Refugee Film Festival 2026
Refugee Film Festival 2026
20 JUNE 2026 | 1-8 PM
4TH REFUGEE FILM FESTIVAL
On 20 June 2026, UNHCR Philippines will be holding the 4th Refugee Film Festival, showcasing the stories of people forced to flee through films and documentaries from the Philippines and around the globe. The film festival aims to help bring awareness, build empathy, and mobilize action for and on behalf of the 123 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide.
Admission is FREE. Reserve your tickets.
Experience inspiring stories of solutions, solidarity, and transformation. Join us for a free film screening in honor of World Refugee Day as we explore how communities, partners, and refugees are rebuilding futures together.
This international day pays tribute to the courage of those forced to flee their homes. Together, we can stand in solidarity, defend the right to safety, and support refugees as they rebuild their lives. Be part of this meaningful commemoration.
ANOTHER PLACE
20 JUNE 2025 (Saturday) | 1:00 PM PST
Another Place is not just another refugee story about dangerous border crossings but an intimate look at what happens in a person's life after migration. It is told and narrated from the unique perspective of a former refugee from Iran. It's a then-and-now, and all the life that happens in between. It is the story of the loss of family, isolation, mental illness, racism, and what it means to find home.
The film features stories of three people who've fled their homes due to war and persecution and have found refuge in the European Union. In the aftermath of the 2015 migration crisis, it delves into the process of acclimating to a new country and the difficulties one faces. How does one rebuild their life in a new version of home? Where do they work? Where do they go to school? There's also a fourth narrative, the connective tissue and the common thread of the filmmaker, Jhizet Panosian, who fled Iran during the Iran/Iraq war and resettled in the United States.
Read more here: https://www.anotherplacefilm.com/
ROSEMARY'S WAY
20 JUNE 2025 (Saturday) | 3:15 PM PST
Charismatic changemaker, Rosemary Kariuki, is on a mission to empower migrant women, enticing them out of cultural silos, exposing them to new ideas, experiences and the wider Australian society - her means are anything but orthodox and laughter is her secret weapon.
THE CIRCLE OF OUR DAUGHTERS
20 JUNE 2025 (Saturday) | 5:15 PM PST
The Circle of Our Daughters follows Syrian widows surviving as refugees in Arsal, Lebanon, as they work together to rebuild from the rubble of their former lives.
SHORT FILM COMPETITION
20 JUNE 2025 (Saturday) | 6:25 PM PST
The screening of the Top 5 Short Film Competition entries will be followed by the Awarding and Closing Program. As part of the Film Festival, we have invited interested young people in the Philippines to submit their entries for the Short Film Competition, with the theme “Solutions in Motion: Rebuilding Futures Together”. Interested participants were encouraged to use their talent and skills in filmmaking to help bring awareness, build empathy, and mobilize action for and on behalf of the more than 123 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20 June and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
Why is World Refugee Day important?
World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilize political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but also thrive. While it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees.
When is World Refugee Day and when did it start?
World Refugee Day falls each year on 20 June and is dedicated to refugees around the globe. World Refugee Day was held globally for the first time on 20 June 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000.
What happens on World Refugee Day?
Each year, World Refugee Day is marked by a variety of events in many countries around the globe in support of refugees. These activities are led by or involve refugees themselves, government officials, host communities, companies, celebrities, school children and the general public, among others. Read our World Refugee Day Live Blog to discover some of the activities that took place in 2022.