Geneva Institute for Human Rights

In keeping with its mission to promote human rights through cinema, the Geneva Institute for Human Rights has concluded work on its latest short film "Out of the Alphabet," shot from October 29 to November 1.

The film addresses multiple human rights issues, with a primary focus on children's rights violations, through the story of Faris, a poor six-year-old orphan who faces violence and employment discrimination.

Faris, believing his goat has eaten his book of musical anthems, steals the goat of his village's mayor in order to buy a replacement book. Because of this, the people of the village reject him and his mother sends him to the monastery to restore a masculine influence in his life and teach him proper manners. After 27 years, he develops a terminal illness and asks his friend Muhannad for help, not realizing that Muhannad was in fact the spoiled one who stole his book in the first place, changing his life forever. Since then, Muhannad has become an important man in the city. He is conflicted when Faris comes to him for help, finding himself caught between feelings of guilt and the pressure to reveal the hidden truth to his friend before his death.

The film is written and directed by Rola Gager, featuring Syrian actors Knuar Bulbul, Ramez al-Aswad, Ramez Atallah, Sulafa Awisheq, and child actors Fajer Amer and Haider Dhahi.