Rama Rau, (born 1950) is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, director, and producer. She is best known for her focus on social justice and human rights issues. She has worked in both fiction and non-fiction film, and has received numerous awards for her work.
Rau was born in Bombay, India, and moved to Montreal at age four. She attended the University of Toronto, where she studied Political Science and International Relations. After graduating, she spent several years in France and the United Kingdom, working on documentary films.
Rau's first feature film, The World Is Watching (1982), was about the Solidarity movement in Poland. This was followed by the award-winning documentary, Who Gets to Call it Art? (1984). Both films addressed the power of art and politics in challenging oppressive regimes.
In the 1990s, Rau began to focus on international human rights issues. She directed and produced the award-winning documentary, The Journey (1992), which follows a group of East African women as they travel to Geneva to testify against human rights abuses in their countries. The film examines the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
Rau has since directed and produced several other documentaries focusing on human rights issues in Canada, the United States, and around the world. These include Under the Gun (1995), which explores the experiences of children living in refugee camps in Central America and The Price of Freedom (2000), which examines the human cost of the war in Kosovo.
Rau's films have received numerous awards, including a Genie Award, a Gemini Award, and a Humanitarian Award from the New York International Latino Film Festival. She has been recognized for her efforts to promote understanding and tolerance for diversity, and her work has been used as a tool for education and advocacy.
Rau continues to make documentaries about human rights issues and is a strong advocate for social justice. She is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and is a past president of the Documentary Organization of Canada.
Rau's work has been widely acclaimed, and she is considered to be one of Canada's leading documentary filmmakers. Her films have been seen around the world, and her commitment to social justice and human rights continues to inspire and educate viewers.
