Even a living room, that is the size of an average suburban kitchen, can be the location for a significant film festival. When the right people get together in the same place at the same time a spark is generated that gives momentum to a powerful evening. Such was the circumstance one special night.

It all started with a call from Amsterdam where my Parisian friend, Hubert Sauper, was showing his film "Kisangani Diary." I had met Hubert at the United Nations in Geneva while working on a project honoring filmmakers who truly shot cinema of importance. It was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a few rare beautiful souls were being honored for their valuable contribution to humanity through cinema. Hubert phoned to remind me that the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) was screening his film and to meet him there.

So I did. "Kisangani Diary" is a documentary about Rwandan refugees in the Congo (formerly known as Zaire). Hubert went on a train ride and captured poignantly the plight of the Hutus suffering and dying in huge numbers from hunger and persecution. Until the images of his journey was picked up by CNN, BBC, etc. the world, including the UN, was in denial of the problem even though there was talk about it happening. Hubert almost perished from the after effects of being so close to disease and death and spent much time in the hospital recovering. But how often is one presented with the opportunity to really do something of substance in life. Who amongst us has the passion to risk our lives in the name of truth, who really cares and understands truth?

Being the free spirit that he is, Hubert came to the MOMA directly off the plane and left his luggage with the coat check at the museum. Upon inquiring where has was staying during his trip to New York he shrugged his shoulders. It was a privilege to give this man shelter from the storm and I brought him home to my sofa bed. Afterall , he did change the course of history.

A few days into his stay the phone rang and on the other end was Soraya Mire. A Somalian filmmaker whose life is in danger to this day for her picture "Fire Eyes." She was the courageous young woman who brought female genital mutilation and the damage it does physically and psychologically to the worlds attention. Soraya had won an award for "Fire Eyes" in Geneva and also spoke at the sub-commission's 50th session. Since Hubert and Soraya's statues got held up in Swiss customs and sent back to LA, we decided to screen the films at my place present the awards. We'd invite some people, prepare some munchies and make an evening of it!

Here are perfect examples of how I meet the most interesting people in my modest home. To balance the serious nature of "Kisangani Diary" and "Fire Eyes" we also screened "Boat People" by Italian director GianFranco Rosi. A charming tale about India's Ganges River where the dead are thrown and people from all over come to bathe believing the water posses power. Hubert had met GianFranco at another festival once upon a time and now he was only a few blocks away.

The story of my film festival wouldn't be complete without mentioning two new friends that came into my orbit that evening. Paul DeRienzo and Miss Joan Moossy came by to meet Hubert and get some background for an interview with him for their radio program "Let Em Talk" on NYC's WBAI. We have kept in touch and I am always impressed with their constant attention to matters concerning the underdogs of the global society. Their mission: Keeping an eye on the New World Order.

All during the evening my over stimulated mind kept thinking how lucky I was to have an apartment full of kind, consciousness, brave and brilliant people. I'm the first one to whip out a pretty dress and go to the various fund raisers that are part of the New York social scene. But it isn't close to the feeling as sharing your home with those who have done something to right a very serious wrong done to others and risk their well being doing so. Now that is my definition of humanitarian behavior at work.