This year marks the eighth year of the Syrian war and there is no end in sight. Syrians fleeing the war continue to find refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan, where refugees represent an estimated 15% of the population. Azraq town and the Azraq Refugee Camp together have 60,000 Syrian refugees, and almost 60% of refugees in the camp are under the age of 18. Many of the young refugees have lived half their lives in a refugee camp and are at risk of becoming a “lost generation” with little access to resources, formal education, or creative outlets.

In 2017, the Azraq Film School started with two cohorts of Syrian youth refugee filmmakers, partnering with local and international film professionals to learn film techniques and storytelling. More than 30 young filmmakers and storytelling enthusiasts created their own independent stories that documented their lives, experiences, and hopes during the largest refugee crisis and displacement since WWII. The fiction and documentary short films show the grief, hope, joy, and complex experiences of youth that, despite great loss and isolation, persevere. These young filmmakers are developing a canon of films that elevate neglected voices and experiences. Their stories will expand our understanding of refugee life. Watching these films in a replicated home of refugees at Azraq creates a multi-sensory experience that invites viewers to learn more about the larger refugee struggle while surrounded by details of their daily lives.

Azraq Film School Presents “Through Our Eyes: The Personal Works of Syrian Youth in Azraq, Jordan”

Featuring: Various Artists

Locations

• #Conflict
• #Displacement
• #Youth
• #Youth Stories