"Lumière à Zaatari"

As members of a film crew, we entered Zaatari camp - one of the largest in the world - during a film shoot in june 2017, for a few scenes. What we saw there moved us deeply and we felt compelled to do something. We decided to find a way to bring a cinema to the refugees in the camp. We wanted to leave something behind after we had gone. We didn't want to leave and then forget...​

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We talked about our project to the local NGOs as well as to refugees, who all encouraged our initiative. We created a non-profit organisation based in France, called « LUMIERE », a tribute to the Lumière brothers, the french inventors of cinema.

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We launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy the necessary equipment to build and furbish a projection room. Donors answered our call with enthusiasm and generosity. It took many months before the project could truly take shape. We faced many obstacles, but we also had a great deal of good luck: we met people and made partnerships with organisations who helped us make the best decisions.

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The support of UNICEF as well as the film production society IMAGINARIUM were decisive. We finally managed to hire a jordanian Manager, helped by a small local crew, to open, head and run the cinema.​

Our first goal was to open a cinema inside the camp. We now know that this was just a first step, and that we must also find a way to run the cinema in the long term.​ New funding will have to be found to make this adventure possible in the long run. This is our new challenge!

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The whole crew, including its newest members, is doing all it can to make what was initially just a dream come true.