ISLAND OF HOPE
A documentary film by Helle Toft Jensen
SYNOPSIS
ISLAND OF HOPE is a warm and touching story about a wide range of people whose lives, thoughts and relationships are moved and challenged in the encounter with strangers.
It’s a film that points to the universal in all people – that we need to be seen and be part of a community.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 200 ASYLUM-SEEKING BOYS COME TO A SMALL DANISH ISLAND AND INTERACT WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS?
There is a grave concern in the small community of AEROE when two public centers for unaccompanied boys open in 2015. The Islanders are worried and afraid that the Island is too small for such large group of foreigners.
Director Helle Toft Jensen is living on AEROE, and for 6 years she has been following the interaction with her camera.
In the beginning the children are met with skepticism but once the inhabitants get to know the teenage boys something unexpected happens.
As we witness the lives of several boys who are trying to adapt while awaiting decision in their asylum case, the inhabitant and the boys slowly find a mutual understanding and friendship in the small community. Heartwarming and heartbreaking moments occur in this beautiful almost fairytale-like story where friendships are made for life.
(58 min & 52 min)
Director : Helle Toft Jensen
Produced by: SPOR MEDIA
with support from: DR TV * The Danish Film Institute * FilmFyn
CONTACT INFO
Director: Helle Toft Jensen, Moseager 5. 5970 Ærøskøbing. Denmark
mobil: + 45 61 32 09 40 helle@spormedia.dk
SPOR MEDIA. Elmegade 5. 2200 København N. Denmark
spor@spormedia.dk // www.spormedia.dk
DIRECTOR // CV
HELLE TOFT JENSEN Director · Photographer · Producer
Co-founder of SPOR MEDIA
Born 1957 Phone: + 45 61 32 09 40 Mail: helle@spormedia.dk
Co-founder of SPOR MEDIA:
I have made films since the revolution in Nicaragua in 1979. Many from the global south. Often I follow my main characters for several years.
I want us to look into the eyes of the stranger, to find common ground, and understanding.
Parallel to directing films I have been promoting and selecting films from the Third World for national distribution, re-editing documentaries for Danish distribution and co-organising film festivals in Copenhagen with films from the South, – and edited several educational booklets and catalogues on films from the South..
Examples of films:
2006 – 2023: In development/filming for 17 years: “WOUNDED WARRIOR” about FLORENTINA, a young Navajo Native American Iraq war-veteran confronted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (to be finished in 2025-26)
Recent:
2015 – 2021: ISLAND of HOPE, a personal film about how refugee boys came to our Island ÆRØ, and moved our hearts and minds (Danish Film Institute / Film FYN)
2017 RODLØS: (”ROOTLESS”) a series of 6 x27 min for DR3 – about 5 young refugee boys, and their difficult journey into a danish teenage-life.
2006 -2015: “SOUND TRACKS of life – Moussa Diallo on bass”
Mali/Denmark. – about daring to follow your heart and seeking reconciliation. The Danish Film Institute, DR TV
2001-2005: ”HOTEL of DREAMS” Senegal. Global turism and the long journey home. DFI, NDR/Arte, YLE,
TV2, RTBF, TSR, ETV, SVT,NHK) Festivals: IDFA, ZIFF, SOUL, Korea, FLAHERTIANA, Perm/Russia, New York African Film Festival.
1998-2002: ”ANCESTORS ON-LINE -a journey into African memory”. Zimbabwe. The search for identity and values in life. (DRTV, SVT, YLE, ETV, The Danish Film Institute).
…and long time ago, a 16 mm film:
1980: “Children of the Revolution” Young Nicaraguans involved in the literacy campaign. l6 mm, Danish/Swedish/English/Spanish Cinema, SVT, The Danish Film Institute.
PRODUCTION
SPOR MEDIA is an experienced media and cultural organisation. Our goal is to improve inter-cultural understanding and dialogue across national boundaries. Our activities take us behind clichés and prejudice. We attempt to make the “unfamiliar” familiar and attach great importance to emphasising likeness rather than differences:
Documentary films: Films about people around the world, their dreams and their challenges.
Global Kids: Visits by cultural groups from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Distant Neighbours: Web based film and teaching materials give Danish children insight into the cultures and societies of Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Spor out there: Cultural and human rights projects in Latin America and Africa contribute to empower marginalized youth in their struggle for a better future.
Foto: Premiere on Aeroe: a mix of participants in the film, the creative team & financers
CREDITS // ISLAND OF HOPE:
Director · Photographer · Producer
HELLE TOFT JENSEN
Editor
OSKAR FANTA
Editing Consultant & Editor
MORTEN GIESE
Executive Producer
VIBEKE VOGEL
Composer
TONI MARTIN DOBRZANSKI
Coordination, Launch
KLARA NORDAHL KOLLÖFFEL
Sound Design / Mix
PATRICK SVANEBERG VEJEN, Eidnes Studios Fyn
Grading / Post-Production
ADAM BENDIXEN, Fionia Film
Photographer
HENRIK ROHDE KLOCH
Narration Consultant
GUNVOR BJERRE
Featuring
KARL OVE KNUDSEN · SEKHI · ANN-MARIE HVOLBY CHRISTOFFERSEN & PAULI
AREF · EMMA BERNER · HADJI · NILS ØRUM-NIELSEN · RITA KJELSMARK & PER · HAMED
LENNART MOGENSEN · EZATOLLAH · HANS GERT CLAUSEN · MUSSIE · NICOLAI HAVN
&
VIBEKE & RUNE & JØRG & REGINE · LEA & JES · JØRGEN OTTO · HUSSEIN · ASRIN · HANNA · TONY · KAISA & FREJA · JOHAN · ALEX · SAJAD · RAMAN · BIRGITTE · SØREN · TINA · KRISTINA
English Subtitles
CHRISTIAN BARKHOLT MULLER, Oneliner
Accounting
KORTHE LUND BARFOD
Artwork & Graphics
MIA SELIN
Trailer Editing
CLAUS BRONDBJERG ERICHSEN
Archival footage : Cathrine Marchen Asmussen · TV2FYN
Production
SPOR MEDIA
Produced with support from
The Danish Film Institute / Film Consultant Cecilia Lidin
FilmFyn / CEO Klaus Hansen
DR / Commissioning Editors Søren Klovborg & Anders Thomsen
SPORTGOODSFONDEN
BAIXAMAR FONDEN
Crowdfunding for ”ASYLDRENGENE” 2016
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