The Political Film Society Award for human rights is given out each year to a film that deals with struggle for human rights in both fictional and non-fictional stories. This award has been handed out by the Society since 1987. Depending on the number of films that qualify, as few as one film has been nominated for this award before but as many as fourteen have been nominated in years past.
The film that first won this award was Matewan in 1987 that was directed by John Sayles. The award, as with any other Political Film Society Award, can go to a mainstream film, independent film, or even an international film. The Political Film Society looks at a broad selection of films before it nominates them for an award.