Opin Yu Yi/ Open Your Eyes

2013 Freetown Schedule Now Out!

Opin Yu Yi — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:52:44 +0000

We’re pleased to announce the schedule for the 2013 Freetown Opin Yu Yi Human Rights Film Festival!

We have a jam packed programme full of inspiring and informative films, musical performances, “Sabi Yu Rights” (Know Your Rights) question and answer sessions and special guests. You can download a low resolution copy of the programme here: Opin Yu Yi 2013 Programme

Hope to see you there!

OPIN YU YI HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 2013: FREETOWN
Sat 2 March(OPENING)Thomsonia Hall	Sun 3 MarchGlobe Cinema	Mon 4 March(MEDIA FOCUS) British Council	Tue 5 MarchKroo Bay Field	Wed 6 MarchFourah Bay College:Mary Kingsley Hall
6pmMusic Video Mix	2pmMusic Video Mix	6pmMusic Video Mix	6pmArrival & Music Video Mix	1pmMusic Video Mix
6.30pmWelcome Statements	2.30pm30%	6.30pmForbidden Voices	7pmPlay Safe, Prevent Fistula	1.30pmWelcome Statements
7pmOpin Yu Yi 2012 highlights (short doc)	2.50pmThe Witchunter and the Cripple	8.10pmInterval	7.25pmThe Way	1.40pmUnited States of Africa
7.10pmMusic by Panos Karen “Keys of Change”	3.00pmiThemba	8.40pmDiscussion:Social Media as a Tool for Human Rights	7.50pm My Motivation	3.20pmDiscussion: Individual Impact
7.30pmMusic by The Walpolians	4.20pm Interval	8.40pmDiscussion:Social Media as a Tool for Human Rights	7.50pm My Motivation	3.50Interval
7.45pmInterval & Film Trailers	4.40pmMy Motivation	9.10 Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry	8.05pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A	3.50Interval
8.15pm30% – followed by Q & A with special guests	5.00pmWomen and Land	9.10 Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry	8.05pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A	4.10 An African Election
9pmAn African Election	5.40pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A	10.50Q & A	8.30pm Police Case	4.10 An African Election
Our MC for the evening is Fatou Wurie – photographer, blogger and activist.Susan Senessie’s “Pop Up Bar” will be offering Salone drinks and snacks	6.10pmSallay – followed by Q & A with cast	Screening in partnership withJournalists for Human Rights	8.30pm Police Case	5.45 Q & A
	7.15 Interval		10pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A
	7.45Unheard Cries
	8.10 AK
	8.30Nairobi Half Life

Thur 6 MarchGrass FieldLumley	Fri 8 MarchStarco CinemaEast End	Sat 9 March(YOUTH DAY)British Council	Sun 10 March(CLOSING & AWARDS) Shangri La, Lumley
6pmMusic Video Mix and Welcome Statements	6pmMusic Video Mix	2pmArrival & Music Video Mix	6pmArrival and Welcome
7pmPlay Safe, Prevent Fistula	6.30pmThe Witchhunter and the Cripple	2.40pmThe Witchhunter and the Cripple	6.30pmMusical Performances by Hubert Gordon and Sorie Kondi
7.25pmSallay	6.40pmMy Motivation	2.50pmThe Way	7.00pmAwards Ceremony
8.20pmWomen and Land	7.00pmUnheard Cries	3.10pmPlay Safe, Prevent Fistula	7.35pmWomen and Land followed by Q & A with one of the brave women from the film & Coopi staff
9pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A	7.30pmInside Story	3.30pmDrama led by Prince of Wales School	8.40pmIntervalMusical performance by Neh Neh during interval
9.25pmPolice Case	9.05pmSabi Yu Rights: Q & A	3.50Interval & Refreshments	9.10pmUnited States of Africa
	9.30pmPolice Case	4.30pmOur Issues, Our Voices	10.45pmVote of thanks and close of Opin Yu Yi 2013 Freetown!
	9.30pmPolice Case	5.00pmInside Story	Our MC for the evening is Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director of Centre for Accountability and Rule of LawShangri La bar ,overlooking Lumley Beach, offers delicious drinks and snacks.

2013 Films!

Opin Yu Yi — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:26:34 +0000

Below are the fantastic films we will be screening during the 2013 Freetown Festival:

FILMS

30% (2012, UK/ Sierra Leone, Doc, English) Dir: Anna Caday

Film explores women’s political participation in Sierra Leone

Our Issues, Our Voices (2011, Sierra Leone/ Austria, Doc, English subtitles)

Film about the lives of teenage mothers across the world

Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry (2012, China/ USA, Doc, English subtitles) Dir: Alison Clayman

Documentary about Ai Wei Wei, Chinese artist and dissident. His blog was shut down, he was beaten and held in secret detention. Named by Art Review as the most powerful artist in the world.

Play Safe, Prevent Fistula (2012, Sierra Leone, Krio with English subtitles)

Dir: Ngardy Conteh

Miss Sierra Leone investigates teenage pregnancy and fistula

AK (2010, UK/ Sierra Leone, Drama, English/ Krio with sutitles) Dir: Michael Chandler

AK has a new life in the UK but his past haunts him …

Police Case (2012, Sierra Leone, Drama, Krio with subtitles) Dir: Jon Bundu

Adama is arrested after a fight with her husband. If you were arrested, would you know what to do?

