Women and Children in Conflict Zones under the spotlight at SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY

NEW YORK - March 7, 2019 - EntSun -- SR Socially Relevant Film Festival 2019 (SRFF 2019) hosts a spotlight panel on women and children in conflict zones Monday, March 18, 6:30 pm at Cinema Village immediately following the screening of 'The Man Who Mends Women', a documentary about Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dr. Denis Mukwege, in the presence of director Thierry Michel. UN UnderSecretary General Pramila Patten, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, is expected to join other esteemed panelists for the discussion. Tickets are available via Eventcombo and the festival website.

The event is designed to shine a spotlight on the women and children who are disproportionately victimized by conflict zones and subsequently forgotten, while the perpetrators of this trauma often face impunity.

'The Man Who Mends Women' is a documentary feature by Thierry Michel and Colette Braeckman that  profiles Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese doctor and winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. Mukwege is known for his humanitarian work treating countless women who have faced sexual violence during the 20 years of conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His efforts to combat and halt these atrocities and denounce the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators has nearly cost him his life. The women to whom he has restored physical integrity and dignity, however, stand beside him as true activists for peace and justice. Watch the trailer here.



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In addition to Ms. Patten, the other distinguished panelists include:

• Ms. Susan O'Malley -  Chair of NGO CSW New York, and Main Representative to the UN (NY) for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW).
• Mrs. Cathleen De Kerchove - Co-founder and General Director of the "The Children of Panzi and Elsewhere" organization.
• Dr. Marie Claudine Mukamabano, a Rwanda Genocide survivor and Founder of the "Why Do I Exist? Kuki Ndiho Foundation", a Rwanda orphan-support project.

The program strives to further the dialogue regarding sexual and other forms of violence experienced by women and children in zones of conflict. For more information visit our spotlight event webpage.

Festival Founder and Artistic Director Nora Armani says, "The role of SRFF is to shine the spotlight on social issues that may go unnoticed without the powerful medium of cinema. Women and girls around the world suffer and dialogues like these may help bring an end to their suffering."

The festival also screens a selection of films related to women's rights later in the festival week, including the Canadian film 'In the name of Your Daughter', by Giselle Portenier, about female genital mutilation practices. It screens on Thursday March 21, at 5:30 PM. The sixth edition of SRFF covers a broad range of socially relevant™ stories about immigration, human trafficking, climate change, indigenous populations, capital punishment, social justice, homelessness, LGBTQ rights, and more.

The narrative films slate offers six titles, the documentary features slate has 14 films, and there are 32 shorts that complete the balance of 52 highly select films on offer. Industry workshops, panels and networking opportunities, not to forget parties and happy hours, make SRFF 2019 another unforgettable year. Visit www.ratedsrfilms.org for schedules, film synopses and tickets.

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ABOUT SR SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL NY

SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York, is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit film festival. It was founded in 2013 by actress/filmmaker Nora Armani as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling, and to honor the memory of a violent attack against members of her family who lost their lives.

The mission of SRFF is the promotion of films and filmmakers that deal with socially relevant film content. In its first five years, the festival has successfully served as a platform for 287 films from 35 countries and has presented over 40 awards to deserving talented filmmakers from all over the world. SRFF believes that positive social change can happen through the impact of Socially Relevant™ films on people.

Spokespersons and guests of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Erin Brockovich, Martin Sheen, Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning writer Robert Schenkkan, prolific and best-selling French novelist Marc Levy, Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Award Winner Guy Davidi, American TV commentator and author Gretchen Carlson, and Liaison Officer of Tibet and the Dalai Lama, Kunga Tashi.