The annual Activists Without Borders Film Festival (AWBFF) and Awards Ceremony took place on Saturday, 30th November 2024, at Mini-Cini Cinema in Manchester, UK. This year, the festival attracted 135 submissions from 35 countries, presenting films that tackle injustices and advocate for transformative change.

The AWBFF is an in-person festival dedicated to showcasing cinema addressing critical issues such as human rights violations, the climate crisis, and social inequality. The event featured thought-provoking panel discussions with filmmakers, offering audiences the opportunity to delve deeper into the stories on screen.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating excellence in impactful filmmaking. Awards were presented by Liza Ryan-Carter, a lecturer in filmmaking and editing at the University of Salford, alongside Irshad Ismail and Baazir Kaleelur Rahman from Activists Without Borders. In addition to competitive categories, the festival introduced Social Impact Awards for runner-up entries and an Honorary Award for Effort in Social Filmmaking, recognising a broader range of socially impactful films.

Award Highlights

  • Best Documentary: Witness (Turkey)
    Produced by Aslihan Eker Çakmak at TRT World and directed by Ensar Altay, this powerful documentary reflects on Gaza post-October 7, capturing the profound impact of Israeli attacks and the resilience of the Palestinian people.
  • Best Short Documentary: Seizure (Australia)
    Produced by Wildlife Justice Commission, this gripping documentary follows wildlife investigators combatting international trafficking of endangered species.
  • Best Short Drama: Only When You Bury Me In This Earth (UK)
    A moving tale of an Afghan refugee coping with loss through kite-making as he navigates the complexities of migration and rebuilding his life.
  • Best Animated Film: Lunatic (Netherlands)
    This satirical animation sheds light on the climate crisis and human negligence through the story of an astronaut left stranded on the moon.

Social Impact Awards

Several impactful films were recognised with Social Impact Awards, including:

  • Don’t Buy a Bomb (UK): A hard-hitting exposé of the UK’s arms trade with Saudi Arabia, directed by Eva McQuade in collaboration with Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).
  • Treading the Line (UK): Two cyclists document the environmental and social toll of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
  • My Name is Swallow (UK): Following a climate activist defending her acts of protest in court.
  • Girls: Women Too Early (Africa): A film exploring adolescent pregnancy in Africa, highlighting its societal and individual impacts.
  • Arresting Science (USA): Chronicling the efforts of NASA’s scientis Dr Peter Kalmus and others risking their careers to combat the climate crisis.
  • What Rhymes with Toxic (Canada): An animated critique of environmental pollution, directed by Lynn Smith and produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
  • El Aliento del Ullal (Spain): It reveals the plight of El Ullal, a biodiverse Spanish wetland threatened by a luxury campsite project, directed by Luis Cáceres Linares.
  • Snakes and Landlords (UK): A critical look at homelessness by Cardboard Citizens.

This year, the Activists Without Borders Film Festival showcased powerful narratives from around the world, bringing attention to pressing global issues. From indigenous struggles in New Zealand to activists facing danger in Brazil, the festival exposed harsh realities that often go unseen. These films highlighted the bravery of filmmakers confronting environmental destruction, inequality, and other critical challenges. By sparking important conversations, these films inspire action and serve as a reminder of the transformative power of storytelling in the fight for social justice.

Looking ahead, AWBFF is excited to announce that submissions for the 2025 festival will open in January. We urge activist filmmakers worldwide to submit their films, as we continue to amplify voices that challenge injustice and advocate for change.

For a complete list of the selected films and images from the festival, please visit the following link:

https://activistswithoutborders.org.uk/activists-without-borders-film-festival-2024/