By TAYLOR OSBORN
The Ramspondents
Founded in 2016 by Colorado State University, Fort Collins once again hosts the ACT Human Rights Film Festival this week.
The festival will begin on Thursday, April 9 and continue through Sunday, April 12. The opening ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Behavioral Sciences Building of Colorado State University, 410 W. Pitkin St., Room 131. After the ceremony, the festival will continue at The Lyric theater, 1209 N. College Ave.
Tickets are available online and each CSU student will be provided with two free tickets. All other individuals are asked to pay what they can. Appetizers and discussions with filmmakers are available to all.
The film “Comparsa” is the festival’s opening feature. Afterwards, there will be an open discussion with Emmy winner Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, the film’s co-directors.
“Good films are ones I am thinking about the next day and leaving me with more,” said Beth Seymour, ACT Human Rights Film Festival managing director.
Twenty-eight feature films and documentaries were selected for the festival from over 200 submissions from around the world. According to Seymour, CSU interns and volunteers chose unique films that encapsulate artistic excellence and introduce new topics from international creators. Seymour said that the films this year are from almost every continent.
ACT Human Rights Film Festival organizers advocate for connection in community and kindness through small, everyday acts such as volunteering locally and helping neighbors.
“Films have a meaningful difference in the community and how they interact with others,” Seymour said.
Each 70- to 90-minute film spends three to five years in production. The films featured in the festival are not available on streaming services yet and for some filmmakers, the festival will be their premiere.
Taylor Osborn is a 4th year journalism and media communications major at Colorado State University with a sports management minor.