UNHCR Refugee film festival

Building on its success over the previous 4 years in Tokyo, UNHCR Representation in Japan and Japan Association for UNHCR proudly present the 5th edition of the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival – The Metropolitan Version. The UNHCR Refugee Film Festival raises awareness of the world’s 43 million refugees and internally displaced persons that are forced to flee due to persecution and conflict. With many of the film makers and special guests in attendance, the film festival will feature films from all over the world covering relevant issues to asylum and displacement.

Apropos, 2010 marks the start of Japan’s resettlement program. Hailed as the first such program in Asia, the pilot project aims to bring around 90 Myanmar refugees to Japan for a better chance at life in safety and dignity. Through highlighting the theme of , the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival aims to create an opportunity for the public to reflect on what living in Japan means for refugees and their added value for the Japanese society. The organizers also hope that the featured films and ensuing discussions will help the Japanese audience ruminate on the humanitarian contributions that the government and people of Japan have provided over the years; the contributions that have aided in saving millions of lives. The audience is bound to contemplate on what else they can do in the future.

As its title for this year suggests, the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival - the Metropolitan Version will expand beyond Tokyo and have screenings in Yokohama and Saitama. Actually, the Film Festival will turn into a nationwide version throughout October and travel to other cities in Kyushu, Hyogo, Gunma and Hokkaido.

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Istituto Italiano Di Cultura Di Tokyo（Tokyo）
Instituto Cervantes de Tokio（Tokyo）
Both venues open 20 minutes before screenings (unless screening allocated on a first come, first serve basis. It is not possible to reserve seats.Members of the audience will need to requeue at the end of each film.

Global Festa JAPAN 2010（Tokyo）
Since the Hibiya Park screening is outdoors, there are no admission limits.

Warner Mycal Cinemas Minatomirai（Kanagawa）
Warner Mycal Cinemas Urawa Misono（Saitama）
Aeon Cinema Koshigaya Laketown（Saitama）

Bookings are necessary. Please see the website from the venue page for exact screening times and booking methods. Each screening fits 200 people. Once a screening becomes full, no more bookings will be accepted.

 

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides protection and assistance to the world’s refugees. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency was created by the United Nations General Assembly and began work in 1951. People of concern to UNHCR include not only refugees, but also asylum seekers, refugees who have returned home, stateless people and internally displaced persons.

UNHCR has helped well over 50 million people successfully restart their lives, earning two Nobel Peace Prizes in the process-in 1954 and 1981. Today, some 6,600 staff in more than 120 countries help over 43 million people. More than 80 percent of the staff works in field offices, often in remote and dangerous locations. Due to the increasing number of conflicts in the world as well as the on-going impact of climate change, protection and assistance needs for refugees are expected to rise. In these circumstances, the UNHCR office in Tokyo works with the Japanese government, which is the second largest contributor to UNHCR, as well as the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support the refugees worldwide and in Japan.

By the time the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival – the Metropolitan Version launches on October 1st, Japan will have received about 30 Myanmarese refugees from Thailand under the first resettlement pilot program, in Asia.

 To learn more about UNHCR Representation in Japan
 To learn more about Japan for UNHCR

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UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie

Since she was named as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in early 2001, Angelina Jolie has visited more than 20 countries around the world to highlight the plight of millions of uprooted people and to advocate for their protection.

 Click here for details on Angelina Jolie

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