Film produced by IOE academic exhibited at Festival of Social Science

The screening formed part of an event at the Horniman Musuem, ‘Art and Migration in the Mediterranean Sea’, in collaboration with Dr Domenic Sergi, Refugee Youth, and Pan-Intercultural Arts.

The event aimed to explore how different art forms can contribute to knowledge exchange around timely research questions about migration. In particular, the UCL-funded film, directed by Luca Vullo, tells the story of the small community of Lampedusa, Italy’s most southerly territory and first port of arrival for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
 

The 30-minute research-informed documentary film 'CCÀ SEMU, here we are. Lives on hold in Lampedusa', expresses the community’s contrasting feelings between the local struggles for failing public services and the global challenges of migration.

In line with what is illustrated in the film, Dr Franceschelli’s research found that although Lampedusa is at the frontline of the European debate about migration, Lampedusans tend to address their discontent toward the institutional failure of the Italian ‘absent’ state. These concerns are expressed by a number of unresolved local issues, which mark the island’s marginality even under conditions of global attention.

Dr Franceschelli said: “What is unique about the film, beyond the utmost importance of engagement with the issue of migration, is its ability to provide an illustration of the research results through a medium accessible beyond the standard academic text.”

'CCÀ SEMU, here we are. Lives on hold in Lampedusa' was funded by UCL Seed Funding and UCL Grand Challenges: Justice and Equality.

Media contact

Rowan Walker, UCL Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 8515
Email: rowan.walker@ucl.ac.uk

Links

• Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU)
• Department of Social Science
• View Dr Michela Franceschelli’s research profile
• ESRC Festival of Social Science
• UCL Grand Challenges: Justice and Equality
• UCL Seed Funding