Kurdish refugee uses film to change Swiss perceptions of immigrants
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A Kurdish refugee is using film to share to the world his experiences as an immigrant and a Kurd.
Peshraw Nabard has been living in Switzerland as a refugee for the past two years. To keep himself busy while waiting for news of his asylum application, he started going out of his way to film stories of refugees. News of his filmmaking then spread through the country and presented him with opportunities.
Nabard is a film director and photographer.
While making his way across Europe, he filmed himself and fellow asylum-seekers all the way from Turkey until Switzerland and then released the documentary of their journey.
He is now producing another film, called Happy Day, with help from the Swiss government.
“This product is a Swiss film. I myself am the director and screenwriter. I also do montage, sound, and mixing myself,” he said. “The film deals with the violence facing many people due to technology, especially the youth who are the main victims.”
“This film is to a great extent educational, showing the right way, punitive laws, strengthening the willpower of the youth confronting problems,” he explained.
The film will be released on June 17. He said many of the people coming to see the film are Swiss MPs and politicians.
His intention is to change the perception of the Swiss people toward immigrants through his film.
“I, as a Kurd, have been trying to show a positive image of Kurdish immigrants to the Swiss. But this doesn’t happen only through a closed cinema hall. It happens when this country’s newspapers, TVs, and social media outlets share news of a film made by an immigrant to the world,” he said.
Nabard has worked on 16 films and dramas as a photographer, writer, and producer. He was recognized and awarded as best photographer in two film festivals.
Peshraw Nabard has been living in Switzerland as a refugee for the past two years. To keep himself busy while waiting for news of his asylum application, he started going out of his way to film stories of refugees. News of his filmmaking then spread through the country and presented him with opportunities.
Nabard is a film director and photographer.
While making his way across Europe, he filmed himself and fellow asylum-seekers all the way from Turkey until Switzerland and then released the documentary of their journey.
He is now producing another film, called Happy Day, with help from the Swiss government.
“This product is a Swiss film. I myself am the director and screenwriter. I also do montage, sound, and mixing myself,” he said. “The film deals with the violence facing many people due to technology, especially the youth who are the main victims.”
“This film is to a great extent educational, showing the right way, punitive laws, strengthening the willpower of the youth confronting problems,” he explained.
The film will be released on June 17. He said many of the people coming to see the film are Swiss MPs and politicians.
His intention is to change the perception of the Swiss people toward immigrants through his film.
“I, as a Kurd, have been trying to show a positive image of Kurdish immigrants to the Swiss. But this doesn’t happen only through a closed cinema hall. It happens when this country’s newspapers, TVs, and social media outlets share news of a film made by an immigrant to the world,” he said.
Nabard has worked on 16 films and dramas as a photographer, writer, and producer. He was recognized and awarded as best photographer in two film festivals.