FESTIVAL PROGRAM
FOR 14 APRIL
Seize the Summit
01:15:00
Documentary
United Arab Emirates
Arabic, English, Italian, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian
“Seize the Summit” is the story of four young people’s thrilling journey to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Shaqayeq, Adnan, Safa and Tania are not ordinary adventurers, they are all survivors of war from different countries. What brought together to take on Kilimanjaro was a profound desire to stand against war and have the world hear their messages. But as they are forced to push their limits, the mountain reveals a unique lesson to each of them.
DIRECTORS:
Arwa Damon, Binnur Karaevli
Sunshine
00:04:09
Music Video
Australia
English
'Sunshine'is a fun toe-tappin'' banger about the importance of checking in on your friends. Filmed on the shores of shimmering Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia, the music video brings peace and tranquility to a difficult subject in difficult times.
DIRECTORS:
Wil Allen
Sagavaram - The blessing of immortality
00:18:50
Short, Student
Sri Lanka
Tamil
In the wake of a devastating war, Maari, a resilient mother, clings to the unwavering hope that her husband, missing since the conflict, will one day return. Her steadfast faith collides with the pragmatic approach of her son, Nalan, who seeks a more practical and stable future. The narrative unfolds as they confront the mysterious disappearance of their loved one and embark on a poignant quest to obtain a death certificate. This bureaucratic journey forces Maari and Nalan to confront their painful past, unraveling the generational divide between hope and pragmatism. The film weaves a compelling tale of resilience, love, and the complex dynamics within this family as they navigate the emotional terrain of loss, paving the way for them to embrace an uncertain future with newfound strength and understanding.
DIRECTORS:
Dinesh Balasri
Know your roots
00:39:00
Documentary, Short
Germany
English
Ruslan, known as Funt (Ukraine), and Youcef, known as Haiper (Algeria), are the focal points of this documentary, both renowned breakdancers with very different backgrounds. Despite their contrasting upbringings, their shared love for breakdancing becomes a source of resilience amidst the challenges of immigration and cultural displacement.
Ruslan, aka Funt, a power move dancer in his early 40s, has been forced to flee his home in Simferopol (Crimea) twice – first in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea, and again in 2022 due to full-scale military invasion. As an ethnic Crimean Tatar, his family's history reflects the enduring impact of colonialism, with his grandparents forcibly deported by the Soviet regime. Ruslan's journey led him through Turkey to Leipzig, Germany, where he navigates the bureaucratic challenges of gaining refugee status while grappling with separation from his family.
Youcef, aka Haiper, 32, was born in Algeria with a genetic condition requiring crutches for walking. Despite losing both parents at a very young age and facing limited opportunities in Algeria, he found solace and purpose in breakdancing. Today, as an undocumented immigrant, living in Paris illegally, Youcef struggles to gain access to healthcare and formal employment. Despite these hardship, his talent has gained recognition on national television, yet he remains separated from his family in Algeria due to the risks associated with his immigration status.
DIRECTORS:
Felix Roßberg
Surviving Translation
00:46:54
Documentary
United Kingdom
English, French, Kurdish, Spanish
With this film I would like to make a start to humanise the subject around refugees and to give them their voice back. We worked closely with the subtilling company, translators, and proofreaders to ensure that this film can be an example of how to most ethically translate and subtitle contributors. The translation had to work on all levels, not only through physical translation but also through emotional translation – provided by poetry and visuals, pace of cutting their interviews.
DIRECTORS:
Ling Lee