"The Ice Cream Sellers"

Film screening and discussion 

We cordially invite you to the screening of the award-winning film "The Ice Cream Sellers" at 17:00 on June 23, 2023, followed by a discussion with:

• Sohel Rahman, filmmaker; Bangladesh
• Nickey Diamond, PhD student and human rights activist; Myanmar

moderated by Mia Kruska, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.

The film "The Ice Cream Sellers" ("75") tells the story of two young siblings and survivors of the Rohingya genocide who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh after the violence erupted. Despite the traumatic experiences many Rohingya go through, the children begin their new lives with hard work: selling cheap ice cream door-to-door in the world's largest refugee camp, in a desperate attempt to earn enough money to bribe officials to release their father from prison in Myanmar. The film invites viewers* to witness the two children's journey through the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The film tells a very intimate story of tragedy and loss, courage and suffering. On the one hand, there are the parents' harrowing accounts of their flight from their homeland; on the other, the children's laughter and irrepressible joy of life.

Language of the movie: Rohingya with English subtitle
Panel language: English

Contact: Mia Kruska, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
M mia.kruska@boell.de

Director's comment:
"During the Rohingya genocide in 2017, the image of a mother fleeing Myanmar carrying two children on her shoulders touched my heart deeply. My mother does not belong to the Rohingya community, but what would have happened if she did? I imagine a situation where I am a Rohingya child and my mother is running towards the border with all her might while carrying me and my little sister on her shoulders to escape a massacre.

I have seen the exodus of Rohingya coming from Myanmar to Bangladesh across the Naf River. The refugee camp is just a few hours from my hometown of Chittagong. One morning, I went to the refugee camp where I met many Rohingya. Finally, I met Ayas and Asia. I saw those sad eyes staring at the sky with thousands of words.

Making a film about the refugee crisis is not a new concept, but the encounters and access to the lives of these Rohingya people make the film unique, in my opinion. Therefore, it is more of a universal story about human tenderness and struggle than a conventional refugee film. I approach filmmaking from both an artistic and humanitarian perspective, incorporating my knowledge of literature, anthropology, and my life experience and background.I hope that the film "The Ice Cream Sellers" will not only make an important contribution in the film world, but will also help stop the ongoing genocide in Myanmar and protect the Rohingya community from further violence."

Awards:
2021 Winner of the 16th Tasveer South Asian Film Festival: "Audience Award Best Documentary."
SAFF Montréal 2021: "Jury Award Best Documentary Feature Film"
» Trailer