One World Refugee Film Festival 2020

Program 6 – Memory and the refugee experience

Expired January 8, 2021 4:59 AM
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Memory and the refugee experience, which premieres December 14, 2020, coincides with UNHCR’s 70th anniversary. We will showcase three exciting films featuring past and ongoing refugee crises – from the aftermath of World War II in Europe with Memory Is Our Homeland (Jonathan Durand), to the experiences of Somali refugees in Memories of Mogadishu (Asha Siad) and the situation of refugees from Yemen in Yemen: The Silent War (Sufian Abulohom).


Refugees had to flee war, violence and persecution. They travelled treacherous routes to find safety. And as they start their lives over again, they carry with them memories of home in exile. This theme will feature prominently in a livestreamed conversation to celebrate UNHCR’s 70th anniversary on December 14, 2020, at 20:00 EST, with Polish-Canadian filmmaker Jonathan Durand and UNHCR Canada’s Representative, Rema Jamous Imseis, hosted by Jim Creskey, founder and publisher of the Hill Times.


The proceeds from this event will be donated to Matthew House Ottawa, a shelter offering essential support to refugee claimants.



Presented by

For those whose lives have been uprooted and torn apart by conflict or natural disaster, UNHCR is there to help. This is our story.


The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in December 1950. The Second World War left millions of refugees far from home and governments in need of assistance to coordinate the crisis. UNHCR was created to help, with 34 employees in 1951. The founders thought their task would only take three years, but new conflicts broke out and more families were forced to flee their homes. Seven decades later, the work of protecting refugees, the forcibly displaced and stateless people continues.


This new video showcases where we have come from, and who we are today, through the voice of UNHCR supporter Chiwetel Ejiofor – Academy Award nominee and BAFTA Award winner.

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    05:28
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    Switzerland
  • Producer
    Michelle Hoffman, Nadim Roberts
  • Editor
    Boris Weber