BARCELONA, SPAIN — Lost at Sea, a powerful animated film produced by Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Noon Films, has garnered recognition and acclaim on the international stage. The film recently secured two significant awards, further solidifying its impact and humanitarian relevance in global cinema.
The accolades include Heroes International Film Festival, Rome for Best International Short Film, and MUSOC (Festival for Social Cinema and Human Rights, Asturias): 4th Chema Castiello Award for the Best Short Film with social relevance and outstanding capacity to be used in classrooms for a younger audience.
Lost At Sea sheds light on the harsh reality faced by the Rohingya people as they embark on perilous journeys in search of safety. The film draws inspiration from the real-life experience of Muhib, a Rohingya man who fled Myanmar, undertaking a dangerous sea voyage to seek refuge in Malaysia. Tragically, Muhib and others found themselves stranded on a fishing boat in the Andaman Sea, where they witnessed the loss of 27 lives, underscoring the immense risks faced by those fleeing conflict and persecution.
In the film, dream-like flashbacks weave Muhib’s story, haunted by the song his mother sang to him in Myanmar. As he grapples with the trauma, the audience is taken on a journey, reflecting the resilience of the human spirit amid adversity.
Rohingya people continue to make this same journey in even greater numbers. A recent report from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, notes “a surge in the number of desperate Rohingya refugees reportedly dying or going missing” on similar boat journeys during 2023.
“569 Rohingya were reported to have perished or gone missing last year in South-East Asian waters, with nearly 4,500 embarking on deadly sea journeys – a significant increase on previous years.”
Paul Brockmann, Doctors Without Borders Regional Operational Director, said the film’s recognition at the Heroes International Film Festival and MUSOC underscores its powerful storytelling and potential as an educational tool to raise awareness about the challenges displaced communities face globally.
Lost At Sea is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Doctors Without Borders, animator Richard Swarbrick, and Noon Films, using the medium of animation to amplify the voices of those who have endured unimaginable hardships.
“The film serves as a call to action, urging audiences worldwide to empathize with the plight of refugees and engage in meaningful conversations surrounding human dignity and hope,” Paul concluded.
