The 2nd Nazareth International Film Festival
Religion and Human Rights

Utilizing film as a medium for discussion, the Festival aims to
encourage respect and protection for different religious and
ethnic groups, promote minority rights, fight against discrimination,
and develop and enhance the public debate on religions,
justice and peace.

We believe artistic activity is much more than simply entertainment,
but rather an important educational and development tool and
a medium for communicating social change; this film festival,
and the other initiatives undertaken by the Nazareth Cinematheque,
strive to promote and enrich the cultural and artistic life of Arab
communities in Israel, who are chronically neglected in terms of
public services and cultural amenities.

The Festival is the result of the cooperation between
El-Sana – the Nazareth Cinematheque and Mossawa,
a human rights NGO based in Haifa.

Human Rights

Following on from its first edition, the 2nd Nazareth International
Film Festival (NIFF) aims to raise awareness of human right
issues of both local and global importance. By addressing the
question of fundamental human rights in a variety of different
geographical and cultural contexts, the festival intends to
stimulate reflection and analysis on the real and potential
discrimination that a minority like the Arab population in Israel
faces on a daily basis.

Religion

The second edition of the NIFF will include a section focussing
on the theme of religion. We believe that mutual respect and
understanding between communities of different religions is
fundamental in the creation of a peaceful environment in Israel.
Nazareth is a place of great significance for many people of
different faiths, and the home of a very diverse community in
terms of religious beliefs; it is therefore the ideal location to
initiate a constructive debate on this issue.

The Film Festival

The 2nd NIFF will be a week-long event that will include two
competitive sections, one presenting films from Israel and the
Palestinian Territories, one dedicated to international films,
and a non-competitive international section devoted to films
that explore the issue of religion. In addition to film screenings,
the festival will host a series of conferences, workshops and
seminars which will provide an opportunity for discussion and
debate with the public.

The 2nd NIFF will award a prize of $1000 for each competitive section.
The jury will include professionals of the film industry, as well as
representatives of Israeli film and media foundations