Displacement through cinema: Our top picks at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival

At the Asylum Seekers Centre, we believe in the power of storytelling to bridge divides and amplify voices often ignored. 

The upcoming 2025 Sydney Film Festival (4–15 June) offers a compelling lineup of films that delve into themes of displacement, resilience, and humanity. 

Here are five standout films we recommend:

Unwelcomed (Chile)

Director: Amilcar Infante and Sebastián González Mendez

Amid Chile’s anti-migrant protests, this eye-opening documentary follows Latin America’s migration crisis through the Andes, Atacama Desert, and coast.

Directors Infante and Mendez walk alongside the refugees – millions who have been forced to flee their homes in what has become one of the largest ongoing migration crises in the world.

All That’s Left of You (Germany)

Director: Cherien Dabis

Spanning seven decades, this epic portrait of displacement traces the lives of a Palestinian family, from the 1948 Nakba to the present day. 

Director Dabis has shared that the film is inspired by her own family. “My father is a Palestinian refugee who lived most of his life in exile.” All That’s Left of you explores themes of loss, identity, and the enduring hope for return.

Lowland Kids (USA)

Director: Sandra Winther

Set in the disappearing islands of the American South, this documentary follows the lives of climate refugees Howard and Juliette Brunet, the last teenagers left on the Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana.

As another hurricane approaches, the film follows the Brunets as they face the weight of environmental displacement and cultural survival.

State of Statelessness (India)

Director: Tenzing Sonam, Ritu Sarin, Tsering Tashi Gyalthang, Sonam Tseten and Tenzin Tsetan Chokla

This documentary sheds light on the Tibetan diaspora, focusing on the statelessness experienced by Tibetans in exile, stuck in a bardo – the state of limbo central to Tibetan Buddhism. 

Through four unique and poignant stories, State of Statelessness examines the challenges of identity and the quest for recognition.

2000 Meters to Andriivka (Ukraine)

Director: Mstyslav Chernov

Mstyslav Chernov and journalist Alex Babenko follow a Ukrainian platoon on a mission to liberate Russian-occupied Andriivka.

In this highly immersive documentary, Chernov captures the human cost of war, emphasising the hopes, fears, and sacrifices of those on the front lines.

Let’s come together to witness and support these powerful stories.

These films not only entertain but also provoke thought and empathy, encouraging us to reflect on the complexities of displacement and identity. By supporting such narratives, we contribute to a broader understanding of the human condition and the importance of solidarity.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Sydney Film Festival website. 

*Photos from the Sydney Film Festival website