From Guyana in South America to Makati in the Philippines (and many other places in between) filmmakers from around the globe will soon showcase their skills as cinematographers at the Global Migration Film Festival. Organized by the UN Migration Agency, IOM and supported by UN Information Centers worldwide and with the financial support of DHL, the festival will take place in over 100 countries from 5 to 18 December 2017.
The second edition of the annual Festival will explore the challenges and promises of migration, the heterogenous journey of migrants, moving from one location to another, settling for temporary or permanent periods, in search for a better future and economic prosperity, reuniting with loved ones, or fleeing war and despair.
Films have the power to show different facets of life, through which viewers may cultivate deeper empathy for migrants and a better understanding of their realities, needs, perspectives and capacities. The objective of the Festival is to use films as educational tools that influence perceptions towards migrants bringing attention to social issues.
The first movie of the festival in Geneva, Lost in Lebanon, delves into news reports from the frontlines of the Syrian war. It takes an intimate look at the lives of four Syrians in Lebanon, who are trying to find ways to overcome the trauma of their shattered lives. The opening screening is hosted in partnership with The Graduate Institute and takes place on 5 December at Maison de la Paix, Geneva. One of the protagonists of the opening film, Mwafak, was invited to create the award statue for the Festival, which will be handed to the Festival winner on the 18th December, during the closing ceremony at Les Cinémas du Grütli.
