Protection International’s documentary “Protecting the Rainbow” will be shown at the Q! Film Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, held from 12-20 September 2015. The film will be screened in the festival’s “Mover and Shaker” section, which is a category dedicated to human rights content set up in collaboration with the Human Rights National Commission (HRNC).

The Story

Since 2010, PI’s local Protection Desk Indonesia has partnered with Arus Pelangi, a Jakarta-based organization working for the rights of LGBT people to mainstream their security. As a result, Arus Pelangi now plays a key role in supporting other activists within their network on security management issues.

At the beginning of 2015, Arus Pelangi and PI produced a video to share their story, and best practices and inspire others working in challenging environments to prioritize security planning in their daily work. The film also provides a background of Indonesia’s attitude towards civil society and those defending the rights of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/sexual, and Intersex) people.

The Festival

The Q! Film Festival was founded in 2002 by freelance journalists and movie lovers. Its mission is to propose alternative film options to Indonesian audiences as well as educate and raise awareness on human rights issues.

Among the most important outcomes of the festival is the intervention of the Human Rights Commission to protect queer people and the establishment of a dedicated non-profit advocacy organization to accommodate the increasing needs of LGBTI people.

The 13th year of Q! Film Festival will be the biggest queer film festival in Asia, in terms of number of film screenings and festival length. It has been officially acknowledged as part of the Teddy Award Section of the Berlin Film Festival called the “Teddy on Tour” program since 2006.

Protecting the Rainbow from Protection International on Vimeo.