Adobe Youth Voices, founding presenter, in collaboration with the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, will bring young filmmakers to Boston this month to present films they created to raise awareness of human rights issues ranging from child labor to police harassment. Two screenings of 10 specially-selected films are scheduled for Fri., January 22, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, part of the second annual Youth Producing Change showcase series featured in Human Rights Watch Film Festivals in London, New York and San Francisco. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Annalise Littman, age 18, is a freshman at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and one of the young filmmakers taking part in the Boston event. She will present her film, "Aquafinito," which describes the struggle of people around the globe to gain access to clean water. At the time of production, Littman attended Newton South High School in Newton, Mass.

"Aquafinito raises awareness about the environmental and societal implications of bottled water, and Youth Producing Change has provided an important opportunity for the film to be seen and its message to be heard," said Littman.

Youth Producing Change is a project of Adobe Youth Voices, the global philanthropic initiative of Adobe Systems Incorporated, designed to provide youth in underserved communities with critical skills they need to become active and engaged members of their communities and the world at large.

Since 2006, more than 20,000 youth in 30 countries have participated in Adobe Youth Voices training programs to create media for social change. In the Boston metropolitan area, Adobe Youth Voices is currently working with hundreds of teens at Ferryway School in Malden; Media Communications Tech in West Roxbury; Artists for Humanity in Boston; EDCO Youth Alternative Program in Kenmore Square; and Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain to provide the training and tools youth need to create films, videos, animations, photo essays and music that inspire change in their communities.

"Teenagers are making a critical difference across the globe to advance human rights," said John Biaggi, Director, Human Rights Watch Film Festival. "Armed with digital cameras and their own creativity and courage, the first-time filmmakers featured in the Youth Producing Change series expose some of the most pressing human rights challenges of the day, tackling such issues as child labor, immigration, access to clean water, sexual violence, police harassment, HIV/AIDS in Mozambique, and teen homelessness in New York City."

Each of the 10 films being screened on January 22 were produced by filmmakers who were under age 19 at the time of production. The films were selected from over 250 international submissions. In addition to events in Boston and other major cities, the Youth Producing Change lineup will be presented in high schools throughout the United States.

"The Adobe Foundation is proud to partner with Human Rights Watch in providing a platform for these remarkable young filmmakers to explore and comment on their world," said Michelle Mann, Executive Director of the Adobe Foundation. "By calling attention to human rights issues, these youth are inspiring audiences worldwide and demonstrating the power to express ideas, engage stakeholders and effect change through digital media."

Screening Details - Fri., Jan. 22

Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass. 02115

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Special free screening for schools and youth groups.
Discussion with youth filmmakers to follow. To reserve free space for your school, Please send an email to ypcboston@hrw.org

7 p.m.
Discussion with youth filmmakers and reception at the School of the MFA to follow.
Tickets for MFA Members, seniors, and students $8; general admission $10.
(Special Offer: BUY ONE STUDENT TICKET at the box office, GET ONE FREE upon presentation of valid student ID. Offer not valid for online, or telephone ticket purchases.).

Filmmakers attending the festival (bios available upon request; ages listed represent filmmakers' ages at time of production):

• Annalise Littman, 18, Aquafinito (based in Boston)


• Sahar Shakeri, 19, Thoughts in a Hijab (based in Seattle)


• Clevins Browne, 20; Zanetta King,17; and Olivia McClendon,16; In My Shoes (based in New York City)


• Jessica Celle, 19, It’s Not About Sex (based in New York City)

To read the full lineup of Youth Producing Change films at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/iff/youth-producing-change-1

To watch a trailer for the Youth Producing Change program, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Pb3_0d_cc

To listen to a Podcast featuring interviews with Youth Producing Change filmmakers please visit: http://www.hrw.org/en/audio/2009/07/31/youth-producing-change

For more information, interviews, or to preview DVDs of featured films, please contact:
Candelaria Silva at (617/825-0122) or ypcboston@hrw.org

About Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) is the Adobe Foundation's global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the energy and insight of young people 13-19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.

The program teaches youth to express themselves through documentary film-making, photography, print journalism, radio diaries, animation, Web communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network now includes 158 sites, grantees and organizations in 31 countries, engaging over 20,000 youth and 1,000 educators in schools and out-of-school programs. For more information, visit www.adobe.com/go/youthvoices.

About the Adobe Foundation
The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.

About the Human Rights Watch Film Festival

Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. We have worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and have fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world. Through our Human Rights Watch Film Festival we bear witness to human rights violations and create a forum for courageous individuals on both sides of the lens to empower audiences with the knowledge that personal commitment can make a difference. More information about the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, as well as downloadable images, can be found at: http://www.hrw.org/iff

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