Awards for “Vol spécial” in Canada and Belgium

The Swiss film “Vol spécial” by Fernand Melgar was honoured with the Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film at the 25th Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie in Moncton (November 17-26, 2011).

28.11.2011

The Swiss film “Vol spécial” by Fernand Melgar was honoured with the Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film at the 25th Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie in Moncton (November 17-26, 2011). The jury at the 8th Festival des Libertés in Brussels, held at the same time, awarded the film an Honourable Mention together with the International League for Human Rights. The film has now initiated on an international level the debate concerning the deportation of foreigners without a residence permit, which began in Switzerland when it premiered at the Locarno Film Festival.

The jury of the Festival International de Cinéma Francophone en Acadie (FICFA) praised the film for "the quality of its expression and editing, its accuracy and its degree of humanity in bearing witness to a major issue, as well as the proper amount of reflection essential for prompting viewers." The Festival des Libertés features all film genres, "inviting viewers to scrutinize contemporary myths as well as denounce the manipulation and fallacies of a society that jeopardize its principles and sells journalistic illusions."

From Bogota to Florence, from London and Doha to Buenos Aires, the film "Vol spécial" has facilitated discussions challenging the administrative detention of "sans papiers" in Europe and elsewhere in the world. More than 30,000 viewers have already seen the film in the cinema since it was released in Switzerland nine weeks ago. Hence, "Vol spécial" ranks second among this year's documentary films. It will be released in cinemas in France and Belgium in spring 2012.

Zurich, November 28, 2011

 

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