Film is a powerful platform to share study abroad experiences and inform others about how transformative the experience can be. That’s why we’ve had three Study Abroad Film Festivals so far, and are already preparing for our fourth Film Festival in 2017. We encourage all IES Abroad students who studied with us in the last two years—to submit a film—we’re now accepting film submissions! Learn more here.
But it’s not just our students’ study abroad films that inspire us. We recently found out about an upcoming feature film about study abroad called Granada Nights that we can’t wait to see. The film, which will begin filming in Spring 2017, will be produced by EyeFive Films based in London, England.
Granada Nights is about an outsider, Ben, who is trying to move on from a long-term relationship and looking to find a sense of belonging. His rebirth is coupled with his own acceptance, his study abroad friends he meets along the way, and the journey they are taking to see where their lives are headed.
Abid Khan, who studied abroad in Granada and is the Director of Granada Nights, wants the film to resonate with those who studied abroad and bring awareness to others that studying abroad is a life-changing experience. Studying abroad, no matter where in the world, is a time when you are forced out of your comfort zone, where you learn to adapt, to reach out and make long lasting friendships, live a new lifestyle and get lost in a sea of diverse cultures and experiences.
The film’s themes are of tolerance and acceptance and the impact study abroad has on an individual. In a time of uncertainty, the film will aim to encourage people to come together and understand one another.
Abid says: “Through this film, we can remind people to share in our similarities and celebrate our differences and help to unite a divided world … Many students, regardless of nationality, go through the same rituals, and it’s this shared experience that makes them bond together, giving them valuable experiences, memories, and friendships that last forever. They come out of the experience with a better understanding of other cultures and religions.”
For more information about the film, please visit the Granada Nights website.
