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Featured Refugee Films
The Refugee Film Festival starts from 2 June to 3 July 2022, with films and short videos ranging from personal stories of refugee children and youths to in-depth documentaries covering imminent global issues including the climate crisis.
From now on till 3 July 2022, you can donate HK$100 through one of the links on this page to get one desired online complimentary ticket to our online streaming platform!
You can also enjoy all four featured refugee films with an online movie pass for donation no less than HK$350!
Note: The online screening platform is limited to Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.
Donate HK$ 350 to redeem Movie Pass
Special Screenings in Cinema
There are special screenings in cinema for “Captains of Zaatari” and Duet of Youth: “Refugee” & “A Youth” in June. The Oscars nominated animation “Flee” is also available in cinema. Please refer to Broadway Circuit’s website for more information. Any changes in the programme will not be further notified. For details, please refer to the updates of the cinema’s website.
Movies Description
Film: “Captains of Zaatari”
Length: 73 minutes
Category: Documentary
Language: Arabic, English and Spanish (with Chinese and English subtitles)
Start Date: Available online from 10 June (There are also special screenings in cinema around mid-June)
Introduction
Mahmoud and Fawzi have been living in the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan. Though they both have no sense of what the future holds for them, they focus their energy together on their first love: soccer. Despite the dire circumstances in the camp, they practice day in and day out, believing firmly that playing professionally is their ticket to freedom.
When Aspire Academy, one of the world’s leading sports academies, arrives to pick players for an international tournament in Doha, they quickly identify Mahmoud as a talent and fly him there, while Fawzi is left behind due to a technicality. Mahmoud is boarding a plane for the first time and is taking in the experience, while Fawzi is facing the difficult reality in Zaatari.
Unexpectedly, the Aspire coaches decide to fly Fawzi in to join his team. The two best friends train and compete in the most important soccer matches of their lives, while their families in Zaatari watch via satellite. After the final match, they speak at a press conference. On behalf of the displaced people of Syria, they make clear that people need an opportunity, not pity. Three years later they grew to young men. They are still stuck in Zaatari, still troubled by fears of an insecure future.
Film: “Wandering, A Rohingya Story”
Length: 88 minutes
Category: Documentary
Language: English and other languages (with Chinese and English subtitles)
Start Date: Available online from 2 June
Introduction
Within a few months, the Kutupalong refugee camp has become the biggest in the world. Out of sight, 700,000 people of the Rohingya Muslim minority fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape genocide and seek asylum in Bangladesh. Prisoners of a major yet little publicized humanitarian crisis, Kalam, Mohammad, Montas and other exiles want to make their voice heard. Between poetry and nightmares, food distribution and soccer games, they testify to their daily realities and the ghosts of their past memories. Around them, the spectre of wandering, waiting, disappearing. In this place almost out of space and time, is it still possible to exist?
Film: Climate Crisis Series x Displaced – “Footsteps of the Wind” & “The Great Green Wall”
Length: 8 minutes; 92 minutes
Category: Animation and documentary
Language: Spanish; Persian (with Chinese and English subtitles)
Start Date: Available online from 2 June
The Great Green Wall Introduction
Traversing Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Niger and Ethiopia, Malian musician Inna Modja follows the burgeoning Great Green Wall through Africa’s Sahel region — one of the most vulnerable places on earth (temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average) — laying bare the acute consequences of severe land degradation and accelerating climate change the Wall aims to counteract: increasing desertification, drought, resource scarcity, radicalization, conflict and migration.
As Modja passionately pursues an African Dream for a generation seeking to control their own destiny, she reminds us of the enormity of the task ahead and that time is not on our side. The resulting journey of hope, hardship and perseverance reveals our shared human condition, reflecting a deeper moral and existential question we all must confront: “Will we take action before it’s too late?”
Footsteps on the Wind Introduction
Little Noor and her brother Josef see their lives torn apart when an unexpected event hits home, pushing them into a journey over the seas and mysterious lands. Based on the harsh and intense reality of refugees around the world, this film broaches a narrative told through the eyes of children that never give up on their dreams.
Film: Duet of Youth – “Refugee” & “A Youth”
Length: 15 minutes; 40 minutes
Category: Drama and documentary
Language: English; English, French and other languages (with Chinese and English subtitles)
Start Date: Available online from 10 June (There are also special screenings in cinema around mid-June)
The Youth Introduction
Peyman and his friends are a group of Afghan teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, who find themselves stuck in Athens. In limbo but armed with a new-found freedom, they kill time by aimlessly strolling around the city, sharing jokes, rap battles, stories of the past and dreams of the future. As Peyman awaits for news that could shake his false state of harmony, he looks for answers amongst his friends and family, trying to make sense of the world around him through his music and poetry.
Refugee Introduction
Destiny doesn’t want to go back and runs away with the help of her friend Paulina while everyone is asleep. In the middle of the night, they run from fear until they find her shelter.
