Learn with films
Film is a great way to learn and share knowledge.
Our human rights education films are ideal for personal study, online staff training or group trainings. Or why not flip the classroom and get participants to watch films in advance of a training and come to your face to face training prepared!
You can also find links to and suggestions for great movies and documentaries that can be used as a tool for reflection and discussion – a perfect evening activity at a residential training!
Films on FORB
This set of 8 films will help you grasp what freedom of religion or belief (FORB) involves and when it may be limited. The films also give an introduction to the situation for freedom of religion or belief in various parts of the world. You can use the films for personal study or in group trainings, or use scripts of the films to develop the contents of your own talks.
See the films!Access to justice
Four short films exploring how you can work to find justice at the local, national and global levels when rights are violated. Ideal for groups or organisations affected by rights violations as well as those wanting to better understand the human rights system.
Learn as you watchPractitioners toolbox
Here you can find films that try to support practitioners working to promote FORB – for example providing practical tools for FORB context analysis. They all come from the FORB learning platform’s training of the trainers course – check out the courses page for details.
Films to help you workFORB film competition
Each year Empower Women Media and the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation honour women who artfully and compellingly explore the impact of freedom of religion and belief in their workplaces and communities through short films.
2026 Grand prize winner: Our father’s daughters
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice that remains prevalent in parts of Upper Egypt due to limited awareness, misconceptions, and the persistence of social and culture beliefs, despite the absence of a valid religious foundation for the practice.
2024 Grand prize winner (Africa): A blue sky
Inspired by a true story, this metaphorical film explores the plight of a schoolgirl held captive for refusing to renounce her beliefs.
2024 Grand prize winner: The losing side
In this film, four women decide to take the road less traveled. After being forced to convert and marry, they decide to raise their voice against this injustice. The system fails them but their loved ones stand by them, hoping for better legislation and future.
2023 Grand prize winner: Strength despite everything
In this observational documentary, Eman Abdullah, a Yazidi woman victimized by ISIS, fights to empower women and bring justice.
2022 Grand prize winner: She stood against religious extremism
In a war-torn region of Pakistan, a young woman starts an initiative to counter religious extremism and sectarian violence by holding dialogue sessions with youth from different beliefs and religions. About the filmmaker: Zeenat Bibi grew up in Peshawar and graduated with a degree in mass communication. She is a journalist at Samaa News, a Pakistani National TV network.
Movies and documentaries
Here are some suggestions for really good movies and documentaries that link to the subject of freedom of religion or belief and that can be used as a tool for reflection, building positive attitudes and discussion. Some are short and others are long. Why not organise a movie night for your faith community, for staff members or at a residential training event?
Find tips here