Batoor: A Refugee Journey tells the harrowing story of one person’s struggle to find freedom and safety while also probing moral issues around human displacement, people smuggling and migration policy. Afghanistani photojournalist Barat Ali Batoor won two Walkley Awards for the images he captured on his own refugee boat journey.

One of Afghanistan’s leading photographers, Batoor first won international acclaim in 2011 for his powerful photo essay exposing one of his country’s darkest secrets – the scandalous and brutal trade in young ‘dancing boys’ used for entertainment and prostitution. But his work made him a target of the Taliban and the powerful warlords who control the evil trade.

Forced to flee, he took refuge in the Pakistani city of Quetta. But with the targeted killings of Batoor’s own Hazara community on the rise in the city, he again became a target of assassins. With imminent death threats against him, Batoor was forced to flee along an asylum seeker route taken by thousands before him.

The film will screen at 7.00pm, and will be followed by a QandA with Batoor, hosted by Jana Favero - Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

Prior to the main feature, we will also be screening “I Talk to The Moon”, a short film that sheds light on the story of Farhad Bandesh, who was detained on Manus Island and Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (Base 1). The short film is directed by Melbourne filmmaker, Katrina Channells.