Products
Handcrafted ornaments by refugees
(random styles)
Nadima Storybook for Children
“Beyond Hardships”
From now on, donate to redeem a Movie Pass and the above gifts, including:
- A donation of HK$350 for a Movie Pass
- A donation of HK$500 for a Movie Pass and 2 children books
- A donation of HK$850 for a Movie Pass and 2 handcrafted ornaments by refugees (random styles)
- A donation of HK$1,000 for a Movie Pass, 2 children books and 2 handcrafted ornaments by refugees (random styles)
Access Movie Step By Step Guideline
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I access the information on the Film Festival?
Details are available on our website at www.unhcr.org/hk/en/film. You may find the trailers of all films and short videos, as well as the promotional video of the Film Festival on the UNHCR YouTube channel.
2. Are the films appropriate for children or teenagers?
All films and short videos do not have age restriction. They are suitable for audiences at various ages. If there are young children in your family, you may consider watching the animation “Footsteps on the Wind” and the short drama “Refugee”. If there are any concerns about the theme or content of the films, children or young audiences may watch the films under parental guidance.
3. Are there Chinese subtitles for the films?
Traditional Chinese subtitles are available for all films. If the film is mainly in a language other than English, English subtitles are also available for that film.
4. Are the films screened online or in the cinema?
Details will be announced soon.
5. Are the online films globally accessible?
No. For copyright reasons, the Festival online films are is only accessible for Hong Kong and Macau SARs’ audiences.
6. Where can I purchase the ticket? What are the ticketing options?
For online screenings, you may first choose your preferred movie at www.unhcr.org/hk/en/film, and then donate a minimum of HK$100 to redeem an online movie ticket. If you wish to redeem an online movie pass for accessing to all the films and short videos, please visit the designated donation page for a minimum donation of HK$350.
- Click here for an online Movie Pass
- Click here for an online ticket for “Captains of Zaatari”
- Click here for an online ticket for “Wandering: A Rohingya Story”
- Click here for an online ticket for Climate x Displaced– “Footsteps of the Wind” & “The Great Green Wall”
- Click here for an online ticket for Duet of Youth – “Refugee” & “A Youth”
7. If I have donated HK$100/ $350 on the UNHCR ticketing donation page, does it mean that I can redeem multiple tickets for the same movie or tickets for multiple movies?
No. Each donation amounting to HK$100 or more (no matter the amount) is equivalent to the redemption of a single one-off ticket. If you would like to redeem another ticket for the same movie, please make another donation on the designated donation page. If you would like to redeem a ticket for each of the films and short videos, you may directly donate for an amount of at least HK$350 for an online movie pass on the designated donation page.
8. Are there any other ticketing methods?
Starting in early June, audiences may also purchase one-off online movie tickets directly at the screening platform at the price of HK $100 (excluding the transaction fee charged by the third-party payment service). But the ticketing expenditure shall not be regarded as a donation, thus neither donation receipt nor tax allowance will be available.
9. Where would the donation collected from this year Refugee Film Festival be spent on?
The goal of this Festival is to raise HK$200,000 for our emergency assistance programme, such as providing psychosocial support to 250 children who suffered through crisis like the Ukraine situation, including access to outreach activities, day care centres, and child-friendly spaces.
All of the revenue generated from the movie tickets will be used to support refugee protection projects, without deducting any cost of the event.
10. How can I access the online movies after donation?
Upon successful online donation, you will receive our donation confirmation email with watching code and online streaming guideline. Please follow instruction on the confirmation email using the designated link to unlock the film with your donation email. Enjoy your film during this film festival period from 2 June to 3 July 2022.
Note: Audiences can watch the two online exclusive films and videos online from the start of the Festival (2 June). The other two films and videos “Captains of Zaatari” and Duet of Youth: “Refugee” & “A Youth” that will be screened in cinema* will be available online in parallel from 10 June 2022.
11. Is there any time limit for my viewing access? Can I watch my chosen film online more than once?
When the movies* are available online (please refer to the movies’ start dates in the answer above or the film descriptions), you may activate your watching code at any time you preferred from that day onwards until the 3 July to watch the movies. After activating the watching code, you have to watch the movies within 14 days or the last day of the Film Festival (3 July) whichever is the earliest. In other words, if you activate the watching code on or before 20 June, you have 14 days to start watching the movies; if you activate the watching code on 1 July, you have to start watching the movie on or before 3 July. Iif you activate the watching code on 3 July and start watching, you will still have 48 hours to finish your movie.
Please note: after pressing “Play”, you have 48 hours to finish your movie. Within the 48 hours, you have unlimited access to the film.
12. Can I watch the online movies on my mobile phone, computer, tablet or other electronic devices?
Yes. If you encounter any technical difficulties, please refer to the “Help” section(support in English language, only) of the online screening platform. You may also send a message to our Facebook page or contact us at [email protected]
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm HK time (except public holidays). For email inquiries during office hours, we will generally respond within 24 hours. For email inquiries outside office hours, we will reply on the next working day latest.
13. What can I do if I have not received the confirmation email or have lost the Promo Code after donation?
You may send a message to our Facebook page or contact us at [email protected] for such inquiries.
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm HK time (except public holidays). For email inquiries during office hours, we will generally respond within 24 hours. For email inquiries outside office hours, we will reply on the next working day latest.