In February 2003, the Sudanese Liberation Army in Darfur (the western region of Sudan) took up arms against the Sudanese government after years of oppression. The government and allied militias answered the rebellion with mass murder, rape, and the wholesale destruction of villages and livelihood, resulting in one of the world’s largest humanitarian and political crises. Up to two million people were displaced; 400,000 people killed.
In October and November 2004, after watching woefully inadequate media coverage on the crisis in Darfur, a team of three independent filmmakers trekked to Darfurian refugee camps in eastern Chad and crept across the border into Darfur. They met dozens of Darfurians, and spoke with them about their history, hopes and fears, and the tragedy they are living. Through the voices of refugees, displaced persons, and women and children in particular, Darfur Diaries: Message From Home provides a space for the marginalized victims of atrocities to speak and to engage with the world.
Please join us for a provocative panel discussion and Q&A session immediately following the film. The filmmakers will also discuss their book on the filmmaking process, Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival (Nation Books, October 2006).
For more information, please visit http://www.darfurdiaries.org/
Introductory Remarks:
Gayle Smith, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Featured Panelists:
Aisha Bain, Director, Darfur Diaries
Jen Marlowe, Director, Darfur Diaries
Adam Sterling, Executive Director, Sudan Divestment Task Force
Colin Thomas-Jensen, Africa Advocacy and Research Manager, International Crisis Group
Moderated by:
Anita Sharma, Executive Director of ENOUGH: The project to abolish genocide and mass atrocities