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On World Refugee Day 2022, Ben Stiller, Goodwill Ambassador for Unhcr, the Un Refugee Agency, called for compassion and support for all refugees around the world and those forced to flee.

Goodwill Ambassador Ben Stiller visits Lypki, Irpin.

Credit/Copyright: Unhcr/Andrew McConnell

During a visit to Poland and Ukraine this week, where Stiller is meeting those recently forced to flee their homes, the actor, director, and long-term Goodwill Ambassador for Unhcr, is calling for urgent global support and funding, not only for those affected by the Ukraine crisis, but for every one of the 100 million around the world who have been forced to flee.

In a statement to mark World Refugee Day today, Stiller said:

“I’m here meeting people forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine.

People have shared stories about how the war has changed their lives – how they’ve lost everything and are deeply worried about their future.

Probably the least celebrated (and advertised) film category, the documentary, nevertheless, can offer as much entertainment as any movie, and in the process, educate, remind, analyze and present issues that the rest of genres would not even dream of touching.

This year’s selection focuses on diversity once more, as it includes themes that range from mountain climbing and book cover design to idol groups and the sociopolitical situation in a number of countries, while also featuring films about food and drinks.

Without further ado, here are the Best Asian (themed) Documentaries of 2019, in alphabetical order, as we felt that the subjects and cinematic approaches are so different, that any kind rating would be futile. Some may have premiered in 2018, but since they mostly circulated in 2019, we decided to include them.

1. Alpinist: Confession of a Cameraman

“The value of the documentary as a medium of recording lives and events, and subsequently,...

Without any doubt, one of the essentials of cinema, or therefore any form of art, is the idea of taking the spectator to a place that is unfamiliar. Whereas this place might be fictional, even fantastic by nature, perhaps one of the most revelatory experiences takes place when the place seems familiar, but actually is quite the opposite. For many of us, geographical or emotional spaces, from foreign countries to the idea of family, may seem familiar, but time and time again we realize we know so very little about these places, even if we have experienced them ourselves.

“Gaza” is screening at London Palestine Film Festival

Many of these place are part of the global consciousness, much due to a more or less constant press coverage. Places such as Damascus or Fukushima are, undoubtedly, known to us, but then again many of us would have to admit they are...

“Creating a stimulating platform that brings together filmmakers, scholars and the public in order to encourage crucial dialogue regarding Palestine’s film industry, its culture and its politics.”

The London Palestine Film Festival (Lpff) 2019 will run in London from 15 to 30 November, in partnership with The Barbican, Curzon Soho, Institute Of Contemporary Arts (Ica), The Rio, The Tabernacle, Soas and P21 Gallery.

The Festival is proud to open its 2019 edition with the long-awaited, and now Cannes Awarded ‘Special Mention’, film “It Must Be Heaven”, by the honourable filmmaker, Elia Suleiman. The film was also selected as the Palestinian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Full Programme

It Must Be Heaven

Opening Night:

It Must Be Heaven (2019 l Elia Suleiman l 97’)

Lpff 2019 is proud to open with this long-awaited film from director Elia Suleiman.

Friday 15th November – Barbican @ 8:45pm

Family Affairs: Drama Shorts from Palestine...

Which film will follow on from ‘Roma’ in winning the prize?

Submissions for the best international feature film award at the 2020 Academy Awards have started to come in, and Screen is keeping a running list of each film below.

This is the first year the award will be given under the new name of ‘best international feature film’, after a change in April from ‘foreign-language film’.

Scroll down for latest entries

The eligibility rules remain the same: an international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the Us with a predominantly non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.

Unhcr Special Envoy Angelina Jolie has spoken to journalists at Domiz refugee camp in Iraq.

Angelina Jolie speaking to journalists at Domiz refugee camp in Iraq

Credit/Copyright: Unhcr/Andrew McConnell

“In my country, when we speak of the Middle East we often focus on conflict and human suffering,” she said. "And it is true that countless families in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen are suffering from conflict they personally have no part in, instability they cannot control, and extremism that they reject.

“But on this visit I have been reminded, as I am every time I am here, of the truly extraordinary dignity, resilience, warmth, generosity and grace of the people of the Middle East.

“And I want to thank the people of Iraq for their generosity towards Syrian refugees and displaced people, and in particular the Kri government, which is setting a model for refugee protection.

“I’m...

Unhcr Special Envoy Angelina Jolie last week visited West Mosul, less than a year after the city’s liberation in June and July 2017.

Angelina Jolie visits the Old City in West Mosul during a visit to Iraq

Credit/Copyright: Unhcr/Andrew McConnell

The visit marked Jolie’s 61st mission – and her fifth visit to Iraq – with the Un Refugee Agency since 2001. She arrived in the city on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

Jolie walked among the bombed-out buildings that line the narrow streets of the Old City and met displaced families to discuss efforts to rebuild the city and the needs of the returning population.

West Mosul was held captive by Isis for three years. The combat operation to re-take the city was the largest and longest urban battle since World War II, and the wreckage reminiscent of Dresden. Civilians faced aerial bombardment,...