INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TOKYO, OCTOBER 16To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Armauer Hansen's discovery of the leprosy bacillus, Sasakawa
Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative and Bergen International Film Festival are co-hosting a special Hansen's disease programme within the
festival, in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Leprosy Museum in Bergen, Norway from October 24-26
This film festival is a part of the Bergen International Film Festival which is being held from October 18-26.
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Armauer Hansen
International Film Festival (AHIFF), the world's first leprosy film festival, consists of four feature films and two short films that depict
the situation for people with leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, from both a historical and contemporary perspective
The festival includes a screening at the Leprosy Museum, regular screenings, and a dedicated school programme."Bergen International Film
Festival facilitates the world's first film festival for the disease of leprosy, which is still prevalent in many countries
We look forward to marking the conclusion of the anniversary of the Bergen native Armauer Hansen's discovery of the leprosy bacillus 150
years ago," says festival director Tor Fosse.
Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, has shared
his thoughts, saying, "I believe that there is much to be learned from the past experiences of people confronting leprosy, and I hope that
people can feel this through the film festival
As well as being a disease, leprosy is also a pressing human rights issue that still affects millions of people around the world
I hope that those who watch the films will understand the deep-rooted stigma and discrimination that has isolated people affected by the
disease and will play their part to create a world where no one is left behind."Despite the leprosy bacillus having been discovered in
Bergen, it is safe to say that most Norwegians and the general public know little about the current state of leprosy and the stigma
Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative and the Bergen International Film Festival will arrange a festival programme with a dedicated
focus on bridging a knowledge gap surrounding the disease from a historical and current perspective
The festival consists of documentaries and fiction films with content related to the theme, as well as special school screenings, the
statement issued by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative reads."On October 23rd, we will give the audience a glimpse of modern
leprosy colonies in China and Brazil when we are showing the short films CHILDREN OF LEPROSY and THE VILLAGE at the Leprosy Museum, before
taking a look back at Bergen's local and groundbreaking leprosy history with a tour of the museum
On October 24th the festival officially opens, with a reception at Kulturhuset followed by a screening of the documentary THE LAST MILE
The film documents international efforts of WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa to eradicate leprosy and remove the stigma and
discrimination associated with the disease
Sasakawa will present at both the reception and the screening of THE LAST MILE."We are also showing the internationally acclaimed films THE
MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, YOMEDDINE, and SWEET BEAN, all of which tackle stigma related to Hansen's disease, Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease)
Initiative said.The Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative is a strategic alliance established in 2020 between WHO Goodwill
Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Yohei Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation, and Sasakawa Health Foundation
Together they share a vision of zero leprosy and work towards a world without any suffering related to the disease.The Bergen International
Film Festival annually presents over 150 documentary and fiction films, making it the largest film festival in Norway
BIFF has a dedicated focus on documentaries, but as an audience member, you also have the chance to catch a range of fiction films, short
This year it is also hosting AHIFF as part of the festival.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com