Directed by
ANJA STRELEC
Country of Origin
Nepal
Runtime
29:00
Category
Thousands of people are leaving their homes in Nepal each year to pursue their dreams and happiness abroad. Hoping for a better life and economic prosperity, Nepali workers move to
foreign countries to earn money and help their families. However, in the destination countries they are often mistreated and deprived of their human rights. And while the immigration wave is increasing each year and Nepali economy heavily depends on remittance, the immigrants are often, instead with greater economic prosperity, coming back to Nepal in very bad health or dead in coffins due to the bad working conditions.
Pursuit of better life often ends tragically for entire families.
Should they continue their pursuit or stay home? Should people
continue living in bad conditions in their own countries or die as slaves abroad?
Director Biography – ANJA STRELEC
For the last fifteen years I have been working as an independent documentary filmmaker, TV journalist, camera operator, editor and coach. I directed and co-directed several awarded creative documentaries and promotional films that were screened on more than 50 festivals worldwide, Croatian and Belgian national and local televisions.
Originally from Croatia, I am currently working in Brussels on different film and audio-visual projects for Belgian TV and BBC Studioworks as well as audio-visual and film trainer and mentor for different film schools. I had an opportunity to film documentaries and videos in an international environment such as in Nepal, Argentina, Ghana, Eritrea, Guinea, Senegal, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and all around Europe. Most of my work is concentrated on social, environmental and development topics as well as audio-visual portrait storytelling, documentary filmmaking and music videos.
At the moment I am working on two documentaries; “Where have all the smiles gone”, about Nepalese migrant workers and “Khadia” about female genital mutilation. In addition, I have been a film selector at FIFB (Festival International du film de Bruxelles) and a guest lecturer at different universities, conferences and festivals.
I graduated from the Faculty of Political science in Zagreb, department TV journalism and public relations and I have a master degree both in audio-visual and film production as well as in audio-visual and film directing from French universities Paul Valery III in Montpellier and ESAV (Ecole supérieure d’audiovisuel) in Toulouse.