Human rights students love to share their passion with a captivated audience. They are always ready to hold an educated discussion, participate in a lively debate, or attend an engaging lecture. Beyond the academic setting, film screenings are a great way to reach a wide audience and to encourage people to think critically about the world and its people.

The students of the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization (E.MA) will be hosting a human rights film festival titled With Open Eyes: Human Rights in Focus. The Festival will take place at Spazio Porto located in Santa Marta, from December 6-7, 2014.

Admission to the Festival is free of charge and open to the public. Invitations will be sent to local non-governmental organizations, students from Ca'Foscari University and Iuav University, notable speakers in the human rights community, and the general public of Venice.

Notable headliners include Everyday Rebellion, a new documentary centering on methods of resistance supported by technology, and the award winning Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a riveting documentary about the women’s initiative in the Liberian peace movement.

In addition to film screenings, the EMA students will be coordinating panel discussions featuring the film directors, as well as experts in the field of human rights.

The Venice Human Rights Film Festival is expected to be a cultural event, drawing a crowd of experts in the fields of human rights, international relations and European Union law, as well as human rights defenders, NGO representatives, and members of the public.