Program
Thursday 14.11.
13:30
Panel: Immigration Politics Now!
Language: Finnish
The current Finnish government has changed the Aliens Act in numerous ways - most of the reforms being harmful to refugees, asylum seekers, and other residence permit applicants. The Eastern border is closed. Permits based on international protection are shortened and made temporary. The conditions for paid residence permits are being tightened. Document requirements are being tightened. Follow-up monitoring is tightened, income minimums are raised and services for the undocumented are eliminated. The conditions for citizenship and the residence time requirement are tightened. No overall impact assessment has been done or it is incomplete. All changes are not even known yet.
Discussing about the Aliens Act changes and its consequences: Minna Saunders (Kaikkien naisten talo), Kaisa Väkiparta (Doctors Without Borders), Pia Lindfors (Refugee Advice Center), lawyer Matti Rautakorpi (MR-Law), Suvi Pulkkinen (Central Chamber of Commerce), Salla-Maria Korhonen (Startup Refugees) ), Ala Saeed (Finnish Refugee Council), Tiina Valonen (Non-discrimination Ombudsman) and Sanna Valtonen, Veera Kaleva and Meri Korniloff (Support for Asylum Seekers).
The discussion is organized by Support For Asylum Seekers association. Free entry!
17:00
Opening Screening
Life is Beautiful
D: Mohamed Jabaly
93 min, 2023, D
Languages: English, Arabic, Norwegian
Subtitles: English
In 2014, the young, self-taught filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly receives an invitation to Gaza's sister city Tromsa. However, returning home becomes impossible, as Rafah's border crossing is closed soon after he leaves. Jabaly begins to explore different options, but proud of being Palestinian, he refuses to apply for asylum, because it would mean giving up his identity.
As a solution to his situation, Jabaly starts to make a film from the material he documented while working as a volunteer in the first aid unit just before he left. Ambulance is born from personal experiences, and becomes an international success. Despite the recognition, the residence permit applications are denied. The situation eventually leads to a major social debate: does an artist have to have a degree to be a filmmaker? Opposite are Mohamed and the Immigration Office. However, even in a difficult situation, you can see the beauty of life. In addition to residence permit issues, there is also a struggle with closed borders. A long time passes before the main character gets to sit with his family again.
Jabaly is a brilliant storytelling professional who takes the camera close to his subjects – often literally. He has dedicated this work, which creates intersections between politics and art, to his mother. Life is beautiful, which can be seen as the opening film and also on Saturday, recently won the main prize of the Nordic Nordisk Panorama festival, and for good reason.
-Omar Fasolah
19:30
Seven Days
D: Ali Samadi Ahadi
113 min, 2024, F
Language: Farsi
Subtitles: English
Iranian human rights activist Maryam has spent the last years in prison but has now been granted a seven day medical leave. Maryam’s family has asylum in Germany and they travel to Iran Turkey border to meet her. Maryam is smuggled over the border.
During her days in freedom Maryam must decide whether to take the opportunity of escaping to freedom with her family or returning to her prison cell and continuing her uphill battle for equality and democracy.
Her character is based on real-life activist Narges Mohammadi, who is imprisoned by the Iranian government. She is also a mother whose children and husband live in exile in France.
Seven days is written by Mohammad Rasoulof (The Seed of the Sacred Fig) who recently fled Iran after receiving a prison sentence because of his criticism of the Iranian government.
-Anna Korhonen
Friday 10.11.
12:00
Student Screening
Uskalla unelmoida
D: Salaado Qasim, Faisa Qasim and Ada Johnsson
2024, 3 min, F
Languages: Finnish
Short film about believing in your dreams.
Passu
D: Jussi Lehtomäki & Mete Sasioglu
2024, 51 min, D
Languages: Finnish, Uyghur
Subtitles: English
K-7
This documentary follows Passu, an 18-year-old Uyghur activist in Helsinki, as she navigates the complexities of identity and purpose. Torn between raising awareness for her community and finding her own path, Passu faces the pressures of political activism, cultural responsibility, and personal ambition. As she grapples with the weight of her work and the search for a place to study, the film offers a compelling portrait of a young woman striving to find her voice in a world of expectations.
Screening is open for everyone!
Free entrance!
