The Lightkeepers - A Short Documentary Film

How does a weekend school in Athens support refugee children who have fled the war in Ukraine? How does it help them cope with the painful memories and trauma of their experiences? 

"The Lightkeepers" is a short documentary produced as part of the Video & Storytelling Lab organized and implemented by Karpos Centre for Educational and Intercultural Communication, with the support of UNHCR Greece. The film shines a light on the experiences of children attending the "Trembita" Ukrainian Saturday School in Athens, exploring the critical role that education, socialization, and community support play in the lives of uprooted children. 

The documentary was screened at the “Arts and Inclusion” event in Romantso, Athens on May 10, 2023, and has also been featured in Karpos’ educational program, "Watch and Discuss: Short Films, Great Ideas". This program reached over 99 schools and 150 classrooms across Greece and Cyprus, bringing the film to diverse audiences, including 5 Schools for adults and 5 Intercultural Schools with students from immigrant backgrounds.

If you’d like to watch the film, please contact me.  

Production Year: 2023

Duration: 8'

Direction & Cinematography: Mustafa Noah, Olena Soinikova, Elli Xypolitaki

Script Writing - Editing: Elli Xypolitaki

Ukrainian Footage: Yevhen Borovytsia, Pasha Buinyi

Editing Advisor: Vasilis Vittas

Special Thanks to:

Maria Leonida

Maria Pesli

Georgia Tsismetzoglou

Alla Lobach

Maria Ivanchenko

Teachers of the Trembita Saturday School

Participants of the Video & Storytelling Lab


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