Camera as Witness, International Human Rights Talk & Screening

Jasmina Bojic, Lecturer/Film critic/Founder and Director UNA Film Festival will give a short talk and show the documentary film called "Juvies." From award-winning documentary filmmaker Leslie Neale (Road to Return), comes this riveting look at a world most of us will never see, the world of juvenile offenders who are serving incredible prison sentences for crimes they either did not commit or were only marginally involved in. For two years, Neale taught a video production class at Los Angeles Central Juvenile Hall to 12 juveniles who were all being tried as adults.

"Juvies" is the product of that class, which was a learning experience for both students and teacher — and becomes a learning experience for all of us, as we witness the heartbreaking stories of children abandoned by families and a system that has disintegrated into a kind of vending machine justice. Narrated by actor Mark Wahlberg, himself a former juvenile offender, "Juvies" follows the lives of a group of young people who will serve most, if not all, of their lives behind bars. The kids talk about the mistakes they made and what they would do if they had the chance to do things differently.