14:00
Meri meidän välissä
D: Jenna Vehviläinen
2024, 53 min, D
Languages: Finnish, English, French
Subtitles: Finnish
Since 2015, at least 30,000 migrants have died or disappeared while crossing the Mediterranean. Still, every year tens of thousands decide to go on one of the world's most dangerous journeys in hope of safety or a better life. At the same time, Europe tightens its immigration policy, violates its obligation to protect lives and makes it increasingly difficult for aid organizations to operate in the Mediterranean. EU has practically closed all safe routes to apply for international protection or to reach the region in general. The eastern border of Finland has been closed for almost a year. Jenna Vehviläinen's documentary opens a human-sized view to Europe’s most severe and ethical and humanitarian crisis by telling the stories of Eric, Berivan, Lamin, Mohamed and Baboucarr. Why did they decide to flee? How did they feel on the way? What has followed from the trip? What kind of plans has Baboucarr, who, despite several attempts, has not succeeded to enter Europe yet?
-Sanna Valtonen
Free entrance!
15:30
Whispers
D: Zagros Manuchar
2024, 25 min, experimental video work
Languages: Finnish, Kurdi (kurmanji))
Subtitles: Finnish English
Zagros Manuchar’s new experimental film deals with war refugees. It is based on the war experiences and stories of people living in Finland. The film brings out the brutality and madness of war, civilian casualties - but also people's ability to survive.
Zagros Manuchar (b. 1990, Sulaimaniyya, Iraq) is a Finnish filmmaker and artist of Kurdish background who graduated with a master's degree from the Fine Arts Academy of the University of Art. Manuchar came to Finland as a UN child refugee at the age of four, and he has dealt with his background and roots in his art. His works have been presented at international film festivals, exhibitions and cultural institutes.
16:30
Nasrin’s Voice
D:Kaisa Rastimo
2024, 74 min, D
Languages: Finnish, Kurdish, Turkish
Subtitles: English
"Nasrin's Voice" describes the life of a young Kurdish woman, Nasrin. At the age of 13, Nasrin was forced into marriage with an older man. At the age of 16, she is already expecting her second child and moves to Finland at her husband's request. After the birth of the second daughter, Nasrin is asked to have a next child. After the divorce, Nasrin starts studying Finnish and taking care of her daughters. Later, the ex-husband kidnaps the children to Kurdistan.
Nasrin is a grieving mother and a determined entrepreneur who has been fighting for years to get her children back to Finland. With the help of her lawyer, she tries to ensure that his daughters do not suffer the same fate as her. This documentary does not just tell the story of one person, but highlights the challenges faced by many women in different cultures.
فیلمی "Nasrin’s Voice " باس لە ژیانی نەسرین، ژنە گەنجێکی کوردی ئێرانی دەکات. لە تەمەنی ١٣ ساڵیدا بەبێ ئەوەی لە مانای ڕاستەقینەی هاوسەرگیری تێبگات، ڕازی دەبێت بە هاوسەرگیری له گه ل پاوێکی بەتەمەن . نەسرین، دایکێکی تەمەن ١٦ ساڵە لە کاتێک دا بۆ جاری دوهە م دوگیانە لەسەر داوای هاوسەرەکەی دەگوازرێتەوە بۆ فینلاند ۆکچەکەی دەبرێتە کوردستانی عێراق.
دوای لەدایکبوونی کچی دووەم، نەسرین فشاری لەسەرە بۆ منداڵی سێیەم و دووگیان دەبێت. دوای جیابوونەوەکە، نەسرین دەست دەکات بە خوێندنی فینلاندی و چاودێری کچەکانی دەکات. دواتر کچە گەورەکەی لە کوردستانەوە دەگاتە فینلاند، بەڵام باوکی منداڵەکان منداڵەکان بۆ کوردستان دەڕفێنێت.
نەسرین، دایکێکی خەمگین و خاوەنکارێکی ماندوونەناسە، ساڵانێکە خەبات دەکات بۆ ئەوەی منداڵەکانی بگەڕێنێتەوە بۆ فینلاند. بە هاوکاری پارێزەرەکەی هەوڵ دەدات کچەکانیشی تووشی هەمان چارەنووس نەبن. ئەم فیلمە دیکۆمێنتارییە تەنیا گێڕانەوەی ژیانێک نییە، بەڵکو کێشەی زۆرێک لە ژنانی کۆمەڵگا جیاوازەکان نیشان دەدات. چیرۆکەکە ئەوە دەردەخات کە چۆن کچێکی تەمەن ١٣ ساڵانی بێ بەرگری هەوڵی ڕزگارکردنی خۆی دەدات، بەڵام پێویستی بە پشتیوانی و دەنگی هەموومانە، چونکە لە دیوەکەی تری هەسارەکەدا ژن وەک کاڵایەک مامەڵەی لەگەڵ دەکرێت.