An African Election (2011, Ghana, Doc, English) Dir: Jarreth Mertz

Insider view into the 2008 Ghanian elections, exploring democracy in Africa

Salay (2012, Sierra Leone, Drama, Krio with subtitles) Dir: Alie Kamanda

A young woman in the provinces struggles to access education and opportunities.

Forbidden Voices (2012, Switzerland, Doc, English subtitles) Dir: Barbara Miller

How to start a revolution with a laptop? 3 female bloggers from China, Iran & Cuba use social media to highlight human rights abuses despite great risk.

The Way (2012, Sierra Leone, Drama, English) Dir: Alimammy Kamara/ WAYOUT

Film based on the true life stories of members of a street gang

Inside Story (2012, Kenya/ South Africa, Drama, English)

Dir: Rolie Nikiwe

Kalu, a young soccer player from Kenya, dreams of playing for Arsenal. We witness the battles he faces to achieve his dream, including one he did not expect: HIV.

The Witchhunter and the Cripple (2011, Sierra Leone, Drama, English) We Own TV

Insight into the life of a disabled man

iThemba (2011, Zimbabwe, Doc, English) Dir: Elinor Burkett

Zimbabwean band, Liyana, a group of musicians with physical disabilities who navigate a country where many of their neighbors consider them to be cursed.

Unheard Cries (2011, Sierra Leone, Doc, English) Dir: Johnny Paul Koroma

Insight into child labour in Sierra Leone

My Motivation (2012, Sierra Leone, Drama, English) We Own TV

A doctor does not take his job seriously with terrible consequences …

United States of Africa (2011, Africa, Doc, English subtitles) Dir: Yanick Létourneau

Film explores hip-hop in Africa and political consciousness

Nairobi Half Life (2012, Kenya, Doc, Swahili with English subtitles)

Dir: David “Tosh” Gitonga

A young actor from upcountry Kenya dreams of a better life but is torn between 2 worlds when he comes to “Nai-robbery” …

Women and Land (2012, Sierra Leone, Doc, Krio with English subtitles)

Dir: Fid Thompson

3 stories of women who struggled to access land and property

2013 Advert

Opin Yu Yi — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:34:50 +0000

Enjoy our 2013 TV advert! Thanks to the brilliant Concept Multimedia for producing it!

2nd Edition Dates Now Out!

Opin Yu Yi — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:48:34 +0000

– the poster for the 2nd edition of Opin Yu Yi, Freetown!

2nd Edition Dates Announced!

Opin Yu Yi — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 04:30:13 +0000

We’re pleased to announce that the 2nd edition of the Opin Yu Yi Human Rights Film Festival will take place in Freetown from Saturday 2 March to Sunday 10 March 2013.

Sign up to our website or like our facebook page to keep up to date with all the news. Our full programme will be announced soon!

We’re excited to have included new screening venues, such as Starco Cinema in the East End of Freetown and Fourah Bay College in order to reach as many communities as possible.

We have some wonderful international and Sierra Leonean films with powerful messages to screen!

So, save the dates … have you opened your eyes yet?

2nd Edition Coming Soon

Opin Yu Yi — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:07:26 +0000

The 2nd edition of Opin Yu Yi is coming up soon and we have some great films in store!

Keep an eye on our website or facebook page for more details!

3 months left to submit for the Opin Yu Yi Human Rights Film Competition

Opin Yu Yi — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:09:23 +0000

At our inaugural festival, we launched the annual Opin Yu Yi Human Rights Film Competition. The deadline for submission is in 3 months time, 10 December 2012.

Cash prizes and other awards will be available for Sierra Leonean film makers!

Highlights of the First Edition

Opin Yu Yi — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Did you miss the inaugural Opin Yu Yi Human Rights Film Festival? Can’t wait for February 2013 for the second edition? Watch our video below to catch some of the highlights!

Thanks to Concept Multimedia for filming and to Idriss Kpange for editing the video.

First Human Rights Film Festival in Libya!

Opin Yu Yi — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 03:13:40 +0000

We are excited to support our friends in Libya who are starting the first Tripoli Human Rights Film Festival in September. We met at the Cine Droit Libre work shop and look forward to hearing news about this wonderful initiative.

Movies That Matter – African Human Rights Film Festivals meet at Ciné Droit Libre

Opin Yu Yi — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:23:33 +0000

Great summary of the Work Shop we attended by the wonderful programme, Movies that Matter, including a quote from us:

African Human Rights Film Festivals meet at Ciné Droit Libre

Ciné Droit Libre, the human rights film festival in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso organised a meeting for African human rights film festivals on 2 and 3 July 2012. The meeting aimed at facilitating more cooperation and sharing of good practices between African and international film festivals. It puts a special emphasis on exchange and learning from each other’s strengths. On of it’s goals was to create a framework that brings together African and international actors.

Matthea de Jong of Movies that Matter took part in the meeting and presented some of the workshops. The meeting was attended by festivals from Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Libya, Uganda, Niger, Swiss, Czech Republic, and Tunesia. The workshop focused on many different issues, such as programming, fundraising, and itinerant festivals. The workshops were much appreciated by the participants. Sabrina Mahtani of Open Your Eyes in Sierra Leone stated: “Before, we had so many dreams, but we thought it might not be possible. Not it feels much more realisable. We are encouraged through this workshop and happy that we are now part of the film festival family.”

This year, Adboulaye Diallo, director of Ciné Droit Libre, is chairing the Human Rights Film Network.