20 May The Rule of Law and Philadelphia
Free speech, human rights, and the rule of law have deep roots in Philadelphia. Learn how its legal history still inspires global justice today....
Free Speech Blog
Welcome to the Free Speech Blog, published by American INSIGHT. Check back for announcements, articles, interviews, and updates on all our programs from the Free Speech Team.
12 May Human Rights and Philadelphia
American INSIGHT's Free Speech Film Festival highlights human rights stories worldwide, inspired by Philadelphia's rich legacy of advocacy — from Quaker abolitionists to civil rights pioneers like James Forten and Octavius Catto....
07 May Free Speech and Philadelphia
Explore the intersection of cinema and civil liberties. From the 45 words of the First Amendment in Independence Mall to award-winning documentaries like Free Speech Fear Free, see how Philadelphia’s heritage continues to shape the global conversation on surveillance and expression....
15 Apr Independent Filmmakers Show Creativity in Making Free Speech Films
Submissions for the 2026 Free Speech Film Festival close April 30. Learn how past filmmakers overcame extraordinary challenges from Afghanistan's prisons to Arctic ice to create award-winning films championing free speech and human rights....
30 Mar Free Speech Film Festival Gives Global Filmmakers A Voice
Submit your film to the Free Speech Film Festival by April 30. Gain global exposure, compete for a $1,000 award, and amplify voices championing free speech, human rights, and democracy....
17 Feb Safoi Babana-Hampton Uses the Power of Art to Lift Veils of Silence
Professor and filmmaker Safoi Babana-Hampton uses documentary film to unsilence the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade....
17 Feb Antonio Aleixo Feels Freedom of Speech Has Many Meanings
Portuguese filmmaker Antonio Aleixo discusses his award-winning film, post-apocalyptic storytelling, and the true meaning of free speech....
17 Feb Zainab Entezar Believes Big Changes Happen With Small, Brave Steps
Filmmaker Zainab Entezar on her award-winning documentary about two Afghan sisters fighting the Taliban for their most basic rights....
26 Jan Stavros Stagos Documents Human Courage
Filmmaker Stavros Stagos's documentary on the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising, a 2025 Free Speech Film Festival selection, explores the personal stories behind Greece's historic student revolt against military rule....
05 Jan Saeed Moltaji Knows Filmmakers Are a Voice of Truth
Director Saeed Moltaji explains the inspiration behind Message, his acclaimed film about a Gaza journalist's determination to document the truth, and his belief that art can amplify voices that would otherwise go unheard....
01 Dec Empowering Voices: Trisha Ziff’s Vision for Peace
Meet Trisha Ziff, the 2025 Free Speech Film Festival Award winner. Discover how her documentary Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man champions the power of voice, cultural identity, and the road to peace in Northern Ireland....
18 Nov Free Speech and Peace was central focus of American INSIGHT’s 2025 Free Speech Award Ceremony
At the 2025 Free Speech Award Ceremony, director Trisha Ziff offered a powerful definition of free speech—one that champions the freedom of ideas without hurting others—and shared her concern that this fundamental right is "terrifyingly disappearing" for many today....
30 Oct Roosevelt, Calvert and Connolly on Free Speech and Peace
Explore the delicate balance between Free Speech and Peace through the lens of Quaker values. Experts Kermit Roosevelt, Jane Calvert, and Sean Connolly discuss equanimity, accountability, and reciprocal liberty in today's public square...
27 Oct Oliver Franklin Connects to America’s Founding Era
Oliver Franklin, CBE, former Honorary British Consul for Greater Philadelphia, will be a featured speaker at the 2025 Free Speech Award Ceremony, discussing "Free Speech + Peace" and his new documentary on the American Founding Era....
20 Oct Karen Curry: A Decade of Commitment
Meet Karen Curry, a broadcast news veteran and American INSIGHT Board Member, who will emcee the 2025 Free Speech Award Ceremony. Her experience spans NBC, CNN, and the ACLU....