The first five short films supported by the Displacement Film Fund are introduced to the world.

On 30 January 2026, the world premiere of the inaugural slate of films funded by the Displacement Film Fund, a groundbreaking initiative led by Cate Blanchett, took place at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The event was a significant milestone for the program Blanchett created and leads to empower refugee and displaced filmmakers in telling authentic stories not only about the refugee experience but from their unique perspectives.

The premiere, held in collaboration with IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund, presented short films created by a remarkable cohort of filmmakers: Maryna Er Gorbach (Ukraine), Mo Harawe (Somalia), Hasan Kattan (Syria), Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran) and Shahrbanoo Sadat (Afghanistan). These inaugural recipients of the Displacement Film Fund’s grants shared stages in Rotterdam with Blanchett, IFFR’s Clare Stewart and Vanja Kovačević, and HBF’s Tamara Tatishvili, for a press conference, screenings and audience Q&As, discussing not only the creative ambition behind the films, but also the deeply personal experiences that shaped them.

The films, described in a five star review in The Guardian as “an anthology of five brilliant miniature artworks – by turns shocking, funny, confessional and deeply mysterious… a tremendous collection” was an emotional experience for all who attended, underscoring the importance of giving a platform to voices that are too often silenced or ignored.

Blanchett said: “These films are beautiful, important, and vibrant. They are not just stories of displacement; they are stories of humanity. I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished in just one year, and I look forward to seeing these incredible works reach the audiences they deserve.”

The idea for the Displacement Film Fund was conceived in late 2023, at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, where Blanchett (a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador for more than a decade) and a group of other committed advocates, discussed how they could amplify the stories of refugees.

From that moment, Blanchett worked tirelessly to create a pilot version of the Displacement Film Fund. Recognising the importance of not only providing financial support but also access to industry networks, Blanchett sought out a broader group of film industry experts, creatives, and individuals with a personal connection to the issue to help bring the program to life. She secured financial contributions from founding partners Master Mind, Uniqlo, Droom en Daad, the Tamer Family Foundation and the Amahoro Coalition, whose generosity made the Fund possible. By May 2025 at the Cannes Film Festival, the first cohort of filmmakers had been chosen, each receiving €100,000 grants to make their films.

The results, unveiled in Rotterdam, exceeded expectations and there was palpable excitement about the future of the Displacement Film Fund. The pilot program had created not just a fund, but a remarkable platform and network where displaced filmmakers can share their voices with the world.

Blanchett, together with the Hubert Bals Fund, was delighted to announce that a second cycle of the program would proceed.

For more information about DFF visit here