-Krismeh Kakehli
18:30
Kamay
D: Ilyas Yourish
2024, 105 min, D
Language: dari
Subtitles: English
This film tells about a Hazara family in Afghanistan. The daughter of the family, Zahra, goes to Kabul to study at the university. At the end of her studies she repeatedly fails to graduate and ends up taking her own life. Her family struggles to understand the reasons behind her suicide.
This film illustrates the discrimination in Afghanistan against the Hazara people, one of the four major ethnic groups in the country. Seen through the eyes of Zahra’s younger sister, it is a story about a family who face hardships despite all their efforts because they are Hazaras. In the end, the family is forced to flee the persecution by the Taliban.
In the beginning we screen a short film Shamail by Mohammad Ali Rahimi. The film tells about a little girl’s wish to go to school and study.
این فیلم درباره خانواده ای از قوم هزاره در افغانستان است. دختر خانواده، زهرا، برای تحصیل در دانشگاه به کابل می رود. در پایان برای فراغت از دانشگاه بارها به مشکل بر خورده و در نتیجه خودکشی می کند. مبارزات خانواده زهرا برای روشن شدن علت مرگ او نیز بی نتیجه می ماند.
این فیلم تبعیض علیه مردم هزاره یکی از چهارمین گروه قومی بزرگ در افغانستان را نشان میدهد.
از نگاه خواهر کوچکتر زهرا داستان خانواده ای را می بینیم که تنها به دلیل هزاره بودن با وجود تلاش بسیار اما با
مشکلات فراوانی مواجه هستند.
درپایان نیزاین خانواده مجبور به کوچ اجباری میشوند چون طالبان همه هزاره ها رو مورد آزار قرار میدهد
-Marzia Gholami
21:00
Standup!
Comedy Without Borders
Bahar Tokat
Karim Aldulaimi
Finnish-Turkish comedian and actress Bahar Tokat says that she doesn’t want to use negative stereotypes in his comedy. "I have a few pizza-kebab and hairiness jokes, but I don't want to do it at the expense of the Turks, I'm talking about my own experiences," Bahar says.
Comedian Karim Aldulaimi uses his everyday experiences between two cultures and three languages in his comedy. He makes comedy without borders about the customs, cultural identity and immigration of both Finns and immigrants. And as always in stand-up, the audience better be ready to be used as material for comedy. Karim will perform in Finnish and English.
Saturday 16.11.
11:30
Eila Babushka
D: Matti Elo
2024, 41 min, D
Language: Finnish, Russian
Subtitles: Finnish
Eila's happy childhood is interrupted by the start of the Second World War and the arrival of German troops in Ingerland. After three generations, the victim of Stalin's persecution lives in Lahti and goes through the family's tragic history with her grandchild.
The personal documentary film takes the viewer on a journey with grandma Eila into the world of multi-generational rootlessness. "I am growing the roots that I haven't had in my life," says Kim Siponi in the documentary.
-Antti Kauppinen
13:00
Life is Beautiful
D: Mohamed Jabaly
2023, 93 min, D
Languages: English, Arabic, Norwegian
Subtitles: English
In 2014, the young, self-taught filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly receives an invitation to Gaza's sister city Tromsa. However, returning home becomes impossible, as Rafah's border crossing is closed soon after he leaves. Jabaly begins to explore different options, but proud of being Palestinian, he refuses to apply for asylum, because it would mean giving up his identity.
As a solution to his situation, Jabaly starts to make a film from the material he documented while working as a volunteer in the first aid unit just before he left. Ambulance is born from personal experiences, and becomes an international success. Despite the recognition, the residence permit applications are denied. The situation eventually leads to a major social debate: does an artist have to have a degree to be a filmmaker? Opposite are Mohamed and the Immigration Office. However, even in a difficult situation, you can see the beauty of life. In addition to residence permit issues, there is also a struggle with closed borders. A long time passes before the main character gets to sit with his family again.
