Film series: Stories in Motion: A Migrations Film Series

A shadowy image of a boy in the water looking at a boat on fire.

In collaboration with Cornell Cinema, the Migrations Program brings to you three unforgettable stories of courage, loss, and hope. The films — which center extraordinary stories of ordinary individuals risking everything in search of a better life — go beyond the headlines to offer a lens on the human experience of migration. Across cultures, borders, and oceans, through danger and dreams, these films bear witness to the human spirit in motion 

The series will continue with additional films added in Spring 2026.

Free admission! Sponsored by the Migrations Program, part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and the Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures Initiative.


Featuring:

El Norte (1983, dir. Gregory Nava)

Wednesday, September 24, at 6pm

A gripping tale of two Guatemalan siblings’ perilous journey to the United States, exploring resilience, hope, and the immigrant experience.
 

Simshar (2014, dir. Rebecca Cremona) 

Wednesday, October 8, at 6pm

Inspired by true events, this Maltese drama follows a fishing crew’s survival at sea and a parallel refugee rescue, confronting humanity’s response to crisis.

Cosponsored by the Institute for African Development and the Institute of European Studies
 

Io Capitano (2023, dir. Matteo Garrone) 

Wednesday, October 29, at 6pm 

A powerful odyssey of two Senegalese teenagers navigating danger, dreams, and the harsh realities of migration to Europe.

Cosponsored by the Institute for African Development and the Institute of European Studies

 

 

Special thanks to Katie Fiorella, Rashmi Kanthi, Jackie Sayegh, Rachel Bezner Kerr, and Megan DeMint.

Related films

A person wrapped in a colorful blanket stands in front of a field of tall wooden crosses, holding an object possibly a candle or flower. The sky is overcast and the ground is uneven

El Norte

Showtimes:

A blue fishing boat named 'SIMSHAR' is docked at a busy harbor with three people aboard; other boats and buildings are visible in the background

Simshar

Showtimes:

Ten individuals walk in a line across a desert landscape with rolling sand dunes under a clear sky

Io Capitano

Showtimes:

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