Alliance Française San Diego presents a special evening of cinema and dialogue on February 26, organized as part of Night of Ideas 2026, an annual global event organized by the Institut Français. Exploring the theme Enlightenment Now, this year’s Night of Ideas aligns with 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.
This event is free and open to the public, with RSVP required. Walk-ins will be subject to availability.
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.