American INSIGHT

05/26/2026

We're continuing our “Focus On” series, where we'll highlight a past film that referenced the core values of our mission to promote free speech, human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Today, we're highlighting “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote," the Free Speech Award-winning film in 2019. The documentary by Robert Greenwald weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint an undeniable picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election.

The film sounds the alarm on voter suppression and election subversion and serves as a reminder that our votes hold power.

Learn more about the film in our Free Speech Spotlight Blog (https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/blog/) post this week honoring Philadelphia's connection to democracy.

05/21/2026

Learn more about Philadelphia's connection to the rule of law in our latest Free Speech Spotlight Blog post.

https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/the-rule-of-law-and-philadelphia/

05/20/2026

We're continuing our “Focus On” series, where we'll highlight a past film that referenced the core values of our mission to promote free speech, human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Today, we're highlighting “I Will Not Be Silenced," the Free Speech Award-winning film in 2016. The documentary, which was written and directed by Judy Rymer, chronicled Australian journalist Charlotte Campbell Stephen's seven-year battle for justice after she was horrifically gang r***d in Nairobi.

The film documents Charlotte's fight against the Kenyan legal system. Charlotte shares the stories of Kenyan women as they find their own strength to fight back.

Ultimately, Charlotte's case served as an example for the women of Kenya and the need for reformers in the Kenyan legal system.

Learn more about the film in our Free Speech Spotlight Blog (https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/blog/) post this week honoring Philadelphia's connection to the Rule of Law.

05/14/2026

Today is Filmmaker Day and we're honoring all the global, independent filmmakers who have submitted their films throughout the history of our Free Speech Film Festival. This day honors filmmakers everywhere who use their talents to inspire us and teach us something new.

Fun fact: Filmmaker Day is celebrated annually on May 14 in honor of iconic director George Lucas's birthday.

We hope you'll join us in celebrating the passionate innovations of independent filmmakers who champion the ideas, perspectives, and voices that prove vital to the future of Free Speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.

05/13/2026

Learn more about Philadelphia's connection to human rights in our latest Free Speech Spotlight Blog post.

https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/human-rights-and-philadelphia/

05/12/2026

We're continuing our “Focus On” series, where we'll highlight a past film that referenced the core values of our mission to promote free speech, human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Today, we're highlighting “Free China: The Courage to Believe,” the inaugural Free Speech Award-winning film in 2012. The documentary, which was written and directed by Michael Perlman, shared the true story of Jennifer Zeng, a mother and former Communist Party member who was eventually imprisoned by the Chinese Government for her faith after practicing Falun Gong, a belief that combined Buddhism and Daoism.

Learn more about the film in our Free Speech Spotlight Blog (https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/blog/) post this week honoring Philadelphia's connection to Human Rights.

05/07/2026

Learn more about Philadelphia's connection to free speech in our latest Free Speech Spotlight Blog post.

https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/free-speech-and-philadelphia/

05/07/2026

Join us in a Throwback-Thursday series as we revisit interviews from our archives featuring the 2020 Free Speech Film Festival award-winning directors.

In this first Meet-the-Directors video, meet Wanjiru Njendu, the 2020 Free Speech Award-winning director for "Boxed."

🎥Watch here:

American INSIGHT - FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVAL AWARD 2020Welcome to the 2020 Meet-the-Directors series featuring Moderator Karen Curry (American INSIGHT Board ...

05/05/2026

This month, we're sharing a series called “Focus On” where we'll highlight a past film that referenced the core values of our mission to promote free speech, human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Today, we're highlighting “Free Speech Fear Free,” our 2017 Free Speech Award-winning film. The 2016 documentary, directed by Tarquin Ramsay, takes a look at how our society would crumble without free speech and asks the hard questions “Can we really be fully human without Free Speech?” and “Is Free Speech the oxygen of our society?”

Learn more about the film in our Free Speech Spotlight Blog post tomorrow honoring Philadelphia's connection to Free Speech.

05/04/2026

Last Friday, we celebrated Law Day in the United States. It's important for us to honor this day, given our mission to promote the values of the Rule of Law. In fact, this year's Law Day theme is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 to recognize the impact law has on a free society and how the legal process helps to preserve our individual liberties. Law Day focuses on ensuring individuals have equality and justice under the law and how this offers protection from authoritarian systems.

05/03/2026

Today, we mark World Press Freedom Day. The United Nations established this day to vital role that the principles of freedom of the press have around the world.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” which includes the freedom “to hold opinions without interference” and to “impart information and ideas through an media.” The day is a reminder to governments to respect and honor their commitment to freedom of expression.

On Word Press Freedom Day, countries around the world honor journalists who have lost their lives with pursuing the truth in their work.