Youth film The Other Planet receives USA for IOM recognition in PLURAL+ competition
The film The Other Planet, developed by a group of 10 children in Belgium, received the USA for IOM recognition as part of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival on Migration, Diversity & Social Inclusion. The five-minute film tells the touching story of extraterrestrials – a mother and daughter – displaced by an attack on their Red Planet, who make their way to the Blue Planet, and their first awkward and then accepting interactions with residents.
The Other Planet film poster. Credit: Camera-etc.
“We had the chance to make a short film and we learned so many things about animation cinema and about why people sometimes have to leave their country. I think this movie is going to help us to be more open and understanding with other people,” said Binta, 11 years old.
The 6th grade students, aged 11-12 years old from Morchamps Municipal Primary School in Seraing, Liège Province, Belgium, used cut out technique to create the characters, sets and animation, developed the script, and recorded their own voices for audio.
Photos of the children working on developing The Other Planet film.
The film is produced by Camera-etc, an animation studio and creativity center from the Walloon-Brussels Community that produces art films, offering workshops to create animation shorts with the help of professionals. Camera-etc partnered with CRIPEL, the Liège Regional Centre for Integrating Persons of Immigrant Origin in Belgium, to carry out a project on the theme of racism. The Other Planet is used by CRIPEL as an awareness tool among young audiences.
“Since 1979, we have met thousands of young filmmakers during our animation workshop. Children and teenagers have a lot of ideas and we invite them to express themselves through animation. Making an animated short is a real team work with a lot of learnings, fun and creativity,” said Bastien Martin, producer from Camera-etc.
“We thank PLURAL+ and all the mentors for this recognition, it’s an honor to be part of this festival with our short films. And most of all, congratulations to the young filmmakers of The Other Planet !”
USA for IOM recognized The Other Planet for the film’s thoughtful portrayal of the situation and challenges faced by displaced people, and realizes the film’s potential for awareness raising. With congratulations to the 10 children: Adam, Berfin, Binta, Aaron, Naïla, Luca, Younes, Salif, Shanysse, Flavie, and to Delphine Hermans and Siona Vidakovic for their direction.
About PLURAL+
The primary goal of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival is to support the creative vision of young people and the global distribution of youth-produced media on themes related to migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia in order to foster respect for cultural diversity. Launched in 2009, PLURAL+ is a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a network of more than 50 partner organizations around the globe.
Global Migration Film Festival opens at IOM Mexico
Global Migration Film Festival opens at IOM Mexico
Speakers at the opening of the GMFF in Mexico City, November 7, 2024.
The opening event of the 2024 Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF), hosted by IOM Mexico, was held in Mexico City last week, attended by local representatives, private sector partners, and community members.
The feature film, A Million Miles Away highlighted the story of Jose Hernandez, who through determination from a young age as a Mexican American farm worker, fulfilled his dream to become a NASA Astronaut.
The film’s Director Alejandra Marquez Abella spoke on a panel on the impact of migrant talent contributing to the development of communities of destination and origin.
“It was very important for me to see one of the interviews Jose Hernandez gave from the ship. He said, ‘From space you can’t see borders’,” said Alejandra Marquez Abella. “That phrase inspired me to shoot the film.”
The GMFF in Mexico is supported by 25 entities: universities; government partners; private sector; and film, cultural and development organizations.
“Film plays an important role in USA for IOM’s mission. Through the stories presented at GMFF, we reach a diverse audience—ranging from the general public to key players in the private sector, as well as institutions and, of course, migrants themselves. These films allow us to see the reality migrants face on a daily basis, they’re challenges and resilience, not merely as numbers or data, but as individuals with their own stories—stories that could very well be our own,” said Luciano Arroio, Interim CEO of USA for IOM.
Multiple speakers highlighted the contributions of migrants to innovation, arts and sciences, successful companies, and work force dynamism.
“With this event begins the seventh edition of this festival in Mexico in which we want to bring you closer to extraordinary, inspiring and necessary stories to help us understand that those who migrate are not a threat, but that they make significant contributions to the communities that welcome them,” said Dana Graber Ladek, IOM Mexico Chief of Mission.
Dana Graber Ladek, Chief of Mission, IOM Mexico, and Luciano Arroio, Interim CEO, USA for IOM.
The GMFF in Mexico highlights films that share the unique contributions that migrants make to their host communities. Launched by IOM, the GMFF began in 2016 and has been held in more than 100 countries around the world. Films bring the stories of migrants to diverse audiences, with the aim to create space for respectful discussion and engagement.
A total of 25 film screenings on various migration experiences will be take place from November 7 to 28, across nine cities, including Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, Mexicali, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Villahermosa, Tapachula, to be hosted in in shelters, cultural and university spaces, AVES Community Centers and theaters. The functions are completely free.
As in 2023, a special function will again take place in El Paso, Texas, USA at the Rubin Center, located in the University of Texas (UTEP), United States on November 21.
