Our Films

Refugee Cinema

Our films and documentaries capture the resilience of Syrian refugees and displaced people, offering a deep look into their personal journeys through the therapeutic power of drama. These films serve as a living memorial to the artistic expression of asylum seekers and their powerful stage performances.
By engaging with our cinema, you help amplify marginalized voices and shift the global perspective on the humanitarian crisis. Every viewing directly funds our non-profit mission to support those affected by displacement through creative arts.

00:00/00:00

Where is Love?

'Oliver is a boy fighting for his rights, just like me!' Fadi (Oliver)
This documentary reveals the inspiring journey of Syrian refugee youth and marginalized Jordanian and Palestinian children as they stage a groundbreaking Arabic production of Oliver! set in a vibrant, contemporary Middle Eastern city.
A deeply moving film, WHERE IS LOVE? captures the lives of Alaa, Fadi, and Qusai—Syrian refugees navigating life in Jordan—alongside Ibrahim, a Palestinian refugee facing third-generation displacement. These untrained performers find their own stories of forced migration, exile, and systematic neglect reflected in the gritty themes of Charles Dickens' classic tale of poverty. Over six months of intensive drama therapy and artistic workshops, these children from the edges of society transform into acclaimed performers. The film culminates in their successful debut at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman, where these displaced voices finally take center stage. Featuring interviews by Sherine Salama and creative production by William Stirling and Charlotte Eagar.

Queens of Syria

The World to Hear

The Trojans on Location

'I have a scream I want the world to hear'
This award-winning film captures the journey of 50 Syrian refugees in Jordan who united in 2013 to perform a unique drama production. Adapting Euripides' The Trojan Women, these first-time actors used the stage to spotlight the harrowing reality of women in conflict zones.
What emerged was a profound piece of documentary drama, where the ancient Greek tragedy served as a haunting mirror for the real-life displacement and grief experienced by these modern Syrian women. The film documents their process of reclaiming agency through storytelling and art.
Throughout the production, the cast navigated intense emotional upheavals and personal challenges, illustrating how the arts can serve as a vital tool for healing and international awareness. The project highlights the resilience and creative power of those surviving the Syrian crisis.
'For this ensemble of Syrian refugees, the classic play provides a transformative space for group therapy and social commentary, bringing an unmatched level of authenticity to this powerful cinematic drama' — Variety

During 2016, Refuge Productions collaborated with Developing Artist to launch a poignant UK tour of The Trojan Women drama. This initiative enabled thirteen women from the original cast to obtain visas, bringing their powerful Syrian refugee stories to British stages. This evocative production, directed by Zoe Lafferty and co-produced with the Young Vic, bridged cultures through performance.
Charlotte Ginsborg and Anatole Sloan’s documentary captures this journey across Britain, weaving the ancient grief of Euripides with the real-world experiences of these women. The film documents their profound interactions with local audiences and their personal reflections on exile.
Through beautiful, sensitive cinematography, the film explores the core of the refugee crisis, highlighting the resilient spirits of those navigating deep loss and displacement.
'After viewing The World to Hear, we were left in stunned silence by its honest exploration of human struggle and compassion.' — Ella Kiley, Refugee Action, St Andrews University

The Trojans is a compelling documentary by Charlotte Ginsborg that documents the journey of four Syrian refugees in Glasgow. Over two years, these displaced people unite to stage Euripides' The Trojan Women, finding healing through art. The film is in post-production, but you can view their transformative performance via the link below.

WATCH Queens of Syria

WATCH Trojans on Location

Oliver! in Arabic

Experience the groundbreaking first Arabic production of Oliver!—Lionel Bart’s legendary musical reimagined with a talented junior cast of Syrian refugee children and disadvantaged Jordanian youth. Following an intensive seven-month drama therapy and music programme, this world premiere brought Dickens’ classic themes of resilience to life in 2015 at Amman’s Royal Cultural Centre.
Commissioned by the Trojan Women Project, this Arabic version of Oliver! provided vital psycho-social support for displaced children, garnering international acclaim. The historic performance featured 40 young workshop participants, directed by renowned human rights activist and Egyptian actor Khaled Abol Naga. Supported by the Mackintosh Foundation, this initiative showcases how the performing arts can empower Syrian refugee children navigate exile and find their voices on the global stage.

"It was an extraordinary moment of connection across culture and time. It was a sharing of human pain, suffering, resilience, heroism and creative genius."

- Dr Kathleen M. Pike, University of Columbia,

Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology
"Queens of Syria catapults Euripides’ Trojan Women into the modern world, an ancient play speaking to current crisis. The Trojan Women's themes of loss, grief and displacement are embodied by the women who are living those experiences, today. Never has Greek tragedy been so personal."

- Dr Lilah Grace Canevero, University of Edinburgh,

Department of Classics
"Very very moving...It’s very exceptional to speak to a group of people who can both personally and intellectually speak to the transcendence of Euripides's anti-war play…an empowering platform for refugees to share an urgent 21st century message…Everyone should see The Trojans.”

- Oxford University Classics Society
“Queens of Syria is such a moving and important piece of work. We were so privileged to share it with our community and it gave us much to reflect on."

- SolidariTee, Largest Student Led Charity fighting for

change in the refugee crisis
“After watching The World To Hear, most of us were truly floored into silence by its raw reflections on the best and worst of humanity. We were privileged to have a Q&A with Reem, and learned so much from her wit and compassion.”

- Ella Kiley, Head of Research, Refugee Action

St Andrews University
"Thank you very much again for sharing this amazing film with us. We had a wonderful discussion among Film & Media, Classics, and Theater Studies faculty and students."

- Oksana Chefranova, University of Yale,

Lecturer, Film & Media Studies Program
"An extraordinary class. I've been teaching this course since 2008, and I think including this film made one of the most powerful meetings I've had in all that time."

- Professor Adam Rabinowitz, University of Texas

Department of Classics

Academic Screenings

Our award-winning independent films and refugee documentaries are frequently curated for academic screenings at leading universities, humanities conferences, and international film festivals worldwide.
Hosting a screening at your university or school provides students and faculty an immersive way to study forced migration while funding our ongoing theater therapy initiatives.
We offer interactive Q&A sessions with the filmmakers for all educational events.
To schedule a screening for your institution, film festival, or academic program, please contact us directly:
william.stirling@trojanwomenproject.org
charlotte.eagar@trojanwomenproject.org
Alternatively, please complete our formal screening request form below.

DRAMA IS THE ARCHIVE OF HUMAN EMOTION