Cate Blanchett Launches Fund to Support Refugee Film Makers

Acclaimed actor and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Cate Blanchett is to lead a revolutionary initiative in support of refugee film-makers. A new grant scheme, the Displacement Film Fund, will see five directors awarded up to €100,000 (£84,000) each, all with personal or professional experiences of displacement. The fund will allow these film-makers to create short works that explore the realities of displacement, giving voice and telling the stories of the displaced.

The initiative, which was launched as a pilot, is expected to expand into a long-term project under Blanchett’s leadership. Funded by the International Film Festival Rotterdam and supported by the UNHCR as a strategic partner, the fund aims to amplify the creative potential of displaced film-makers or those with a deep connection to refugee narratives.

Cate Blanchett at the Toronto International Film Festival for Rumours ()
Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This is at a critical time when global displacement has reached unprecedented levels. According to the UN’s 2024 figures, 122.6 million people have been forcibly displaced due to war, persecution, or human rights violations. This staggering number equates to one in every 67 people worldwide, with 71% of displacements occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Against this backdrop, the Displacement Film Fund aims to humanize these statistics by fostering intimate, personal stories that resonate on a deeper level. “Film has the unique ability to immerse you in the texture and realities of someone’s life like no other art form,” Blanchett said. “Working with UNHCR, I’ve been privileged to see the big picture of forced displacement on an enormous scale, as well as the personal, individual stories of those affected. This fund is about creating personal, intimate touch points that connect audiences to the human experiences behind the numbers.”

The longlist of candidates will be finalized by a committee chaired by Blanchett. This panel comprises British actor Cynthia Erivo, Syrian journalist Waad al-Kateab, and Afghan activist Aisha Khurram. The selected film-makers will be announced at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where they will be given a global platform for their work and stories.

Majid Adin, Iranian refugee film-maker, said he was excited by the initiative. Adin himself came to the UK in 2016 in the back of a refrigerated van, following a perilous journey. He knows the struggle of the displaced artist well, having won a competition to make a music video for Elton John’s Rocket Man in 2017.”.

Refugee film-makers face a unique set of challenges in bringing their stories to the screen,” Adin said. “Society and the film industry often fail to recognize them as capable creative artists, limiting their opportunities to take on leadership roles like directing. There’s a tendency to see them as subjects in front of the camera rather than as creative forces behind it.

The Displacement Film Fund seeks to change this by giving the refugee film-makers the power to take charge of their own narratives. This initiative provides them with financial support and a platform for their work, shifting the focus from the refugees as passive subjects to active storytellers who can shape their own stories.

The fund also underlines the transformative power of film as a medium for fostering empathy and understanding. These films, by showing the lived experiences of displaced people, can bridge cultural divides and challenge stereotypes. As Blanchett said, the goal is to create “intimate touch points” that allow audiences to connect with the human stories behind the headlines.

The initiative rests on a growing recognition of how art and culture can be engaged to address some of the issues facing the globe. From documentary films to animation, creative work has the capacity to humanize complex topics in a way that inspires action. For instance, the animated film Unstoppable Beat is part of an exhibition in which migration stories are told in comics and animation, with a focus on Haitian street costumes and parades in Port-au-Prince.

The Displacement Film Fund is a great step forward in the support of refugee voices within the film industry. It is going to provide resources and opportunities that will help break down barriers and create a more inclusive creative landscape. For Blanchett, it’s not just about funding films but rather creating a deeper understanding of displacement and its impact on individuals and communities.

As it progresses, it’s bound to face logistical challenges and the complexities of working in an industry as vast and complicated as cinema, but its potential to do positive change is unmistakable. Through the empowerment of refugee filmmakers sharing their stories, the Displacement Film Fund has the ability to replace stereotypes and challenge perceptions into a more empathetic world.

In such a world torn apart by uncertainty, such a project reminds us of the needs of increased empathy and creativity applied in action. By film, the Displacement Film Fund has created an opportunity to raise the voices of people whose time largely goes unnoticed, and celebrate their resilience and creativity through displacement. As Blanchett and her crew try to bring this to life, the world will be looking and listening to the stories that blossom.

image

Justin Baldoni’s Apology to Blake Lively in Leaked Voice Note Sparks Controversy

Coldplay in the Philippines on January

Grammys 2025: A Star-Studded Lineup and a Cause to Celebrate