The 30th Istanbul Film Festival has begun. French director Roman Goupil’s movie, “Hands Up” which criticizes France’s immigration policies through children will be shown in the section called “Human Rights in Cinema Competition”.

“Hands Up” is a tender, engaging, bracingly militant drama from award winning French director Romain Goupil. The film protests the immigration policies of Sarkozy’s France through children who have experienced its consequences. The film begins in the year 2067. “Milana” recalls her childhood 60 years ago in Paris, in 2009. Milana is a fifth grader, and the daughter of Chechen asylum seekers. Her gang of friends includes Blaise, Alice, Claudio, Ali and Youssef. One day, Youssef along with his family is deported by the French authorities. Milana seems likely to be next on the list. Sensing the danger, the children decide it’s time to act.

Recall that the main character of the movie, Milana is an eleven year old Chechen girl in France and her real name is “Linda Doudaeva”.

According to the festival’s program, “Hands Up” will be shown at these times:

13.04.2011: Cinema Fitas 1 at 16:00
15.04.2011: Cinema City’s at 19:00
17.04.2011: Cinema Rexx at 11:00

A promotional video of the movie can be seen HERE. For further information you may visit the festival’s official website.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco