Human Rights Film Fest

A human rights festival in the heart of the Prenestino district

The Human Rights Film Fest is Rome's first film festival entirely dedicated to human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression. The event takes place in the Parco del Torrione Prenestino, at Via Prenestina 73, in the Prenestino district of Municipio V, and for several evenings in September, it transforms the outdoor arena into a space for viewing, remembrance, and civic participation open to all citizens.

Cinema that gives a voice to those who resist

Through screenings, talks, and meetings with directors, activists, and scholars, the festival brings to the big screen works from regions of the world marked by conflict, repression, and struggles for freedom. Each evening is structured as a thematic focus dedicated to a country or a specific issue, combining the power of documentaries and auteur short films with civic debate and geopolitical analysis.

A project supported by Roma Capitale

The festival is organized by the association Ars Mundi APS and is promoted by Roma Capitale – Department of Culture, in collaboration with Zètema Progetto Cultura. The project is one of the winners of the Roma Creativa 365 public call, an initiative through which the Municipality of Rome supports widespread cultural production throughout the territory. Admission to all evenings is free.

The first edition (2025)

The first edition, held from September 24 to 28, 2025, structured its program around days dedicated to Iran, Taiwan, Eastern Europe, and Palestine, featuring internationally acclaimed titles such as "Invisible Nation," "Eastern Front," and "No Other Land," winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary. The screenings, held every evening from 6 PM to midnight, were accompanied by talks with guests, including diplomatic representatives, journalists, and artists from the diaspora.

Rome and its civic commitment

In the landscape of the capital's summer events, the Human Rights Film Fest occupies a unique space: it is not just cinema under the stars, but an arena for debate that weaves together the neighborhood life of the Prenestino district with major international issues. The Parco del Torrione, a green space returned to the community, becomes the ideal stage for an event that makes Rome and the Lazio region a reference point for non-fiction cinema and the culture of rights.