This program of thought-provoking films will make young activists want to go out and change the world. These films feature brave young people who persevere against all odds and clarify the social context for their struggles. You’ll meet a boy who dreams of being the Robin Hood of Senegal, an American girl who protests the racist policies that have imprisoned her brother, and a young Syrian refugee who just misses his mom and dad.

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Yaadikoone
(Marc Picavez, Senegal/France, live action, 2016, 22 min, in Wolof with English subtitles) US premiere! In his quest to fix the roof of his house, a boy learns of a famous ‘50s bandit remembered as the Senegalese Robin Hood. Watch the trailer>

Drawing for Better Dreams
(May Odeh and Dia’ Azzeh, Palestine, animated, 2015, 4:18 min, no dialogue) This film uses real drawings from Palestinian children to demonstrate the human right of young people to dream.

Hewat
(Afsun M. Nezhad, Germany/Iran, live action, 2016, 10 min, Farsi with English subtitles) North American premiere! This Afghan undocumented immigrant just wants to be a regular kid but is put into an urgent situation where he has to protect his brother.

I, Destini
(Nicholas Pilarski and Destini Riley, USA, animated, 2016, 14 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A young Black Lives Matter activist in North Carolina reflects on the imprisonment of her brother. The film is a collaboration between high school student Destini Riley and a documentary filmmaker.

A Year Without My Parents
(Els van Driel, The Netherlands, live action, 2015, 24 min, in Dutch, Arabic and English, with English subtitles) West Coast premiere!When Tareq flees Syria, he leaves his family behind. In this emotionally involving documentary, he adjusts to his new life in the Netherlands and wonders about his choice. Watch the trailer>

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Notes to parents: All of the films touch on serious subject matter, including war, poverty, and bigotry.