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“True revolution begins in the imagination.”
The Active Vista Human Rights Festival is a platform where we celebrate rights, freedoms, and dignity. The festival offers an immersive space where people can come together and harness their collective power – sparking meaningful conversations through a rich array of dynamic screenings, captivating exhibits, powerful performances, and thought-provoking forums for the promotion of human rights and democracy. The festival pushes boundaries by exploring innovative collaborations between local and international artists, creating bold art that challenges perspectives, and inspires action on pressing social issues. Every activity is a call to engage, learn, and champion the vital cause of human rights in our life, lifestyle and livelihood. It is held every September coinciding with the anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines.
By screening films that address critical social issues, we create cultural moments that encourage dialogue, foster empathy, and inspire action. Each film is carefully selected to reveal, investigate, spotlight, and humanize issues.
by Jeanette Ifurung & Miguel Alcazaren
A documentary featuring survivor stories of state-sponsored violence during the Martial Law years of dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Thousands were jailed, tortured, raped, and killed while communities were massacred in the crossfire between state forces, Maoist rebels, and Muslim separatists. In 2013, the Philippine government passed a landmark law that officially recognized these atrocities and mandated compensation for the victims, funded by the illegally-acquired wealth of Ferdinand & Imelda Marcos, hidden in their Swiss Bank accounts. 11,103 victims were given compensation as a result of the law.
by Karl Malakunas
DELIKADO follows environmental defenders Bobby and Tata of the Palawan NGO Network Inc and former El Nido mayor Nieves. They risk their lives in David versus Goliath-style struggles, stopping politicians and businessmen from destroying the Philippines’ “last ecological frontier.”
by Alyx Arumpac
When Rodrigo Duterte is voted president of the Philippines, he sets in motion a machinery of death to execute suspected drug peddlers, users, and small-time criminals. Aswang follows people whose fates entwine with the growing violence during two years of killings in Manila.
Curate and screen a collection of winning short films from Active Vista’s FRAMES, a short film competition that aims to promote human rights in alternative forms of cinema and give emerging voices of filmmakers a significant role in advancing discourses on human rights.
[PLACEHOLDER] Active Vista harnesses the power of media, arts, and technology to inspire action and create meaningful dialogues for social change.
Active Vista’s Learning Labs are immersive spaces for creatives, advocates, educators, and storytellers to explore innovative approaches to social change. Each lab fosters collaboration, skill-building, and transformative storytelling to drive impact.
Heroes Hub is a space for young advocates and movement builders to sharpen their analysis, strengthen their organizing skills, and forge solidarity for collective action. Grounded in Sikolohiyang Pilipino, a human rights-based approach, and participatory methodologies, the fellowship fosters collective, creative, and transformative empowerment by equipping youth with the tools, networks, and strategies to build, forge, and wield people power for concrete social change.
Active Vista’s Civic Education Program works with schools and universities to deepen youth engagement in human rights, democracy, and civic participation. By integrating critical perspectives and real-world action, it equips students with the knowledge and tools to become active citizens driving social change.
