AUTUMN SONGS (HERBST GESANG)

Germany, 2015
441,899 applications for asylum
Thousands of worried citizens
More than 500 right-wing attacks
11 short films

Under the roof of a former school in Berlin transformed in 2015 in an asylum center, 230 men, woman and children from various social backgrounds and nationalities share the same destiny: they have escaped war, dictatorship and oppression. At the very beginning of their life in exile, they wait together for their refugee status to be processed and delivered by the authorities. In this atmosphere of deep boredom and nostalgia, melodies of their home country echo in their mind.

Through emotion and feeling, singing humbly ties the individual to the universal. On one hand, it reveals the beauty and diversity of each specific culture, on the other, it reminds us to the essence of our human condition, allowing our individual story to connect with the destiny of others.

A short movie by Valérie Anex
N°3/11 from the Episoden Film Research Refugees

Directed by: Valérie Anex
Produced by: Valérie Anex, Julia Joerin
Director of photography: Omri Aloni
Editing: Valérie Anex

short - documentary - 2016 - 9 min - color - Germany
OV (Kurdish, Arabic, Tigrinia) with english/german subtitles

Journées du Film de Soleure, Suisse, 2017
Davis Feminist Film Festival, USA, 2017
The Feminist Border Arts Film Festival, Las Cruces, USA, 2017
Vkratze Festival, Volgograd, Russie, 2017
7th CSFF International New Media Short Film Festival in Shenzhen, Chine, 2016
Pori Film Festival, Finlande, 2016
Shortynale Film Festival, Autriche, 2016
Visions du Réel, Industry, 2016
Achtung Berlin Festival, Allemagne, 2016