IOM’s first Global Migration Film Festival opened on 5 December and culminated on 18 December 2016, International Migrants Day. The festival was an opportunity for the world to celebrate the diversity and unique contributions of migrants to the communities and countries where they live. It was also a tribute to the many films that capture the beauty and challenges of migration and bring these realities to audiences around the world. The Film Festival was part of the UN's "Together" global campaign to promote diversity and inclusion.

IOM Austria hosted a screening of the movie “Wallah – Je te jure”, which tells the stories of men and women travelling along West African migration routes to Italy. Senegal's rural villages, Niger's bus stations and "ghettos" full of traffickers, Italian squares and houses are the backdrops of these courageous trips, which often end in tragedy.

Prior to the movie, we screened two short films by Austrian winners of the PLURAL + youth film festival, which is organized by IOM and UNAOC. The screening was followed by a short discussion and a reception with food & drinks.

We thank everyone who attended IOM’s Global Migration Film Festival in Vienna! It was a great evening!

 

Pictures © Sebastian Philipp