Cannes, Berlin or Locarno: film festivals are a dime a dozen. The International Film Festival FiSahara in the Sahrawi refugee camp Dakhla, on the other hand, is something very special. During one week, films are shown in tents in the middle of the Algerian desert, entertaining and thought-provoking. Furthermore: this unique festival is only possible thanks to the support of the many Sahrawi young people of our partner organisation UJSARIO.
For more than 30 years, more than 100,000 people have been living in the middle of the Algerian desert in several refugee camps on hold. In all these years, they have not lost faith in their return to their homeland, the Western Sahara. As monotonous and tough as their camp life is, they try to prepare themselves for life after their return with the few resources available.
In the meantime, a third generation of Sahrawis is growing up in the camps and is taking advantage of the time to educate and train themselves. In addition, various festivities try to take a break from the boring everyday life in the desert and to reach the public with their concerns. One of these festivities is the International Film Festival FiSahara, which took place for the 11th time this year.
Space for criticism of politics and society
This year, the film festival again offered space for socio-critical documentaries such as the Oscar-nominated films "The Square" and "Dirty Wars", in addition to entertainment. Films on the theme of the Sahraoui were also shown to the same extent. For example the documentary about Sahrawi women who were tortured in Moroccan prisons "To make you know that I am alive" or about the situation of young people in the Sahrawi refugee camps "Cast in sand". The festival was dedicated to the South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.
Outstanding commitment from young people
Our partner organisation UJSARIO Smara (UJSARIO, the Sahrawi Youth Organisation) in the refugee camp Smara is an important part of the festival organisation, because UJSARIO coordinates the many voluntary and committed Sahrawi young people without whom there would be no festival. Among the helpers, the first class of Sahrawi film students from the newly built film school in the Boujdour refugee camp were also very active in the festival organisation. In her closing speech in the first sentence, the Spanish organizer Maria Carion praised the great commitment of the youth as a special feature of this festival.
