The 2017 documentary “Cries from Syria” screened Monday, Oct. 30 at noon to a full theater at the SCAD Museum of Art as part of the third day of the 2017 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Director Evgeny Afineevsky discussed the film with SCAD film and television professor Michael Cheney in a question-and-answer session following the film.
The film, which was acquired by HBO, explores the humanitarian crisis in Syria as a result of the Syrian Civil War. The majority of the footage used in the final film was shot by Syrians, and the interviews feature Syrian freedom fighters, activists, journalists, refugees and children.
The film’s tagline, “Fighting for freedom; Fighting to survive,” summarizes the two sides of the war, which has defined the country for over five years. As some of the activists interviewed in the film mention, the greatest weapon for the Syrian people is the camera, because they can share footage of the horrific things they witness to the outside world.
Afineevsky said he hopes his film will not only raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Syria but also show the events that led up to the Syrian Civil War can happen in the Western world.
“I was telling the story of the crisis in Syria feeling that we need to learn more from these people,” Afineevsky said. “This was just the story of the Syrian people that I wanted to bring to you, but it’s not only about them. We as an American nation need to wake up. We as an American nation could have the same situation here.”
“Cries from Syria” first premiered back in January at the Sundance Film Festival and has since been used by the United States government to train those working for the Department of Homeland Security.
Cheney pointed out another documentary of Afineevsky’s, “Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom,” was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary feature and that “Cries from Syria” has the potential to be recognized with the same honor.
“The great thing about awards is that they bring the awareness up and emphasize the importance,” Afineevsky said. “With this, I hope we can raise our voice. We can preserve this life that was given to us. For me, being born in Russia, I cherish freedom of speech [and] freedom of expression as an artist. So, I think we need to cherish this because I see the difference. It is possible.”
Written by Emilie Kefalas.
