09/06/2020 - Launched online in collaboration with Festival Scope, the first edition of the gathering will screen more than 40 films in Turkey, the country hosting the largest number of refugees worldwide

In order to create space for a cinematic and humanistic approach to the topic, the International Migration Film Festival will take place in Turkey, the country hosting the largest number of refugees worldwide, between 14 and 21 June. Due to the current situation, the festival is launched completely online, screening more than 40 films only in Turkey, through Festival Scope's special section (accessible here). Besides the film programme, there will be master classes, Q&As and talks by filmmakers, activists and academicians as well as live concerts and exhibitions on various social media platforms.

“This festival aims to promote films which tap into the migration experience and also features films produced by, directed by, and starring immigrants and refugees”, says Honorary President of the festival, Golden Globes Award winner F Murray Abraham, himself son of a Syrian refugee. Stories are not being told about migrants but by them, by which the festival aims to create a dialogue on eye level.

The programme contains films from over 25 countries and organises an International Feature Film Competition that promotes filmmakers around the world who work and create films on migration. President of the jury is director and Palme d’Or winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The best feature film will be awarded with €15,000 and the thematically most inspiring script receives €5,000. The films taking part in the competition are: Just Like My Son [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Costanza Quatriglio
film profile] by Costanza Quatriglio (Italy/Croatia/Belgium), Oskar & Lily [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Arash T. Riahi (Austria), Rafaël [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Ben Sombogaart (Netherlands/Belgium/Croatia/Italy), by For Sama [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts
film profile] by Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts (UK/USA), Midnight Traveler [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Hassan Fazili (USA/Qatar/UK/Canada), Scent Of My Daughter [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Olgun Özdemir (Turkey/USA/France), The Merger by Mark Grentell (Australia) and Omar and Us by Maryna Er Gorbach and Mehmet Bahadir Er (Turkey).

Furthermore the festival will host a UNICEF International Short Film Competition consisting of a €5,000 award which thematically focuses on the issues migrating and escaping children have to deal with. Actress Tuba Büyüküstün, Goodwill Ambassador at UNICEF and member of the jury of this competition says: “I believe that this festival will play a role in helping this issue to become more understood, talked about and discussed more.“

Besides the film programme there will be masterclasses held by acclaimed persons in the film industry such as Bosnian director Danis Tanović, Mexican producer Michel Franco and British costume designer Sandy Powell. The masterclasses are on limited participation and open primarily to refugees and migrants. On the festival's Instagram account of the festival actors like Danny Glover, Shahab Hosseini and Matt Dillon will give live interviews, and a series of online talks with filmmakers, academicians and activists elaborating on topics surrounding cinema and migration will take place. These masterclasses, interviews and talks will be accessible worldwide as well as the live concerts and exhibitions of the festival, all to be found on the festival's website.