder of numerous U.S...
, Lisa Sleeth & Aaron LubarskyAaron LubarskyAaron Lubarsky is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker known for his work on the HBO documentary Journeys with George, the PBS documentary Seoul Train and Sportsfan. After graduation from Stanford University's Documentary Film Program, he worked as a documentarian at Lucasfilm on "The... - Best Feature – Human Rights: "TRUDELL" directed by Heather Rae
- Best Short – Children's Advocacy: "HUMMINGBIRD" directed by Holly Mosher
- Best Feature – Children's Advocacy: "STOLEN CHILDHOODS" directed by Len Morris
- Best Short – Artivist Spirit: "EMMANUEL'S GIFT" directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Lax
- Best Feature – Artivist Spirit: "HOPE" directed by Catherine Margerin
2004
- Best Feature – Environmental Preservation: "BLUE VINYL" directed by Judith Helfland
- Best Short– Environmental Preservation: "GOOD RIDDANCE" directed by Nick Hilligoss
- Best Feature – Animal Rights: "CHATTELL" directed by Rebecca Harrell
- Best Short– Animal Rights: "4 DAYS" directed by Richard Hauck
- Best Feature – Children's Advocacy: "BORN INTO BROTHELS" directed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski
- Best Short – Children's Advocacy: "OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER" directed by Joel Venet
- Best Feature – Human Rights: "WE INTERRUPT THIS EMPIRE" directed by Rana Freedman
- Best Short – Human Rights: "BID 'EM IN" directed by Neal Sopata
- Best Feature – Artivist Spirit: "A LIFE OF DEATH" directed by Dawn Westlake
- Best Short – Artivist Spirit: "OUTSIDE THE LINES", Directed by Markus Stilman
- Audience Award: "NOTHING WITHOUT YOU" directed by Ted Mattison and Paul Kelleher