Festival of Migrant Film, Ljubljana
Since 2010, Slovene Philanthropy celebrates the World Refugee Day (June 20) in Slovenia with the Festival of Migrant Film. We strive to offer our local audiences a selection of insightful and provocative films focused on topics related to migrations, asylum and refugees.
The Convention on the Status of Refugees from 1951 defines a refugee as a person who »owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it«. (Convention on the Status of Refugee from 1951, preamble, 1st chapter)
Within the festival, that was up to 2014 co-organised with Zavod Voluntariat, we wish to further expand the traditional concept of a refugee, as defined in the Geneva Convention on the status of refugees (1951), and put the spotlight on contemporary causes and shapes of refugeeism and migration. The causes that force refugees and other groups of migrants to leave their home are diverse and stem from unbearable living conditions and intolerance or even persecution of individuals or groups based on their personal beliefs or characteristics. Personal characteristics and circumstances, such as political and religious convictions, ethnic and cultural background or sexual orientation, on one hand and the inability to live a decent life related to uneven social and economic development of countries and regions, on the other, remain central reasons for (forced) migration. Still, the new century brings along new factors, for instance climatic and other environmental changes, which produce new waves and directions in the global migration flows.
Migration is (becoming) one of the central global trends of the 21st century, therefore we dedicate the festival to all people who are forced to leave their home and seek protection and an opportunity for a decent life outside of their home countries.
These tales, told through films, and the insight, provided by the invited guest speakers, do not only highlight the struggles and the hardships that migrants face in their quest to find and fully settle in their new home. They remind us, that the intercultural transfer of knowledge and the vivid circulation of creative energies bring some of the fundamental impulses to the social development in the contemporary world. The multicultural environments represent the testing grounds for the exploration of relations between different traditions and for the search for new forms of coexistence.
For this reason, the vision of the festival remains a bright one! Its purpose doesn’t lie (only) in providing relevant information; it strives to promote understanding and acceptance of diversity and, therefore, contribute to fostering of a tolerant, inclusive and equitable society.
Discussions
Discusson with Dimitar Anakiev – author of film Slovenia My Homeland
OVERTURE
Saturday, 13th June 2015 at 22.50 (after the screening of Slovenia My Homeland / Slovenija moja dežela) at Slovenian Cinematheque
Discusson with Cheong Kin Man - author of film A Useless Fiction
Wednesday, 17th June 2015 at 21.50 (after the screening of A Useless Fiction / uma ficção inútil – 小說無用 – tiểu thuyết vô dụng) at Slovenian Cinematheque. Slovene translation provided.
European migration politics, human rights, deportation practices and possibilities of resistance.
Thursday, 18th June 2015 at 18.15 (after the screening of How to stop a Deportation) at Slovenian Cinematheque.
Since the early 1990 European asylum and migration policies have been shaped by the implementation of a repressive EU-border regime, creating new policies of control, exclusion and persecution. The restriction of movement inside the EU through the Dublin Convention is part of these policies, as well as Frontex, militarised external borders, the creation of detention centres and deportation flights from every airport in Europe. The consequences from the point of view of human rights are alarming: Thousands of people die in the sea as well as on the land borders and travelling routes, arbitrary imprisonment has become common practice, people get deported under traumatising and sometimes deadly conditions of physical and psychological violence… On the other hand, the border regime is not able to wield unlimited power, but is challenged daily through organised as well as individual acts of resistance. Migrant and refugee struggles produce cracks in the wall everywhere in Europe.
Deportations are stopped through solidarity campaigns as well as through direct resistance and disobedience inside airplanes and detention centres. Based of the short film “How to stop a deportation – I ain’t gettin’ on no plane” by Vienna based Protest Productions Collective, we want to discuss experiences and perspectives of practical strategies of resistance.
Discussion moderators: Hans-Georg Eberl and Anna Distelberger, members of Protest Productions Collective.
Discussion will be held in English language due to presence of foreign speakers. Slovene translation provided.
The Situation of Migrants in Europe
Thursday, 18th June 2015 at 20.15 (after the screening of And we will throw the sea behind you / Et nous jetterons la mer derrière vous) at Slovenian Cinematheque.
Speakers: Zubair Nagshbandi (refugee in Slovenia), Noémi Aubry, Clément Juillard (autors of film And we will throw the sea behind you), Judith Keil, Antje Kruska (autors of film Land at Sight), Hans-Georg Eberl, Anna Distelberger (co-autors of film How to stop a Deportation and members of Protest Productions Collective).
Discussion moderator: Kristina Božič
Discussion will be held in English language due to presence of foreign speakers. Slovene translation provided.
We are proud to announce the international Call for Entries for the 7th edition of the Festival of Migrant Film which is open until 31st of December 2015!
International filmmakers, video artists and activists are invited to submit their films and video works of any genre, length or year of production for consideration to the Festival programming team. If you would like to submit your film/video work, you can do so by using the online application system available on the Festival web page.
The Festival of Migrant Film is organized by non-governmental organization Slovene Philanthropy with the purpose of celebrating the World Refugee Day (20th June) and raising awareness of local audience about matters and issues related to migration, asylum and intercultural dialogue. FMF 2016 will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 15th to 20th June 2016.
You can find additional information about the Festival and the Call for Entries on the official Festival web page (www.fmf-slovenija.si/en) and/or by following us on Facebook (FMF.si) and Twitter (FMFsi).
We are looking forward to your films!
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.fmf-slovenija.si/en/