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A ‘reel’ face on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
This year (2016) marks the fifth year that the Humanity Network has celebrated an International Day with a free presentation event for the public.
The network began in 2010 with the support of the East Kootenay Organization for Human Dignity and Equality (EKOHDE). Given the network’s overarching goal to increase awareness around the importance and values of human dignity, this year’s signature event will focus on World Refugee Day.
Each year the network holds a Stakeholder Roundtable to determine which three International Days will be commemorated. One of these three days is then celebrated with a signature event.
While past years’ celebrations have included International Mountain Day, Human Rights Day and World Food Day, this year the network chose to bring awareness to the timely Syrian Refugee Crisis with a presentation of the award-winning documentary, Salaam Neighbor.
The film is directed by award-winning filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, two young men who were given permission by the United Nations to register and live in the Za’atari Refugee Camp where 85,000 Syrians struggle to restart their lives seven miles from the Syrian border and the war that is ravaging their homelands.
Given the same tent and supplies as Syrian refugees, Ingrasci and Temple spend 30 days living among the overwhelming trauma, untapped potential and ultimate humanity of families struggling to maintain normality in the most dire humanitarian crisis of this century.
Following the feature film, Ingrasci will discuss the film and answer questions from the audience.
According to Amy Cross, Consultant, Cross Cultural Connections for EKOHDE, the decision to focus on the Syrian Refugee Crisis was a unanimous one.
“This is a critical moment in history, with more refugees today than anytime in the last century. In Syria alone, close to five million people have fled their country to escape the atrocities of war.”
Screening of the documentary is on Tuesday, May 10 at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook, beginning at 7 p.m. The event is free to the public but Cross suggests those wishing to attend the screening secure tickets from the Key City Theatre in advance of the screening or contact her directly at 250-581-2111.
To view the trailer for Salaam Neighbor.
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