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Film festival opens with moving story of refugees' first year in Yorkshire
SHEFFIELD'S annual DocFest opened last night with the world premiere of the film Moving to Mars, which follows the lives of two families who move to the city from Burma.
The documentary, by director Mat Whitecross, follows the refugees over the course of a year and depicts their moving and sometimes humorous struggles in 21st-century Britain. It will be screened on television later.
DocFest festival director Heather Croall said: "The people of Sheffield have a long history of welcoming displaced people and at a time when Burma is again in the headlines it is especially fitting to be opening DocFest."
Sheffield was the first city in the UK to welcome Burmese refugees and, since 2005, around 250 of them have made their home in the city.
Mr Whitecross said: "For Moving to Mars to be chosen as the opening night film at this year's Sheffield DocFest is a real honour. I am looking forward to introducing this powerful and moving human story to audiences in the city that offers hope to the most vulnerable."
This year's DocFest is the 16th to take place in Sheffield and, this year, will feature showings of more than 100 films from 21 different countries over five days.
Running alongside the screenings at the Showroom cinema on Paternoster Row will be a series of workshops, master classes with filmmakers, games, demonstrations and business meetings at various locations around the city.
All films shown during the festival cost 6.50 for adults or 5.50 for concessions; free standby tickets will be offered to students and pensioners.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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