Young Migrants & Refugees: “Refuge in Films” Festival 2010

Annual Film Festival Organized by Young Refugees Returns to the BFI Southbank from the 18 to 20 June

Great project, Great festival – Ken Loach

A unique cinematic event, Refuge in Films, which is dedicated to raise awareness about refugee and migrant issues, return this June (18-20^th) to the BFI Southbank for the fourth year running. www.refugeinfilms.org

The three day festival has been developed by a group of young people (19-25 years old), now based in London but who originate from all over the world: Sierra Leone, Colombia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Uganda, Yemen, Burundi, Sudan, Rwanda, Palestine, Kosovo, Algeria, Ivory Coast, kenya, Senegal, Angola, Guinea, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Ireland, Hungary, France, Greece as well as the UK.

Festival Organizer Mamuna Camapo explains:

“Refuge in films is a place where young refugees express their own voice addressing issues of representation of refugees and migrants in the media. The festival is a space of celebration, contributing to a fairer society”.

This year’s festival includes a selection of international features, shorts and documentary films screened in the NFT2 and the Studio. All weekend in the BFI delegates centre, there will be creative workshops for young people and a selection of short films produced by young refugees working with professional filmmakers.

“I finally think my voice has been heard!”-  Fatma Ali, young participant

Highlights of the programme:

Last Train Home, (2009), China. Dir. Lixin Fan.

Uk premiere; Every year in China the same dramatic ritual takes place: in the factory towns of the south, millions of migrant factory workers fight for space on overcrowded trains, trying to return home for the Spring Festival. The Zhangs have lived this way for 20 years. This year, the Zhangs travel with additional purpose: they must bring home their runaway teenage daughter, so that she can return to school and not have to spend her life in a factory.  Awards: Best Feature Documentary at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).

Ajami (2009), Israel. Dir.  Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani.

Jaffa’s Ajami neighbourhood is a melting pot of cultures and conflicting views among Jews, Muslims and Christians. The tragic fragility of human existence is experienced in the enclosed community of Ajami, where enemies must live as neighbours. No location better expresses the dramatic collision of the different worlds. Back and forth in time, and through the eyes of various characters, we witness how impossible the situation actually is.   Nominated for the Academy Awards as best foreign language film and was shown at the London Film Festival.

District 9, (2009), South Africa Dir.  Neil Blomkamp.

With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed… only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extraterrestrial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards.

Full programme available online at www.refugeinfilms.org

Tickets BFI Southbank Box Office tel: +44(0)207 928 3232

Prices:  £9.00 concessions £6.65 / BFI members: £7.60, Concessions £5.25

Address: BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South bank, London SE1 8XT

For further in formation on Refuge in Films 2010 please contact

Beatriz Villate 07903494703 or Mamuna Camapo 07790413348

E-mail: refugeinfilms@gmail.org