JOURNEYS INTO FILM
2021, 62mins
Journeys Into Film is a selection of shorts developed through following the work of directors with lived experience, and their ethos in filmmaking. The legacies of these films, purposefully programmed in dialogue with each other take in the importance of how we cannot walk alone, encouraging boundary-crossing and understanding of history and communications between those with lived experiences and those without working to support them.
Little Whale on the Beach (2018), by Parang Khezi, explores history repeating itself, as a child explores a dreamland on sandy shores. Surreal, explorative and playful in style, Parang Khezi’s experimental film was created collaboratively for Journeys Festival International; this was a pertinent and personal story for the director and the crew.
My Name is Anik (2019), by Bircan Birol, is about a granddaughter learning Kurdish from her grandmother and a reflection on sharing painful memories and trying to maintain a sense of culture that had to be hidden as a result of resettling in Turkey. My Name Is Anik explores the complicated effort of grasping her mother tongue, as Anik reflects on painful and poignant memories. This intimate depiction of Birol and her grandmother reveals a glimpse of the joining of language, culture and identity.
This is Not a Poem (2019), by Eric Ngalle Charles, is a hymn on tolerance. Following the poetry of writer, actor, and human rights activist Eric Ngalle Charles. This short film is a visual composition which explores education, migration, displacement and belonging. Eric brings his experience and storytelling ability to question home, placing his work and ideas between Wales and Cameroon.
Birds or Borders (2020), by Parham Ghalamdar, explores expanded painting and drawing, stretching out each technique with vibrant digital tools. The film borrows from the COVID-19 context to demonstrate how lack of freedom is no new thing for migrants.
Ambience (2019), by Wisam Al Jafari tells the story of two young Palestinians trying to find a space to record music inside their camp. In this bid to win a Music competition, their drive for success pushes the two to work more creatively than they first considered. Wisam Al-Jafari’s Ambience highlights the frustration and chaos of life under occupation.
Produced by charity ArtReach, Journeys Into Film is a fresh and thoughtful selection of short films from five contemporary filmmakers, as a strand of Journeys Festival International. Journeys into Film is dedicated to supporting the work of refugee filmmakers and as distribution and exhibition partners to the filmmakers, our process of professional relationships embodies the importance of walking together and uniting against the swathe of hostility to migration.
Journeys into Film is supported collectively by Film Hub North and Film Hub Midlands, awarding National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Film Hub for their ongoing advice and contributions throughout the year. Developed by ArtReach, who produce Journeys Festival International.
With special thanks to Film Programmers, Reba Martin and Antonia Lee, the Filmmakers, and Crosscut Media. This entire programme is made possible by the artistic and material contributions of each of our partners.
Credit: Still from 'Little Whale on the Beach' by Parang Khezri
Mary Meets Mohammad
2013, 79mins
This film follows the arrival of Tasmania’s first detention centre through the eyes of local Christian woman and knitting club member Mary and Muslim Afghan Hazara asylum seeker Mohammad, who is detained inside the centre – as they connect through the gift of a knitted beanie.
An extraordinary and gripping piece of documentary filmmaking. Joost den Hartog – Director Australian International Documentary Conference
Miss this… and you are mad. Certifiably so. It’s a stunner. The most beautiful story. So evocative, so powerful. So utterly, fully, human.The story of Mary Meeting Mohammad – The Tasmanian Times
In introducing the film at one of the screenings, Australian International Documentary Joost den Hartog praised Mary Meets Mohammad for its beautiful filmmaking technique, with perfect structuring from start to end, ‘like a James Bond movie’. He’s not wrong – it’s a powerful story gently told that sucks you in, in a ‘what happens next?’ kind of way. – Screen Hub
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
Winner- Special Awards United Nations Media Peace Prize (2014)
Winner - MIA Award Outstanding Coverage of Migration in the Media (2014)
Finalist – Australian Migration Council Media Award Television
Winner- Tasmanian Media Award Best Feature, Doc Current Affairs (2013)
Winner - Tasmanian Outstanding Achiever Award (2013)
Finalist - Outstanding Documentary Talent Award, Australian International Documentary Conference (2013)
Finalist- Walkley Award Documentary Finalist (2013)
Winner – Australia Day Council SA- Promotion Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding (2013) Nomination- Best Documentary Director, Australian Directors Guild (2014)
RESOURCES
Credit: Still from Mary Meets Mohammad
Most Free
2021, 45mins
Most Free follows Artistic Director Ellen Hathaway on an investigation into dance and community. Explore how dance can bring people together through a collection of interviews from a resettled Syrian family living in Blackpool, Lancashire’s Refugee Integration Officer, UK and Lebanese dance artists and our diverse general public.
