True revolution begins in the imagination.
The Active Vista Human Rights Festival is an annual event that celebrates rights, freedoms, and dignity. It takes place every September to commemorate the Martial Law Anniversary in the Philippines. The festival provides creative avenues for the public to engage in critical discourse and conversations on various social issues and participate in initiatives supporting human rights and democracy.
AVHRF 2024
The 12th Active Vista Human Rights Festival: Espekulasyon
What if things were different?
The 12th edition of the Active Vista Human Rights Festival: ESPEKULASYON invites audiences to wander together into the world of possibilities–to imagine a future where gripping into hope does not bleed, and a better reality is within reach.
By spotlighting stories from the margins through nine satellite regional festivals, Active Vista takes its viewers to see the world not as it is, but as what it could be, opening conversations through films, humor, art, and performances, ushering them in a critical discourse through forums and talks that encourage in-depth reflection on a future beyond what is.
For in this world of uncertainties, where the future is bleak, to speculate is to resist.
Announcements and Updates
ACTIVE VISTA HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL 2025
Festival Calendar
SEPTEMBER 19 - 28
SEP 19
One Death is Too Many | On Extra-Judicial Killings
(With College of St. Benilde – Center for Social Action, MCAD, PAHRA)
September 19 | 12 PM – 2 PM
MCAD Multimedia Room
Through film and dialogue, this forum confronts the narratives that justified violence and asks how to resist forgetting, preserve truth, and seek justice.
Ghosts of Future Past
Southeast Asian Short Films Exhibition and Discussion
September 19, 2025 | 4 PM
Street Kohi, Quezon City
This year’s festival calls you to gather, remember, and resist, through powerful films that confront the haunting legacies of Martial Law.
Tipping the Scales
Southeast Asian Short Films Exhibition and Discussion
September 19, 2025 | 4 PM
Street Kohi, Quezon City
You are invited to Tipping the Scales and discover Southeast Asia through its cinema and find in its stories echoes of our own.
Festival Opening: Magellan by Lav Diaz
(with Black Cap Pictures, Lunchbox, and Red Carpet Cinemas)
September 19, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Shangrila Cinema 3
Kicking off this year’s festival is the Philippines’ official entry to the 98th Academy Awards, Magellan by Lav Diaz.
SEP 20
Delikado by Karl Malakunas
September 20 | 8 PM
Online via Kinema
Join us in discovering what these places are and why they were made so at the online screening of Delikado by Karl Malakunas, followed by a live Q&A with Bobby Chan, Karl Malakunas, and Tata Balladares, moderated by Julian Etienne.
Filipino Shorts Competition
September 20 | 6 PM – 8 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
This year’s FRAMES short film competition is focused on discovering and supporting young filmmakers from the Philippines who are deeply committed to human rights.
Aswang by Alyx Ayn Arumpac
(with Photo Exhibit of Raffy Lerma)
September 20 | 9 AM – 12 PM
UP Film Media Center Studio
Climate Story Lab
September 20 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
After a year of development and creation, the four grantees of the Climate Story Lab are finally ready for their first screening!
Ghosts of Future Past
Southeast Asian Short Films Exhibition and Discussion (with Talkback)
September 20 | 1 PM – 3 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
This year’s festival calls you to gather, remember, and resist, through powerful films that confront the haunting legacies of Martial Law.
SEP 21
On September 21, the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines, we bring the 13th edition of the Active Vista Human Rights Festival (AVHRF) in Luneta and at the People Power Monument in EDSA along with our satellite festivals in Laguna, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro to flood the streets of our land with our protest and make the festival our stage to wield change.
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SEP 22
11,103 by Jeannette Ifurung and Mike Alcazaren
September 22 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
FEU
11,103 by Jeannette Ifurung and Mike Alcazaren
September 22 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Miriam College Henry Sy. Innovation Center
SEP 23
Due to inclement weather, festival programs originally scheduled for this date have either been postponed or rescheduled to a later date.
SEP 24
11,103 by Jeannette Ifurung and Mike Alcazaren
September 24 | 9 AM – 12 PM
UST Central Lab Auditorium
SA PAGBABA NG LUKSA Art Exhibition
(with College of St. Benilde – Center for Social Action, UE – Buklod Sining, Museum of Contemporary Arts and Design (MCAD), Benilde Arts Management (BeAM) and Silingan Coffee)
September 24, 2025 | 1 PM
The Atrium Lobby, College of St. Benilde
SEP 25
Due to inclement weather, festival programs originally scheduled for this date have either been postponed or rescheduled to a later date.
SEP 26
SEP 27
SEP 28
Ain’t I A Woman? | On Women’s Empowerment
September 28 | 6 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
This forum listens to stories that challenge patriarchy and affirm women’s place at the center of shaping just and equal futures.
Grasping at the Root | On Climate Justice
(with Alyansa Tigil Mina, Co. Lab)
September 28 | 2 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
This forum digs deep into the roots of the environmental crisis, centering communities who resist destruction and reimagine futures where both people and planet can thrive.
The Fires We Inherit | On Labor
(with Mayday Multimedia, Philippine Labor Movement Archive, and Co. Lab)
September 28 | 4 PM
Sine Pop, Quezon City
This forum reflects on labor’s unfinished battles and the collective fires we must carry forward.
Rescheduled Events
OCT 04
I’m Still Here by Walter Salles
October 4, 2025 | 3:00PM
UPFI Film Center
FREE ADMISSION
Food Delivery: Fresh From the West Philippine Sea by Baby Ruth Villarama
October 4, 2025 | 6:00PM
UPFI Film Center
PhP250.00 Regular
PhP200.00 Student, PWD and Senior Citizen
OCT 10
Tipping the Scales
Southeast Asian Short Films Exhibition and Discussion (with Talkback)
October 10, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Harong Cafe, Quezon City
You are invited to Tipping the Scales and discover Southeast Asia through its cinema and find in its stories echoes of our own.
Drag Me to Court!
A Drag show + Open Mic Night with "Tipping the Scales" Film Screening
(with Human Rights and People Empowerment Center)
October 10, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Harong Cafe, Quezon City
With performances by: Pura Luka Vega | Italya | Skinishaaa | Androjenny | Ja Quintana | Gab Cabangon | Sof Carpizo
AVFEST 2024 Official Festival Guide
This year, the festival invites its audience to reflect on a future beyond the present by opening discussions through humor, art, and performances—spotlighting regional stories, conducting educational forums, and screening films that encourage viewers to see the world not only as it is but as it could be, as it should be.
INQUIRIES? CONCERNS?
Contact Us
Phone: (02) 7900 13 76
Office Location: Quezon City, Philippines
