Night of Ideas in San Diego with Free Screening and Conversation on Human Rights

The Alliance Française San Diego presents a special evening of cinema and dialogue organized as part of the international Night of Ideas 2026, an annual global event initiated by the Institut Français. This year’s Night of Ideas explores the theme “Paving the Way” and aligns with the Alliance Française San Diego’s 2026 cultural focus on amplifying the voices of francophone women and their role in shaping social change.

The evening will feature a screening of the award-winning film Defenders of Life (2015), followed by a panel discussion and book signing with acclaimed filmmaker Dana Ziyasheva.

Directed by Dana Ziyasheva, Defenders of Life is a powerful drama examining the collision between ancestral traditions and modern human rights. Set in the hills of Costa Rica, the film tells the story of a young girl caught between tribal customs and the forces of change—a narrative that helped spur the passage of legislation banning child marriage in Costa Rica. The film received the Best Foreign Feature Film Award at the Burbank International Film Festival.
Following the screening, a panel conversation will explore the intersections of tradition, development, public health, and the transformative power of art in advancing social change. The discussion will feature Dana Ziyasheva, director and writer, alongside Janine Young, MD, pediatric physician and professor at UC San Diego, whose work focuses on immigrant and refugee health and culturally specific practices. A Q&A with the audience will follow.
The evening will conclude with a book signing by Dana Ziyasheva, celebrating her debut novel Choc (2023), a work that further reflects her long-standing engagement with human rights and humanitarian issues.

Event Schedule
6:00 pm – Welcome and film screening
Languages: English and Spanish, with English subtitles
8:00 pm – Panel conversation and audience Q&A
9:00 pm – Book signing
This event is free and open to the public, with RSVP required. Walk-ins will be subject to availability.

About the Film
Defenders of Life (2015)
Drama | 94 minutes | English & Spanish (with English subtitles)
Synopsis: In the hills of Costa Rica, Doña Carmen struggles to preserve her tribe’s traditional way of life. Facing pressure to marry off her only granddaughter, she must confront the claims of a 70-year-old shaman to the 12-year-old girl, who is already pregnant. When the girl befriends the son of a visiting anthropologist, the encounter forces a profound clash between the ancient world and the modern one.
About the Speakers
Dana Ziyasheva is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and photographer. Formerly a communications professional at UNESCO for over twenty years, she is known for her work at the crossroads of culture, cinema, and human rights. Originally from Kazakhstan and French by nationality, she now lives in Los Angeles.
Janine Young, MD, is a pediatric physician and professor at UC San Diego, where she leads the Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Neonatology, and Developmental Pediatrics. A Harvard Medical School graduate, she specializes in immigrant and refugee health and speaks Spanish and French.
Looking Ahead: San Diego French Film Festival 2026
Continuing its 2026 focus on women’s voices, the Alliance Française San Diego will also host the San Diego French Film Festival from May 3–7, featuring a lineup of films centered on the theme of francophone women’s experiences and contributions to art, society, and culture.

About Night of Ideas
The Night of Ideas is an annual international event initiated by the Institut Français, bringing together thinkers, artists, researchers, and the public for an evening of debates, talks, and performances. Held simultaneously in cities around the world, it encourages open dialogue around major contemporary issues across cultures and disciplines.
Supporters

The event is supported by Villa Albertine, the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, and Carlsbad City Library, in partnership with the Alliance Française San Diego.