The Starz Film Festival Line up of Women’s Rights Brims With International Power and Beauty in Struggles of Women undeniably asserting Their Heart and Humanity.
(for complete listings and updates go to www.denverfilm.org)

What this festival means to me is that people are knitted together in a mosaic across the world of common threads and passions for treating the earth as a partner in our quest for peace.

On November 12, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House “Precious” débuts, starring Gabourey Sidibe , which is based on the novel, Push,” by Ramon Lofton. November 21, their triumph as the powerful nexus of change and self-determination evokes adulation and authority in the final film, “The Young Victoria,” which will be débuted at 7:30 p.m.

The triumph of the spirit and transformation of women , in the cast of 3,000 nuns on November 14 and 15, at the Tivoli Starz Theatres on Auraria Campus in “Blessings.” This stirring documentary, about the nuns of Nangchen, spiritual practitioners of supreme devotion in Eastern Tibet renews one’s faith in humanity.

The film, “After the Rape,” depicts the life of Mukhtaran Mai, who was ordered raped by a tribal council, by six men in an act of revenge against her twelve year old brother. The rapists were acquitted in a Pakistan court in the town. She was expected to kill herself but instead created a justice center for domestic violence against women and the Mukhtar Model Girls School. Her unyielding efforts have transformed the lives of girls and families. This film can be viewed Tuesday Nov. 17 at 6:45 p.m. and at 8:45 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Tivoli.

“Twelve Stones,” “Crossing Midnight,” “Likhaya,” depict the lives of heroic women in Myanmar, Nepal and Swaziland, who through their common threads of consciousness life their families, and their communities from the depths of suffocating isolation. The directors these films, respectively, Sandy Smolan, Kim Snyder and Aaron Kopp capture the quality of life and survival of people on the edge of despair. In many parts of the world micro businesses and centers for women to rise upon the stage of economic justice are creating a world wide revolution in the worth and dignity of their families.

In “Twelve Stones,” women learn to work together for economic justice in a remote and intolerant male dominated social system to transform their lives.
In “Crossing Midnight,” Millions fleeing Myanmar find the clinic established by Dr. Cynthia Maung and medical students twenty years ago has transformed the lives of countless refugees.

In “Likhaya,” a group of women have created a sustainable farm in Swaziland in southern Africa. Here they treat the ravages of HIV/AIDS through their methods of sustenance of the spirit and community. These films will be shown on Sat. Nov. 21 at 3:15 p.m. and Sun. Nov. 22 at 6:45 p.m. at Tivoli.

The supplement to the Denver Post, page 14F that this focus of the festival concerning women, “celebrates their art, achievements, brings together scholars, human rights advocates, and citizens. The Starz Film Festival has a monthly session presenting the work and lives of women.”

In this showcase is “My Neighbor My Killer,” by Annie Aghion, in cooperation with the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness, exploring the civil war between Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda, and specifically the process of reconciliation. This will be shown at the Tivoli Sun. Nov. 14 at 4 p.m., and Mon. Nov. 15 at both 4:30 and 7 p.m.

“One for the Road,” is directed by Eva Lopez Sanchez is a part of the Festival de Cine Mexicano. The film will be shown on Sun. Nov. 14 at 1:45 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Sun. Nov. 15.

“Quest For Honor,” is directed by Mary Ann Smothers Bruni is about honor killings in Kurdistan, “tracking the investigation of these atrocities by women’s rights groups.”

Along with this film is the showing of “Sin By Silence,” directed by Olivia Klaus. She spent seven years filming Brenda Clubin, who founded the Convicted Women Against Abuse organization in California State Prison. The group is responsible for many changes in the corrections system with respect to women who take their partner’s lives and who are victims of domestic violence. These films will be shown on Sat. Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. and Mon. Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

“When the Mountains Tremble,” directed by Pamela Yates and Newton Thomas Sigel. This is being shown at the Denver Post Building in the DVA Auditorium on Wed. Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in cooperation with the Denver Justice and Peace Committee, CAMINOS, Natural Resources Defense Council and is being sponsored by both the Denver Post and Peace Jam. This film is based on a 1983 documentary of the Nobel laureate, Rigoberto Menchu in Guatemala, who is a Quiche Mayan.

“Two Spirits,” directed by Lydia Nibley, is a documentary about Fred Martinez a “nadleehi,” a young Navajo who in 1979, was at a carnival and was brutally murdered because he lived according to traditions and his sexual orientation. This tribute is a documentary of his life and through the tender eyes of his mother who recounts how Fred rose above the bigotry of many of his peers and local citizens came to terms with who and how he lived like a soaring eagle. This film will be shown at the King Center Sat. Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m.

In addition to these many talented and determined warriors of the spirit there will be a panel entitled, “Women and Film: Diversity Through the Decades.” This takes place Sun. Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the King Center. Anna Sophia Robb, recipient of the 2009 Rising Star Award, Sarah Siegel-Magness, the producer of “Precious,” Eva, Sanchez-Lopez, the director of “One For the Road,” Emily Kunstler, the director of the film, “William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe,” and Dixie Carter, an actress from, “That Evening Sun,” are members of the panel.

What shines forth in these excerpts and in the ways of the world in this time is the determination, trust, spirit, and wisdom of women and the community of their faith to preserve a balance against extremism and hatred toward them and the earth.