Description
About:
Since 2015, over 40,000 Venezuelans are estimated to have fled to Trinidad and Tobago. The twin island republic is of one of the most economically viable options for asylum seekers, yet many are unaware of the reality that is to welcome them.
Nearest Neighbours interweaves the stories of four main sets of characters: a journalist; a couple with three young children and their abuela; a woman who is living in a horse stable among other refugees; and a computer engineer turned construction worker and his family.
The film explores how these refugees and asylum-seekers navigate their environments daily and work to move their lives forward amidst many unexpected challenges, including rampant xenophobia and a lack of legal rights due to the absence of local refugee legislation.
Team:
Director/ Producer: Rhonda Chan Soo
Producers: Emilie Upczak, John Otterbacher
Music: Rafael Attias
Production Assistants: Arnaldo James, Vincent O’Neil, Ariana Herbert, Nicola Cross
Festivals/ Awards:
Third Horizon Film Festival/ 2020 (Miami, USA)
Timehri Film Festival/ 2020 (Guyana)
Dox on the Fox/ 2020 (IL, USA)
Film and Folklore Festival/ 2020 (T&T)
Courage Film Festival/ 2020 (Berlin, Germany)
Global Impact Film Festival/ 2020 (Washington, DC, USA)
Spotlight Award at Dox on the Fox/ 2020
for exceptional documentaries focusing on a subject that is typically out of the public eye.
