Summary

For HIAS’s first annual gala, we produced this short film highlighting their refugee resettlement work in Kenya and Ecuador. SideXSide Studios worked alongside HIAS to tell Ailisec and Divine’s stories while ensuring their continued safety. We helped HIAS find the best stories to feature, hired and remotely directed a local crew in Kenya for a multi-day shoot, and simultaneously sent our production team to Ecuador. While in Ecuador, we quickly adapted our filming plan to unexpected civil rest after the repeal of gas subsidies, as riots and clashes with the police broke out across Quito. We immediately extracted our team, while our film subjects, who were being targeted with violence, sheltered in place. The following week, once the subsidies were put back and turmoil in the capital died down, we returned to finish production.

This short film debuted at HIAS’s gala in New York City, and was shared on its social media channels.