The festival began in 2006 as Japan's first film festival focused on refugees. It has screened 279 films and welcomed more than 100,000 participants. This year's eight films (five Japan premieres) highlight the strength of refugees who survive hardship.
Online streaming is available any time during the festival period. In Tokyo, an opening screening with a talk event is planned for November 5, and two screenings with talks by filmmakers at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura on November 30. Six online seminars (free, registration required) will also be held to learn about refugee issues.
For each film, or for all seven online films at once, you can choose donation-included viewing or free viewing. Donations support UNHCR's refugee assistance, and a free option makes it easy for younger people to take part. Theater seats are first-come, first-served and close when capacity is reached.
Key points
- Eight films, including five Japan premieres, in theaters and online
- Donation-included viewing or free viewing
- Six free online seminars on refugee issues (registration required)
Why we recommend this event
Films let us touch the lives and feelings of individual refugees, which numbers in the news can hide.
Online viewing from home at any time makes it an easy entry point for those newly interested in international cooperation and humanitarian aid.
Editor's comment
One of the festival's appeals is that watching a film directly leads to supporting refugees.
If a title catches your eye, check how to apply on the official site. Theater seats are first-come, so don't wait too long.