WARSAW: Nineteen documentary films will compete for the main prize of the 11^th edition of Watch Docs IFF (8-18 December 2011, watchdocs.pl), with a focus on the topic of human rights.

The competition includes five French films: Leadership by Christian Rouaud, reveals the origins of the modern alter-globalization movement; two movies are by the distinguished documentarian Stefano Savona: Tahrir. Liberation Square - acclaimed at the Locarno Film Festival, and Palazzo delle Aquile, which won Grand Prix at the Cinéma du Réel Festival; Habana Muda by Eric Brach - a heartbreaking story about love for sale in Havana, the European premiere of which was held in November during the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam; and Women Are Heroes - an exquisite visual essay directed by JR - one of the most famous street artists.

Other films selected are: Special Flight by Fernando Melgara (Locarno FF international competition); The Guantanamo Trap by Thomas Wallner; The Castle by Massimo D'Anolfi and Martina Parenti, Our School by Mona Nicoara; Estonian Pit Nr 8 by Marianna Kaat, which portrays the Ukrainian reality from the point of view of a thirteen-year-old boy who maintains his family by working in an illegal pit and excellent Peace by a Japanese director Kazuhiro Soda; The Redemption Of General Butt Naked by Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion (Excellence in Cinematography Sundance Award) - a compelling portrait of moral conversion of one of the most cruel warlords in the Liberian Civil War; An African Ellection by Jarreth Merz - a proper political thriller which is a testimony of the presidential election in Ghana; Nobody Know My Name by James Nicholson - an astonishing story about one of the passengers of an airplane hijacked by Black Panthers; This is my land...Hebron by Giulia Amati and Stephena Natansona - a shocking film revealing the sources of hatred inciting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Family Portrait in Black and White by Julia Ivanova (awarded at this year's Hot Docs festival); The Collaborator and his Family by Ruthie Shatz and Adie Barash - the story of a collaborator betrayed by his own patrons (main award at Yamagata festival); The Siege by Angus Gibson and Miguel Salazar - an investigation into a massacre which took place years ago, as well as a German documentary about the limits of tolerance in society; and No Entry No Exit by Julie Kreuzer and Mareille Klein.

Along with the film programme, A master class with Marc Isaacs, a prominent British documentary filmmaker, will take place on December 11. Registration for the master class is open until 9 December.

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