We are a festival with a mission. Founded by New Orleans artists and activists, PATOIS: The New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival is dedicated to nurturing the city’s human rights community, supporting the work of local organizers and organizations involved in these struggles, and providing a forum for artistic expression of local and international issues.

Founded in 2004, PATOIS has premiered hundreds of powerful social justice oriented films from around the world while highlighting brilliant local filmmakers and the vital local grassroots organization doing work in the city.

In addition to the film festival every spring, PATOIS hosts a variety of community screenings, workshops and fundraising/outreach events leading up to the festival. Because Patois has always prioritized community accountability, we curate our festival in consultation with a range of New Orleans’ grassroots organizations and activists; from veterans of the civil rights movement, to high school students, to advocates, teachers, and organizers.