Call for contribution on the upcoming edition of Swedish Exile
International Film Festival

The world is my home
15^th International Exile Film Festival, 12 – 18 November 2021

“I’m in exile

Because I still have hope.”

• The message to the Exile Film Festival from the legendary Greek filmmaker, poet and philosopher Theo Angelopoulos,
  Believing in “Hope” has been the driving force throughout the 30 years of our festival’s heartfelt activity in supporting exiled filmmakers and trying to broaden public viewings of their films.
  Even now, during these apocalyptic times of Corona virous, believing in hope and the eternal power of humanity, we continue our work to prepare for the upcoming edition of our festival with the motto of:

“Still Hope”

Aligned with this year’s festival motto, we are planning a special program with the title of “Panorama Corona” to draw attention towards the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In this special program, we will showcase the unstable situation of today’s human being in a world, infected with Corona, and the impact of this infernal disease on human life both from personal, and global perspectives through presenting a series of documentary and fictional films. The program will include the following sections:

• Corona – Social distancing
• Corona – Family
• Corona – Unemployment
• Corona – Vaccination – Global Inequality
• Corona – Democracy
• Corona­ – Environment
• Corona – Existence
• Corona – The Future

In addition to this public program, the following feature programs will be arranged during the festival’s viewing period:

Special Programs:

• Off: The suburb will Speak Out
  

  This program is about people, generally refugees, especially the young ones, living in suburban areas of major cities referred as “critical” and “vulnerable” neighborhoods by mass media.
  The panoramic media image of these neighborhoods is based on a series of stereotypes focusing on violence, wide-open presence of criminal organizations, rampant shootings, and drug dealing. But is it possible to project a different view than this common public view – an impartial view?
  This is an attempt to create a free and open forum, so that the suburban people are given the opportunity to be heard.

• Jam Cut: Film and Fascism
  

  Film is an important artistic and communication tool with the utmost potential to influence public minds, which has been always exploited by those in power to gain, stabilize, and maintain their control.
  The history of cinema from the past to the present bears witness to how dominators have been using the power of the film for propagandistic purposes and to even try to “brainwash” people and force them to remain under their political dominance.
  Today’s situation in the world is not distant from this historical trend of film misuse – from Nazism to religious fascism in the form of ISIS.
  The question is which expressive element of film leads to its instrumentation by fascism?
  A cineastic analysis is done via the selected films in this program.

• Close Up: Dream of My Palestine
  

  A special feature program about Palestinians dreams and nightmares confused with widespread scent of green olive tree branches.
  This program will be held in collaboration with the Palestine Film Institute.

Note:

While the festival’s fundamental objective is to showcase the works of exiled and immigrant filmmakers, it also includes specially selected films by non-exiled filmmakers with topics related to exile and immigration, human rights, equality, and social justice, under the feature and subcategory programs with specific themes.

Screenings

In accordance with the recommendations of the Swedish health authorities to ease restrictions on gatherings and in agreement with our partner cinemas and cultural centers, the festival programs and film screenings will be held in theatres with the physical presence of audience.

The festival’s film screenings and program parts will be held at the following cinemas and culture houses:

Cinema Roy, Haga Cinema, Angered Cinema, The World Literature House, Victoria Hall and ABF- Medialab.

For us, the well-being of the community and the health of participants in the festival is top priority. If there is an unexpected public health emergency with Corona virus pandemic arises, film festival programs and screenings will be held on online.

Invitation to filmmakers, film producers

We invite all filmmakers and producers to participate with their films that fit into one of the festival’s programs. For more information about the festival programs and the registration please check the festival’s web:

www.exilefilmfestival.com

Note: The registration deadline is on October 10^th, 2021.

General collaborations

We welcome anyone who has interest in alternative film festivals and solidarity issues, especially art and culture interns, to collaborate in the preparation of our festival and the development of its program with their innovative ideas.

If you are aware of films with themes relevant to our festival programs, please provide us with the information, so we acquire them for showcasing.

Also we greatly appreciate your help with sharing the news and information about our new edition of festival in social media with your networks.

Contact

You may reach us via the festival’s email.

Our sincere thanks for your contribution and supporting the festival.

Hossein Mahini

Creative Director of The Exile Film Festival

Office of International Exile Film Festival -Sweden

E-post: info@exilefilmfestival.com or exile.filmfestival@usa.net