The Regional Government promotes the organisation of "Europe of Citizens" Film Festival in the Azores with the exhibition of the film "Terraferma" (Dry Land) on March 15. Set in Lampedusa, Italy, the film depicts the theme of illegal immigration.
The exhibition of this film is part of the initiative "10 films, 10 cities, 10 debates," which is travelling around the country under the "European Year of Citizens" until the end of March. This initiative has travelled to the cities of Aveiro, Viseu, Braga, Funchal, Faro, Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra; it will now be taking place in Ponta Delgada.
The film session will be followed by a debate on the theme "the pursuit of happiness and its impact on immigration policies."
Promoted by the National Coordination Team of the European Year of Citizens, the "Europe of Citizens" Film Festival is brought to the Region by the Government of the Azores, through the Cabinet of the Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, in partnership with the 9500 Film Society. This initiative aims to promote the knowledge and reflection on current European issues.
The films selected for this Film Festival - some of them are making their national première - are intended to promote the values, principles and rights of European citizens by fostering debates on the issues addressed by each film, such as solidarity, equality of opportunities, inclusion and non-segregation, education, health, justice, individual freedom and freedom of expression.
Directed by Emanuele Crialese, "Terraferma" tells the story of Filippo, a 20-year old youngster who has never left Lampedusa, the small island where he was born. His father had gone missing two years earlier and his grandfather taught him to survive by fishing. One day, while at sea, Filippo and his grandfather came across a boat full of African immigrants and eventually they become accomplices of a new crime: aiding and encouraging illegal immigration.
The film will be exhibited at 9500 CineClube Solmar on March 15 at 4:30 PM; tickets may be reserved in advance through email: [email protected].