In the midst of Trump's immigration ban, a teenage refugee Ahmed and his sister Ruba find a home at a Cleveland school for immigrants. Will they be able to reach their dreams?

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Apo W. Bazidi

Watch How Far is Home here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Current attitudes in the US and across the world towards immigrants and ethnic diversity have been harsh and negative. As the world shifts towards anti-immigration populism, many immigrants fear of an uncertain future. I wanted to show the world what these children are going through.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Understanding what is an immigrant experience in American Education and also how much these children have to offer for us.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We are all human and we all have our hobbies, dreams and family values. These universal them are es in our character, Ahmed and how he could be anyone of us in any country.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film evolved naturally in the course of our character's life and in the current political climate.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People really enjoy our character which humanizes the story and they love the pacing and metaphors in the film.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

There was feedback that definitely made me think about some changes.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

To spread the message of unity and acceptance. And giving newcomers a space in our communities.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Distributors definitely can help this message reach out further since we are going to do a major festival run.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Reach to Educational Institutions and also to Washington DC where the laws are made that are affecting newcomers lives.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How do newcomers get an education in America and what do they have to offer.

Would you like to add anything else?

We are all migrants, we change cities, countries and continents every day. If someone is called a refugee it's not by their choice, it is by force. We must understand what happened to them and where they come from before we even name them.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are working on a climate change documentary through hologram technology raising awareness to hold hands across social media.

Interview: March 2020

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

How Far is Home

In the midst of Trump's immigration ban, a teenage refugee Ahmed and his sister Ruba find a home at a Cleveland school for immigrants. Will they be able to reach their dreams?

Length: 21:53

Director: Apo W. Bazidi

Producer: Apo W. Bazidi

Writer: Apo W. Bazidi

About the writer, director and producer:

APO W. BAZIDI was born in Eastern Turkey to Kurdish parents. He is an award-winning filmmaker who has been interested in storytelling and writing since he was a child. Apo's films are primarily concerned with social issues and the importance of global cultural interactions. His most recent work, Resistance is Life, won 8 festival awards for best documentary feature. Apo believes in making a positive change and his lifelong motto is "Be creative and inspire".

Key cast: Ahmed Mohammed and Ruba Mohammed

Looking for: distributors, sales agents, film festival directors

Facebook: How Far Is Home

Instagram: @howfarishomedoc

Hashtags used: #howfarishome #storyofhope

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? March 26-27 Cleveland International Film Festival - Cleveland, OH; March 30 American Documentary and Animation Film Festival - Palm Springs, CA