### The Painful Reality of Refugee Filmmakers: When Cinema Clashes with Administrative Rigidity
The story of Diako Yazdani, a Kurdish-French-Iranian filmmaker, tragically illustrates the challenges faced by many artists in a global context where borders continue to tighten. Denied access to his own film project by authorities who seem unaware of his journey and motivations, Yazdani becomes the symbol of a larger struggle, that of refugee filmmakers seeking to express their voices through stories of life and culture.
### Cinema as a Tool for Reconciliation
In an increasingly polarized world, cinema has the potential to act as a bridge between cultures and generations. Yazdani’s project, which aimed to bring his family together around themes of reconciliation, highlights the importance of art as a space for dialogue. By confronting his past and redefining family ties through the lens of the camera, he aims to create a narrative that is both personal and universal.
His cinematic reconstructions of his family relationships, particularly through the unspoken and intergenerational tensions, evoke similar works, such as Xavier Beauvois’ “La Garde,” which addresses the internal struggles within a French family. Nevertheless, the dimension of exile and the quest for cultural identity add a new depth to Yazdani’s work, a perspective rarely explored in traditional French cinema.
### The Invisible Mechanisms of Exclusion
The denial of visas for Diako Yazdani’s family is not simply a matter of administrative misunderstanding. It raises the crucial question of inclusivity in artistic circles. A study published by UNESCO in 2021 revealed that less than 10% of internationally awarded films are made by non-European artists. Barriers such as those encountered by Yazdani illustrate how, through rigid bureaucracy, political systems actively hinder diversity in film.
This phenomenon is not limited to France. In a growing number of countries, governments are using fear of immigration to justify decisions that ultimately undermine artistic creativity. In Yazdani’s case, the argument of “too high a risk of immigration” denotes a largely unfounded fear that ignores the deeper motivations of an artist determined to explore his cultural heritage.
### A Voice Among Others
While Yazdani’s story may seem unique, it resonates with those of many other filmmakers and artists from similar backgrounds. Names like Jafar Panahi, whose films are regularly censored by Iranian authorities, or Khaled Hafez, whose works explore the Arab diaspora, are reminders that crossing borders is often a difficult journey for those seeking to share a message.
The international arts community must play an active role in raising awareness of these experiences and opening up new creative spaces. Film festivals like the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) have begun to focus on the stories of refugees and exiles, but this should not be an isolated effort. International collaboration and institutional support must be at the heart of this approach.
### The Legacy of Refugee Cinema
Yazdani’s situation is an opportunity to reflect on what cinema really represents in a modern society. It is not just a way to express individual stories, but a platform that can challenge policies, create empathy, and perhaps foster real social transformation.
At a time when migration crises are worrying many nations, the voices of artists like Yazdani can only strengthen the argument that art transcends borders and brings people together. Society should ask itself what legacy it wants to leave to future generations: that of the wall or the bridge? Diako Yazdani’s story is, above all, a call to action so that cinema can finally free itself from the constraints of a world that struggles to let others in.
### Conclusion
It is imperative to remember that behind every administrative refusal lies a human reality, an untapped potential, and a story to tell. Diako Yazdani does not consider himself only a filmmaker, but a ferryman, a storyteller who aspires to reconcile scattered souls. In this interconnected world, where the experience of just one of us can resonate with that of so many others, it becomes crucial to open the doors of creativity to all, and to listen to the voices that we too often try to silence.