Diaspora in Short

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A collection of three multi-award winning shorts examine the experience of escaping the country, living in exile, and being deported back.

Silent River
Anca Miruna Lazarescu, Romania/Germany, 2011, 30 min
With: Toma Cuzin, Andi Vasluianu
In Romanian, German, and Serbian, with English Subtitles

Winner, Golden Bear, Best Short Film, Berlin International Film Festival; Prix UIP Tampere, Tampere International Short Film Festival; Grand Prix, Brussels Short Film Festival

Canadian Premiere

Part of “Diaspora in Short”, Saturday, 3 November 2012, 1:00 PM, Carlton Cinema, Free Admission

Watch trailer here

Gregor and Vali are two young Romanian men who want to escape to Germany. They come up with a plan to escape by way of the Danube although escape in this manner seems impossible: the river is surrounded by soldiers and filled with whirlpools and nets which will tangle unwary people attempting escape. Vali works in the post office and is therefore allowed to go to the border area, Gregor can get them through Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). They agree it is to be just the two of them who escape. However, at the last minute one of the men breaks his word and brings his pregnant wife with him.

 

Keys to My Home
Luna Shad, France, 2012, 36 min
Canadian Premiere
A part of “Diaspora in Shirt”, Saturday, 3 November 2012, 1:00 PM, Carlton Cinema, Free Admission, Luna Shad in attendance

Watch trailer here

Following the disputed Iranian election of June 2009, at least 150 Iranian journalists have fled Iran, where persecution, unfair trials, forced confessions, torture, and long prison sentences have made the Islamic Republic of Iran the worst jailer of journalists worldwide, according to Reporters without Borders. Today, more than half of the Iranian journalists living in exile are under the age of 35. Most  crossed over the Turkish or Iraqi borders, facing difficult paths to relocation. Dozens have permanently resettled in Western countries; the majority have been granted political asylum.

Luna Shad’s first documentary follows the life of Delbar Tavakoli, a prominent young Iranian journalist, from Turkey to France to seek asylum as a political refugee. Delbar’s fears, worries, and hopes shape the landscape of the film.

 

Journey of No Return – Last Stop Frankfurt Airport
Güclü Yaman, Germany/Turkey, 2011, 25 min.
In German with English Subtitles
Winner, Best Film, Milan International Film Festival; Best Short Film, Warsaw International Film Festival; Best Script, Telluride Indie Festival
Canadian Premiere

Part of “Diaspora in Short”, Saturday, 3 November 2012, 1:00 PM, Carlton Cinema, Free Admission

Watch trailer here

Based on the true story of a Sudanese refugee, Aamir Ageeb. He wanted to report the theft of his jacket to the police, but at the police station everything goes completely in a different direction from what he had imagined. His journey has already begun.