2015 will enter history books as a key year in international migration – and as a year of irresponsible words. Some people envision a great migration of the scale of the Huns, the Goths or the “conquering” Hungarian tribes ignoring the fact that today’s refugees and other migrants do not have any military or political goals. While the refugee policies of the various EU countries vary greatly, some speak about a single “Fortress Europe,” evoking Speer and Hitler’s war lies about “Festung Europa,” which had been used to justify the bloody killings of the WWII on the pretext of protecting civilization against the barbarians.

The refugees indeed are not barbarians, and we hope that we, Europeans, are not either. That is why we need to learn about each other as much as possible. This year Verzio puts the representation of the refugee crisis into the focus of attention, exploring how the power of images can shape opinions, challenge stereotypes, and call to action.

On four occasions, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee organizes follow-up debates with legal advisers, journalists, social scientists, and filmmakers. Besides powerfully exposing the refugees’ tribulations, the films and debates examine how European societies cope with the new situation.

In cooperation with the Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Films in Toldi, Művész, Cirko-Gejzír and KINO are screened in original language with English subtitles.