We are delighted to announce the 20th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival), which was founded in 1998 by Stanford educator and film critic Jasmina Bojic in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The 20th UNAFF will be held from October 19-29, 2017 in Palo Alto, Stanford University, East Palo Alto and San Francisco. This year’s theme RESPECT continues our two decades long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the reminder that it applies to everyone.
As one of the oldest solely documentary film festivals in the US, UNAFF has grown and earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its fearless independence and integrity. In addition to providing early outlets for films, many of which later went on to win major awards and accolades, UNAFF prides itself in creating a community forum with year-round programs for discovery and dialogue about different cultures, issues and solutions.
Over the years UNAFF has screened some of the most awarded and talked about documentaries in the industry, including seven that went on to win Academy Awards and thirty that were nominated.
Last year UNAFF jurors reviewed almost 700 submissions. The final program consisted of 60 films from all over the world. To complement the screenings UNAFF partnered with community organizations for six panels on topics such as climate change, the impact of social media and arts, universal primary education, gender equality, hate crime and LGBT issues, philanthropy and social change and the passion for producing human rights documentaries.
UNAFF gives six awards - UNAFF Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary, UNAFF Grand Jury Award for Best Short Documentary, UNAFF Youth Vision Award, UNAFF Award for Cinematography, UNAFF Award for Editing and UNAFF Vision Award.
UNAFF has received praise from academic, civic and community leaders for using the documentary film format to give voice to people who would otherwise go unheard, to highlight vastly different life experiences, and to awaken new understanding of major political, cultural and environmental issues.
UNAFF has won two WAVE Awards for best promotional trailer and was nominated for a CreaTVe Award. Also, MovieMaker Magazine listed UNAFF twice as one of the “Top 25 Festivals worth the Entry Fee.” Furthermore, UNAFF won the prestigious Earl W. Eames Award for innovatively combining new technologies with traditional media. As an acknowledgment of the 10th anniversary, UNAFF received the “Community Treasure Award” from Stanford University President John Hennessy for its contribution in promoting dialogue and education about different cultures and issues. For the last fourteen years the Mayor of Palo Alto has proclaimed the festival days as UNAFF Week, consistently recognizing the significance that UNAFF has for the community. Also, UNAFF received the Academy Foundation Grant for the UNAFF and Kids program and its Founder and Director received the prestigious UNESCO Fellini Medal.
Through UNAFF and Kids and UNAFF in Schools programs we have devoted our attention to the young and to the wiser among us with the UNAFF for Seniors. The UNAFF Panels program provides a platform for some of the best experts addressing challenging topics and our UNAFF Café maintains a steady supply of interesting films and informal discussions. UNAFF Archive offers a plethora of research material for students of film, politics and international relations. UNAFF With Veterans brings documentaries to veterans and their families. UNAFF Women’s Salon is a forum where women can gather informally for active discussions in a supportive and engaging environment.
Our popular UNAFF Traveling Film Festival has taken place in San Francisco, Berkeley, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Davis, Saratoga, Sonoma, Sebastopol, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, Burlington, Bellevue, Miami, La Crosse, Fryeburg, Denver, Houston, Durham at Duke University, Chapel Hill, New Haven at Yale University, Waukesha at University of Wisconsin, Boston and Cambridge at Harvard University and internationally in Paris, Venice, Belgrade, Phnom Penh and Abu Dhabi.
By making a tax-deductible donation to UNAFF you will directly give a chance to tens of thousands of people to see these important films that bring us together as a diverse community. Please send your gift (check payable to UNAFF) to:
UNAFF
P.O. Box 19369
Stanford, CA 94309
or donate online via PayPal (send to info@unaff.org or use the link on the left)
We hope that the variety of film programs and other related events during UNAFF 2017 will present you with a truly exciting and memorable experience.
