Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, SCHLINGEL 2019

Distances can concern many things, not only geography. Being pulled from his roots, eleven-year-old Ben discovers the beauty of friendship by connecting with a young refugee from Syria and this boy’s pain. This is a story of change, migrations and tolerance of universal value, being beautifully and tenderly told in a child friendly manner.

The film makes us think of our place in life when it comes to home, relationships, environment and how the dignity of human beings does not depend on religion, culture and identity. Your value does not depend on your position in the family, in the classroom or on the soccer field but rather how you perceive yourself as an important part of something bigger.