Award-Winning 'Crossing Borders' Documentary, An Agent for Social Change
Janson Media today announced the release of the award winning documentary Crossing Borders (1 x 72') to worldwide Television, VOD, New Media, and Non-Theatric markets. Recently acquired from Crossing Borders Films, the project targets a young adult base in both the Muslim and Western worlds — youth who have never met &'the Other&' in person, initiating a dialogue designed to break down barriers and stereotypes between cultures.
&'The film is designed to empower youth by deepening intercultural empathy and initiating student dialogues.&' -Arnd Wächter, Director Crossing Borders
Crossing Borders is a feature documentary that follows four Moroccan and four American university students as they travel together through Morocco and, in the process of discovering &'The Other,&' discover themselves. With group travels and frank discussions, the students confront the complex implications of the supposed &'clash of civilizations&' between Islam and the West. The relationships formed through shared experiences contrast sharply with the media-shaped views Americans and Muslims have of each other. Humor, honesty and a willingness to be challenged all bring individuals closer to each other and the relationships that develop disarm hidden stereotypes.
The relationship between the Muslim and Western worlds has been cast as a &'clash of cultures,&' a war between civilizations in which one is destined to prevail over the other. But is this so? What are the real attitudes and viewpoints of ordinary Americans and ordinary Muslims? Filmed in Morocco, Spain, the United States, Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Jordan, Crossing Borders aims to give a personal face to the &'other side&' through the experiences of American students studying abroad and their interactions with students in the moderate Muslim state of Morocco. By avoiding a focus on extremism, the film provides its audience with a sense of the millions of good-willed, &'ordinary citizens&' on both sides whose voices are often not presented by the media. The documentary aims to inspire audiences through practical examples of how to overcome the artificial separation between &'Us&' and &'Them.&'
Crossing Borders was produced by the non-profit organization for intercultural education, Crossing Borders Education. Founded by Arnd Wachter, CB-Education has served more than 3,200 American college students on its exchange programs since 2003. CB-Education aims to give a personal face to the &'other side&' through the experiences of American students studying abroad and their interactions with students in the moderate Muslim state of Morocco.
Awards
- Illinois International Film Festival 2009, Winner &'Best International Feature Documentary&'
- Honolulu Film Festival 2010, Winner &'Gold Kahuna Award&'
- Thessaloniki Documentary Festival 2010, Selected for screenings across Greece
- DocMiami International Film Festival 2010, Official Selection
- Awareness Festival 2010, Official Selection
- Charlotte Film Festival 2010, Official Selection
- FILManthropy Festival 2010, Official Selection
- Kids First Film Festival 2010, Official Selection
- Utopia Film Festival 2010, Winner &'Utopian Visions Award&'
- Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival 2010, Official Selection
- Los Angeles Global Film Festival 2010, Winner &'Best Documentary&'
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