Contributed Photo

Stories of courage, resilience, and new beginnings took center stage as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Philippines marked World Refugee Day with the 4th Refugee Film Festival held at De La Salle University Manila on June 20.

Carrying the theme "Solutions in Motion: Rebuilding Futures Together," this year's festival highlighted the experiences of displaced communities around the world, focusing not only on the hardships they face but also on the strength, hope, and solidarity that help them rebuild their lives.

One of the festival's biggest attractions was the Short Film Competition, which invited Filipino filmmakers aged 18 to 25 to produce short films exploring themes of displacement and hope.

Taking home the top prize was "Tambol," created by TR3S Productions, a team of students from Tarlac State University. The film tells the story of Ikil, a 19-year-old Badjao youth who struggles with forced displacement, discrimination, and the challenges of adapting to life in the city.

Second place went to "First," a collaborative project by students from Columban College, Inc. and Rohingya Youth United-PH. The documentary follows Zaid M. Toyub and Abdullah Abdul Salam, the first Rohingya refugee scholars to earn college degrees in the Philippines through the Complementary Pathways Program. Their journey highlights both personal perseverance and the role of education in creating opportunities for refugee communities.

Meanwhile, "Langit Lupa," a thesis film by Multimedia Arts students from the University of Makati, claimed third place. Directed by Lester Casia, the film follows a young girl and her father as they navigate life in the flood-prone community of Macabebe, Pampanga, showcasing the daily struggles brought about by recurring floods while honoring the determination of students, families, and teachers.

The winning entries were judged by a distinguished panel that included award-winning journalist and UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador Atom Araullo, broadcaster Gerg Cahiles, State Counsel Rosalie Robles-Cumla, film critic and academic Dr. Laurence Marvin Castillo, and UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo.

Beyond the student competition, audiences were also treated to a selection of international films and documentaries that explored life after displacement. Among them were "Another Place," which follows refugees rebuilding their lives in Europe after the 2015 migration crisis; "Rosemary's Way," featuring an advocate helping migrant women integrate into Australian society; and "The Circle of Our Daughters," which tells the story of Syrian widows working together to rebuild their lives in Lebanon.

Supported by partners including the Department of Justice's Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit, Pathways Pilipinas, De La Salle University, and Uniqlo Philippines, the festival reinforced the power of storytelling and cinema in promoting empathy, inclusion, and meaningful conversations about the lives of refugees and displaced communities around the world.