From KRO-NCRV-documentary Shadow Game was awarded a prize at the FIFDH human rights film festival in Geneva on Saturday evening. The documentary won the Youth Jury Award and the Grand Prize of Geneva.
In the film, refugee children traveling alone are followed by directors Eefje Blankevoort and Els van Driel during their journey through Europe for three years. In search of safety and a better life, they try to cross borders at the risk of their own life.
The jury praises the way in which this social theme has been portrayed. “Shadow Game is an astonishing and haunting film that tackles very important issues with strong characters. It’s an innovative movie. With the use of videos and social media material made by the teens themselves Shadow Game cinematically a groundbreaking film “, says the jury report.
Van Driel is honored with the prize, especially that of the youth jury. “The fact that the youth judges identify with their peers on the run is exactly what we wanted to achieve. European youngsters themselves apparently see very well how arbitrary it is who is unlucky or lucky, who gets opportunities and who doesn’t,” she says.
Shadow Game premieres at the Movies that Matter film festival, which will be held from 16 to 25 April in The Hague. The documentary will be screened in Dutch cinemas from May 27 and can be seen on NPO2 in November.
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