Programs

Erasmus in Gaza

Riccardo, an Italian final-year medical student, is going on Erasmus. The destination: Gaza, a war zone. His friends are shocked. However, it is important to him as he wants to become a war surgeon and is writing his thesis on explosive bullet wounds. Entering Gaza is not easy, he needs permission from three different authorities: the Israeli army, the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas.

Upon arrival at the Islamic University, he is welcomed by the chancellor and interviewed by the local and international media. Riccardo starts to feel the pressure: his experience will determine the success of the exchange programme. The imminence of war doesn’t help and he starts suffering panic attacks.

This improves as Riccardo makes friends with some young Palestinians, who advise him how to handle his anxiety. But when war is rekindled, Riccardo has to make many difficult choices. In crossing the border between Israel and the Strip, Riccardo also crossed the boundary between adolescence and adulthood, a journey of personal struggle that will test whether or not he truly has the strength to pursue his dreams.

PRODUCTION INFO

  • Year: 2021
  • Duration: 52 & 88 mins
  • Production: Arpa Films
  • Director: Chiara Avesani & Matteo Delbò
  • Available Versions: ENG, ESP
  • Country of production: Spain

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

  • Mediterranean Youth Prize, Broadcast Prize from France 3 Corse- Viastella, & Broadcast Prize from RAI at Primed 2022 (France), International URTI TV Grand Prix for Author’s Documentary 2022 (France), Investigative Journalism International Award in the category Reportage Long at DIG Awards 2022 (Italy), AAMOD Award at Rome Independent Documentary Festival. 2022 (Italy), Best Documentary Golden Nymph Award at Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2022 (Monaco), Youth Jury Award at Docs Barcelona 2022 (Spain), Audience Award Best Short ( 55 min version) at Olhares do Mediterrâneo - Women's Film Festival 2022 (Portugal), Millenium Film Festival 2022 & 2024 (Belgium), DocsValencia 2022 (Spain), TRT Documentary Awards 2022 (Turkey), Biografilm Festival 2022 (Italy), Galway Film Fleadh 2022 (Ireland), Disappear Here Film Festival 2022 (Ireland), EBS International Documentary Festival EIDF 2022 ( South Korea), Solidarity Tel Aviv Film Festival 2022 (Israel), Human Rights Film Festival Berlin 2022 (Germany), FrontDoc International Documentary Festival 2022 (Italy), Global Heath Film Festival 2022 (UK), Red Carpet Human Rights Film Festival- Karama Palestine 2022 (Palestine), Boston Palestine Film Festival 2023 (USA), Festival Le Grand Bivouac 2023 (France), Festival du Film Palestinien à Strasbourg 2024 (France), Global Health Film Festival Australia (2023), Global Health Film Days 2024 (Denmark)

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