Acclaimed British foreign correspondent and author Christina Lamb now tells the timely and inspiring story of a remarkable young hero: sixteen year-old Nujeen Mustafa. Born with cerebral palsy, Nujeen undertook a harrowing journey from war-ravaged Aleppo to Germany in all in a wheelchair. She tells the details of her experience for the first time in a memoir, Nujeen, co-authored with Christina Lamb.

In the context of Nujeen’s unimaginable journey, we will look at the course of the Syrian Civil War, the impact of bringing individual stories to the public, and action Western countries could take to bring urgent relief to the besieged population of Aleppo.

Chaired by Azadeh Moaveni (@AzadehMoaveni), former Middle East correspondent for Time magazine. She reported from throughout the region for much of the past decade, and speaks Persian and Arabic. Her books include Lipstick Jihad, Honeymoon in Tehran, and she is co-author, with Shirin Ebadi, of Iran Awakening.

Speakers (full panel announced soon):

Nujeen Mustafa (@NujeenMustafa) is a Syrian refugee currently based in Germany and author of the memoir Nujeen

Christina Lamb (@christinalamb) is the roving foreign affairs correspondent for The Sunday Times. She has been a foreign correspondent for more than twenty five years, living in Pakistan, Brazil and South Africa first for the Financial Times then The Sunday Times. She is the author of The Africa House, House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-torn Zimbabwe, Waiting For Allah: Pakistan’s Struggle for Democracy, The Sewing Circles of Herat, My Afghan Years and co-author of I Am Malala. Her newest book Nujeen: One Girl’s Incredible Journey From War-Torn Syria in a Wheelchair is published by Harper Collins.

Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell is the MP for Sutton Coldfield and Secretary of State for International Development.

Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi) is an Iraqi-British journalist and political analyst, a senior fellow at the Institute of State Effectiveness and a Yale World Fellow. She is a member of the Global Agenda Council on the Middle East and has written extensively on US and European policies in the Middle East, in addition to conducting several high profile interviews including with US President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.

The Frontline Club is delighted to partner with Cinema for Peace to bring you a night of short films illuminating the experiences of refugees and displaced persons.

Cinema for Peace is a non-profit organisation based in Berlin that aims to raise awareness for the social relevance of films, and to make active use of the influence of film on the perception and resolution of social, political and humanitarian challenges. Since 2002, the group has been inviting filmmakers, humanitarian and human rights activists, and public figures to its annual awards ceremony in Berlin to honour a selection of cinematic works on humanitarian and environmental issues.

The programme will comprise international short documentaries, narrating the personal experiences and journeys of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless and internally displaced persons from several areas across the world and representing multiple environmental and humanitarian issues.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Sharron Ward.

The lineup:

MY ALEPPO
Director: Melissa Langer
2015 / 18 min / USA
http://melissalanger.com/

The young Abdullah family fled the Syrian civil war and settled in Pretoria, South Africa. There, in their little one-room apartment, the Internet is all that connects them with Aleppo.

THEN I CAME BY BOAT
Director: Marleena Forward
2014 / 11 min / Australia
https://marleenaforward.wordpress.com/

Tri and his family escaped by boat from Vietnam to Australia. Now he has found a way to say thank you to Australia.

A LIFE ON HOLD
Director: Marc Silver & Nick Francis
2013 / 6 min / UK
http://www.marcsilver.net/projects/a-life-on-hold.php

When the 2011 war broke out in Libya, thousands of refugees from countries such as Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea were forced to flee for their lives. They are now waiting in refugee camps along the Tunisian and Egyptian borders – unable to return home due to war or persecution, unable to return to Libya due to ongoing violence and discrimination.

RESIDENT ALIEN
Director: Naiara Eizaguirre-Paulos
2015 / 17 min / USA/Spain
http://www.naiaraeizaguirre.com/

15-year-old Carlos saw his best friend shot dead in front of him in Honduras and escaped gang violence by fleeing to his grandmother in the U.S., but his undocumented status leaves him vulnerable to deportation.

SYRIA: HIDDEN WAR ON WOMEN
Director/Producer: Sharron Ward
2015 / 7 min / UK / Channel 4 News
www.katalystproductions.co.uk

As the Syrian war enters its fifth year, the pressures on displaced families have caused a dramatic rise in violence against women. But domestic abuse is a taboo subject in Syrian society and the true scale of the problem is unknown. Violence against women is the hidden war on women in Syria. Filmmaker Sharron Ward gained rare access to brave Syrian refugee women in Jordan & Lebanon who spoke out in their own words about their experiences of forced child marriage, domestic violence and other gender based violence.

In 2014, 14,792 asylum seekers arrived in Denmark, 2,940 of them were children. At Home in the World follows the day-to-day lives of those children whose families are seeking asylum in the EU.

This remarkably intimate and touching documentary focuses on one Danish Red Cross school for refugees, where classrooms are filled with children from more than twelve countries. The students have had to learn Danish while adjusting to new surroundings and, in some cases, dealing with the traumas of conflict. While some students thrive and find friendship despite their difficult pasts, others act out with feelings of alienation and frustration. Some are denied asylum and sent back to their countries of origin, while others are granted residence and graduate to standard Danish language schools.

With stunning and unobtrusive camera work, director Andreas Koefoed masterfully captures the social and psychological impacts of displacement from the outlook of young people and the educators who are tasked with guiding them – and at times their parents – through daunting new experiences.

Directed by: Andreas Koefoed
Produced by: Sara Stockmann
Production company: Sonntag Pictures
Runtime: 58′
Country: Denmark
athomeintheworldthefilm.com

Described as India’s “tinsel slum”, the Kathputli artist colony in New Delhi is home to over 1,500 families of puppeteers, acrobats, painters and magicians. That is all about to change. When the government sells the land to private developers, traditional life is set to be razed for the city’s first skyscraper.

Where outsiders see the slum’s rancid water and shacks, debut filmmakers Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum find stunning colours in death-defying performances. Whether bathed in sunlight or exploding against night skies, magnificent fire-eaters, sleight of hand magicians and glorious puppets radiate beauty in crisp, brilliant detail.

As in-fighting breaks out among colony leaders, spilling out into confrontations with developers and the government, the clock ticks onwards to the bulldozing date. Will the artists’ resolve to preserve their culture and overcome the push for progress?

Gorgeous and inspiring, Tomorrow We Disappear is a splendid tribute to fading artistry and the tenacity of tradition.

Directed by Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum
Duration: 85′
Year: 2014