AWARD-WINNING director Ken Loach was at Oxford Brookes University to open the 15th annual Oxford Human Rights Festival.

Loach came to the University to introduce a screening of his hard-hitting, multi award-winning film I, Daniel Blake and deliver a Q&A session in conversation with Paul Inman, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the university.

The popular event on Wednesday drew a crowd of over 300 people.

Speaking during the Q&A, the 80-year-old director said: “It’s quite interesting to be opening a festival on human rights with this film because we’re accustomed to thinking of human rights as being an issue in other countries.

“We’re accustomed to thinking of it in countries where there are dictatorships or where there is brutal government or where there are particular issues of oppression.

“The abuse of human rights in this country of these people is what’s happening and it’s on a colossal scale.”

Ken also took the time to chat to film students who have been involved in organising this year’s Human Rights Festival.

The festival runs until Saturday March 18 at Oxford Brookes' Headington Campus.

For the full programme of events and more information about the festival visit www.oxfordhumanrightsfestival.net