Directed by Ellen Hathaway and produced by Moving Art Management
I hope to see Ellen’s film gain the recognition and popularity it deserves. Dance is such an inspiring art form for people from all walks of life. In the current world-wide climate, I think it’s important to remind people to continue doing what they love, despite life’s hardships. I believe the film displays the solidarity of the human race and how we all have such unique but related experiences. Ellen did an excellent job with this film, I can’t wait for people to see all her hard work, effort and creativity! It was truly an honour being a part of it. - Zeina Yaghi, Lebanese Artist and Cast member of 'Most Free'
SCREENINGS
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Andromeda Film Festival 2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival 2021
OFFICIAL SELECTION - LIFT-OFF GLOBAL NETWORK – First-Time Filmmaker Sessions
SUPPORTED BY
Finding out more here #MOSTFREE
Pride
2014, 120mins
Realising that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gay and lesbian activists lend their support to striking miners in 1984 Wales.
It’s the holy grail for filmmakers: to tell a story with something to say about our world that is also shamelessly entertaining, moving and funny. ‘Pride’ recalls how a small group of gay activists took a trip from London to rural South Wales in 1984 to lend their support to a beleaguered village during the miners’ strike. Their reasoning was that the miners were going through a struggle not so different to their own. And what joy and pain director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford unearth as they detail awkward meetings that blossom into unlikely friendships and personal breakthroughs. Time Out
Directed by Matthew Warchus
RESOURCES
Power in an unlikely union - The Guardian Review
When miners and gay activists united: the real story of the film Pride
Tiny Souls
2019, 85mins
Little Marwa lives in a refugee camp since she fled Syria with her family. Dina Naser's attentive eye follows the daily life of Marwa, a lively and open spirit who does not understand walls or bars. Going from childhood to adulthood will lead to new challenges to survive in an environment where, in spite of everything, life goes on.
Directed and produced by Dina Naser Co-produced by Palmyre Badinier
RESOURCES
Interview with director Dina Naser, Human Rights Film Festival 2020
Thank You For The Rain
2019, 85mins
Five years ago Kisilu, a Kenyan farmer, started to use his camera to capture the life of his family, his village and the damages of climate change. When a violent storm throws him and a Norwegian filmmaker together we see him transform from a father, to community leader to an activist on the global stage.
This compelling human portrait asks what the future holds when clear evidence of climate change presents itself and the most powerful politicians in the world choose to do nothing. [...] An inspiring portrait of individual who knows that if one loves this planet, one must do all one can to save it. POV Magazine
Director: Julia Dahr
Video Diarist: Kisilu Musya
Video Diarist: Christina Kisilu
Producer: Hugh Hartford
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
WINNER: BEST STORY, INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION FILM FESTIVAL 2020 Switzerland WINNER: DOCIMPACTHI5 2019
WINNER: BASIL WRIGHT FILM PRIZE, RAI FILM FESTIVAL 2019 United Kingdom
WINNER: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION VANCOUVER 2019 Canada
WINNER: BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM, KALASHA FILM AND TV AWARDS 2018 Kenya
WINNER: THE MAIN PRIZE OF THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT, IFF EKOFILM 2018 Czech Republic
WINNER: BEST STORY AWARD, NATURVISION FILM FESTIVAL 2018 SPECIAL MENTION: NORDIC/DOCS 2018 Norway
WINNER: OBJECTIF D'ARGENT - BEST FILM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, MILLENIUM FILM FESTIVAL 2018 Belgium
WINNER: BEST MOVIE, NUOVI SGUARDI 2018 Italy
WINNER: WWF AWARD, THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL 2018 Greece
WINNER: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS 2018 United States WINNER: ETHOS JURY PRIZE, SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS 2018 United States SPECIAL MENTION: DHAKA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, WOMAN FILMMAKER SECTION 2018 Bangladesh
WINNER: JURY PRIZE, ANOTHER WAY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Spain
WINNER: OSIRIS FAO PRIZE, AGROFILM 2017 Slovakia
WINNER: FETHI KAYAALP GRAND AWARD, BOZCAADA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ECOLOGICAL DOCUMENTARY 2017 Turkey
WINNER: JURY AWARD, ALIMENTERRE FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Belgium
WINNER: PANGOLIN POWER FILM AWARD, SINGAPORE ECO FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Singapore WINNER: BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY, FICMEC 2017 Spain HONORABLE MENTION: THE NORWEGIAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Norway
IN COMPETITION: SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST, Environmental Award 2017 United Kingdom
IN COMPETITION: CPH:DOX NORDIC:DOX2017 Denmark
IN COMPETITION: HOT DOCS, International Spectrum 2017 Canada
IN COMPETITION: DOKUFEST 2017 Kosovo
IN COMPETITION: BERGEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Norway
IN COMPETITION: GLOBAL ECO FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Switzerland
IN COMPETITION: CINEMAMBIENTE 2017 Italy
IN COMPETITION: FILMFEST EMDEN-NORDERNEY 2017 Germany
FINALIST: TRT DOCUMENTARY AWARDS 2017 Turkey
RESOURCES