Jabaly is a brilliant storytelling professional who takes the camera close to his subjects – often literally. He has dedicated this work, which creates intersections between politics and art, to his mother. Life is beautiful, which can be seen as the opening film and also on Saturday, recently won the main prize of the Nordic Nordisk Panorama festival, and for good reason.
-Omar Fasolah
15:00
Invisible Lives, Visible Determination
Presentation: Nitin Sawhney
Language: English
Professor Nitin Sawhney presents photographs and short films from the media workshop he held for children in Gaza 10 years ago.
Premiere: Finnish sumud for Palestine! Documentary about the solidarity movement and fight for Palestine in Finland
D: Hichem Naami
2024, 20 min, D
Language: English
Hichem Naami has been documenting the Palestine solidarity movement around Finland for a year. The documentary will premiere at the Refugee Film Festival.
16:15
Panel: Palestine after the genocide - what is the future?
Language: Finnish
In the ongoing genocide, Israel is trying to wipe out Palestinians. For over a year, attention has focused on the progression of the genocide, on the support for it, or attempts to stop it. But what will happen once the genocide is over? How has the genocide changed the view of where Palestine is going - among Palestinians, in Finland, in Europe? Earlier there was talk of the two-state solution or one democratic state - how do they look now?
Our panellists are journalist and author Umayya Abu-Hanna, activist Noor Assad, a politician who has worked as a MEP and minister in the Finnish government Sirpa Pietikäinen (kok), and social anthropologist Tiina Järvi.
Chaired by Syksy Räsänen, chair of ICAHD Finland and vice-chair of Sumud - the Finnish Palestine Network.
Free entry!
18:30
The Teacher
D: Farah Nabulsi
2024, 115 min, D
Language: Arabic, English
Subtitles: English
English teacher Basem, acts as a father figure to his two students, Yacoub and Adam, who live in the middle of the occupation and oppression in the West Bank. When a settler kills Yacoub, who is protecting his land, a chain reaction follows. Basem wrestles hard with his past, and the man who has left the political resistance once becomes active again. When the teacher tries to calm Adam, who has lost his brother, a relationship with a British human rights activist begins to blossom.
Farah Nabulsi's directorial debut offers a deep and touching perspective on the daily life of Palestinians under the occupation and a world turned upside down, where the laws only apply to a part of the people. The award-winning director's perceptive and multidimensional storytelling reveals the structural inequality in apartheid, from which the film brings out layers of everyday reality. According to the director, the film describes the asymmetry between human dignity. Nabulsi says that she was inspired by an incident in which Israel released more than a thousand prisoners against one soldier.
The film leaves a strong and thought provoking impression, but also leads the way into the depths and sumud of the Palestinian soul, which emerges through cutting humor and strong characters. The teacher is played by the talented Saleh Bakri, whom Finnish audiences may have seen in the film The Blue Caftan (2022).
-Omar Fasolah & Nora Sayyad
21:00
Meet the Barbarians
D: Julie Delpy
2024, 101 min, F
Language: French, Arabic
Subtitles: English
In the small French town of Paimpont, everyday life is disrupted when a family of refugees arrives. The village community is expecting Ukrainians, but the newcomers are Syrians. "Everyone wants Ukrainians now, there's a shortage of them," explains the mayor (Jean-Charles Clichet).
You can already guess the genre of the film, which is directed by Julie Delpy and deals with prejudice in a comedic way. Although Delpy is better known as an actress (Before trilogy, Three Colours - White), Meet The Barbarians is already her eighth feature film as a director. As in many of her films, she also plays one of the main characters, a patronising teacher called Joëlle, who is prepared to fiercely defend the rights of refugees. The Syrian Fayad family is not as welcome as their Ukrainian counterparts. Indeed, one of the questions raised by the film is why we treat Arab refugees differently from Ukrainians.
The film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September, examines the problems of French society and the racism that Marie Le Pen and the National Coalition have brought out of the shadows and into the light. The satire of the film escalates as the story unfolds. In one memorable scene, for example, the Fayad family has to convince the townspeople, via a video presentation, that they are indeed traumatised.
Despite the serious undertone, the humour of the Refugee Film Festival's closing film offers hope and a smile for the journey home.
-Mete Sasioglu