Stay curious. Stay informed and to continue to support films that uncover the truth about our world.

Sweeping up the popcorn from the floor, turning off the lights and closing down a much loved institution with a legacy like the Human Rights Watch Film Festival is not an easy thing to do. Today I am sitting down to pen an email to notify our 50,000+ devoted email subscribers to share the news that the festival is closing. The last couple of weeks have given me many moments of clarity and reflection. But right now, what my heart is full of - is true and honest gratitude for our audience members. The people who have stuck with us through thick and thin, through pandemics and floods. Who have made sure never to miss an opening night of our festival - some of them having been at every opening night for decades.

If you haven't yet heard about the Human Rights Watch Film Festival's closure, you can read the official statement from Human Rights Watch here .

Here is the note that I am about to share with them. Some festivals, or organizations may look at their audience with a different lens. Some festivals are major industry events, with red carpets. But our festival - was built to be a place for policy makers and thought leaders, for activists and aspiring filmmakers to share ideas and their visions of the world. Our events were designed to reach teachers and their students. Our events were a place where people could find connection. A place for parents who had become reluctant activists.. never in their lives having considered becoming an outspoken member of their community - but whom found themselves needing to stand up for justice, to advocate for their children to be respected and allowed to grow into adulthood and to be able to grow into the fullness of who they were destined to be. Our events brought together doctors who were heading off into war zones, for childcare workers who were pushing for respect, dignity and a living wage. For families pushing for affordable housing. For LGBTQ youth who want the world to know their stories. This was a very unique space, and a unique group of people.

As the person responsible for building strategic impact campaigns, devising outreach, marketing and contributing to press strategy for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, I can honestly say, with no exaggeration - that our team members would delight with every face that walked into the theater. Every activist who managed to bring along 2 of their friends to connect with other movement leaders at the reception. We watched people stream through our doors, and felt true pride and gratitude. We appreciated their trust, in taking the time to come to this space. And, we worked year-round to design events that not only would inspire them - but would also serve most of all to plug audience members into the work of local human rights advocates, or involve them in supporting Human Rights Watch to help us uncover the truth and push for change.

While, we did manage to reach millions of people per year with our programming and awareness raising work, in the press, via social media - and at our in person and virtual events - I am looking back with pride, and realizing that I never took a single audience member for granted. I worked hard to gain their trust, and to build a sense of belonging in our community. The human to human connections we built together were transformative and will never leave my heart. And I will miss our "regulars" very very much.

All is not lost. As some of my kind colleagues have said to me: "I can't wait to see the Phoenix that is about to rise from this.."

I am in a place of feeling EXCITED about what is ahead. I am finding a space to both reflect on what is now gone, but to also look at the road ahead and how much more there is to accomplish and how many people I'm excited to mobilize on the path to creating a more just world.

But for tonight, I send the below message to our audience.

To our beloved audience members all around the world.?It is with great sadness that we share today that Human Rights Watch has announced it will be closing the Human Rights Watch Film Festival after 35 incredible years due to a financial restructure at the organization. Read the official statement about the festival’s closure?here .

Since 1988, The Human Rights Watch Film Festival has showcased nearly 1,000 independent films, in 30 cities across the globe. Ours was the longest running human rights film festival in the world. We want to thank our dearly loved cinema partners, staff, our collaborators and partner organizations, volunteers, the thousands of brilliant and committed filmmakers we have worked with - and most importantly: you, our committed, supportive audience members. Over the years we have welcomed hundreds of thousands of audience members through our cinema (or virtual) doors. Our events were designed to inspire you to get involved and make a difference, but nothing at all could happen - without seeing you enter the theaters, take your seats, applaud for the filmmakers, sign our petitions and more. We festival staff would delight to see each new face, and to get a chance to reconnect to the devoted community members who have never missed an opening night. Each one of you have made a lasting impact in this work, changing the conversation around arts and human rights around the world. It is because of your support, participation and enthusiasm that the festival has been able to create such a powerful platform for films and critical conversations for over three decades.?

Thank you, wholeheartedly, for being part of our community and for the power of your support. Thank you for your thoughtful questions and for being active participants in creating change together.?

One of the best parts of this work has always been to see members of our audience file out of the theater after a film, to hear your reflections on the film, and to see you line up to speak with the human rights activists, filmmakers and volunteers - as you asked them what can YOU do to make a difference. The world needs you now more than ever, and we encourage you to stay curious, continue to be informed and to continue in your support of films that uncover the truth about our world.?

We invite you to share your favorite festival memories with us, by replying to our post on Twitter here.?

With all of our appreciation and gratitude to you,?

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival team?