The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) in partnership with SEA Junction will launch the inaugural Southeast Asia Human Rights Film Festival on 9 December 2023 at the Auditorium, 5th floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre with the aim to raise awareness of the interconnectedness of human rights and development issues in the region.

Lasting the full day from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, the festival showcases seven short films by directors from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia in three screening rounds. Each screening round will be followed by a Q&A session with selected film directors. At 5:30-6:30 pm, following the last round of screening, a panel discussion will take place featuring Pornpen Khongkachonkiet of Cross Cultural Foundation, and Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. The discussion on “Film and Human Rights,” which will include all directors who are present, will serve as the closing event for the festival.

In addition to screenings and discussions, the festival will incorporate music performances by the Co-culture Ensemble, with connections to the human rights and democratic movement, during intervals between the screening programs.