WINNER of 2018 ACCOLADE GLOBAL FILM Award of Excellence
WINNER of 2018 DELHI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD for Best Director
OFFICIAL SELECTION at BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2017
OFFICIAL SELECTION at PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVIAL 2018
OFFICIAL SELECTION at LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2018
OFFICIAL SELECTION at SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL 2018 and over 15 other film festivals around the world
“Director Edward Watts propels the film with an increasing intensity, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The real-life nature of the story only adds to this dramatic heft, begging the questions of what our governments are actually doing to prevent issues like this.”
This independent short film, based on an incredible true story of Ahmad, a seven year old Afghan refugee, who fled from his home with his brother to find safety in Europe. He’s trapped in the back of a refrigerated lorry along with fourteen other refugees trying to reach the UK, when the air inside begins to run out. As the other men’s efforts to escape fail, it falls to Ahmad to try to save them all.
OKSIJAN was written and directed by Edward Watts, shot by Michael Paleodimos, the cinematographer of 2016 Academy Award-winning short “Stutterer” and stars Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children 2016), Noof McEwan (Vera) and Elham Ehsas.
For those interested in doing more to help child refugees, please visit CHOOSE LOVE, the charity whose work this film was made to recognise.
