Migration Film Festivals: Social Functions, Expectations and Challenges

This book explores the intersections of migration and film festivals, with particular attention to their social functions . Adopting an interdisciplinary and multi-bottom line perspective, the authors address the purposes and circumstances of migration film festivals; their delimitation as distinct from other genres of festivals; their cinematographic creation; and their approaches to the curation and programming of films. Numerous questions arise in the process: Is social function prone to homogenization among migration film festivals? What are these festivals’ main constraints in negotiating their social functions? What is their actual capacity to foster social transformation? How do we conceive of the fact that most migration festival goers are rarely the ones in need of changing their perceptions? How are migrants actually involved in these cultural events? What are the specific challenges that undermine migration film festivals in achieving a greater social impact, and in turning into true axes of critical reflection towards more empathetic, inclusive and respectful ways of life?

Lidia Peralta García is an Associate Professor of Audiovisual Communication in the Faculty of Communication and Documentation at the University of Granada (Spain).

Lhoussain Simour is an Associate Professor of English and Cultural Studies at Hassan II University of Casablanca (Morocco), and is Senior Research Associate at the University of Gibraltar (UK). Together, they have collaborated on publications related to cinema and migration narratives.