Screening and Debate: 'Cafarnaúm' at the Human Rights Film Cycle
On 20 October 2026, the XVI Ciclo Cine y Derechos Humanos—organised by Amnistía Internacional València and the Aula de Cinema de la Universitat de València—will present a screening of Cafarnaúm, directed by Nadine Labaki in 2018. Shot in Beirut with non-professional actors, the film tells the story of Zain, a 12-year-old boy who sues his parents for condemning him to a life of poverty and abandonment. The film, winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes 2018 and nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, addresses themes such as migration, child exploitation, and the right to a dignified childhood.
The screening will take place in the Aula Magna at the Centre Cultural La Nau and is free to attend, with a limited capacity of 200 people. Following the screening (126 minutes, in Arabic with Spanish subtitles), there will be a debate with experts in human rights, migration, and child protection, open to audience participation.
For more details about the venue and its location, check the La Nau venue page.
Context and Themes
Cafarnaúm portrays the reality of thousands of street children in Lebanon, where extreme poverty and a lack of institutional protection expose them to labour exploitation, violence, and human trafficking. Based on real testimonies, the film blends fiction and documentary to denounce the systematic violation of children’s rights. Its release sparked an intense international debate about the responsibility of states in guaranteeing these rights.
The post-screening debate will feature:
- Representatives from Amnistía Internacional València, specialising in human rights.
- Academics from the Universitat de València, focusing on migration and social exclusion.
- Journalists with experience in covering humanitarian conflicts.
