Neil Gaiman and Guillermo del Toro share their 'Films of Hope'
Author and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Gaiman and director del Toro share a watchlist to support the vulnerable affected by COVID-19.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Neil Gaiman visits with refugees at Zaatari camp, Jordan.
© UNHCR/Jordi Matas
To keep movie lovers inspired through a holiday season like no other, author Neil Gaiman and Oscar-winning director Gullermo del Toro have teamed up to offer their top six ‘Films of Hope’ (#FilmsofHope).
Their selection is part of an original video series by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). It follows watchlists of uplifting films from Goodwill Ambassadors Cate Blanchett and Kristin Davis, and actors Cynthia Nixon and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
The series is helping to raise awareness and support for the most vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19, including refugees and the displaced.
- Seel also: Six ‘Films of Hope’ for uncertain times
Commenting on the series, Goodwill Ambassador and ‘American Gods’ author Gaiman said: “I wanted to share my ‘Films of Hope’ watchlist because COVID-19 has shown us how incredibly interconnected we all are and why, now more than ever, we need to help the most vulnerable – including refugees.
“People fleeing war, those having to leave their homes and cities are even more vulnerable than they have ever been before. The refugees I have met are people who inspire hope and as we face a pandemic together, it’s so good to talk about themes of hope, inspiration and solidarity.”
Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman find hope in powerful, eclectic films (imdb)
All of the films are available to watch on IMDb and include:
- The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont
- Tampopo, directed by Juzo Itami
- It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra
- Brazil, directed by Terry Gilliam
- The Wizard of Oz, directed by Victor Fleming
- Beauty and the Beast, directed by Jean Cocteau
Funds raised through the UNHCR and IMDb ‘Films of Hope’ series will go to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, led by the World Health Organization in its global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to the pandemic.
The Solidarity Response Fund supports work to prevent infection in some of the most high-risk settings in the world, supporting UNHCR to protect refugees and internally displaced people in places like South Sudan, Bangladesh and Syria.
The entire series will be available on the IMDb What to Watch page, which helps entertainment fans discover and decide what to watch
Do you have your own list of inspirational films? If so, please share them by using #FilmsofHope and tagging @IMDb or @Refugees. You can donate to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund here.