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Refugees

‘Refugees’ is a photofilm that consists solely of photographs, placed in a cinematic context, that documents the hardships and trauma experienced by refugees in various refugee camps.

These refugees live in prison-like camps where they often experience harsh and inhumane conditions. Babies are born in these camps, where the mortality rates are extremely high due to factors such as inadequate access to food, clean water, healthcare, and sanitation.

Emotionally charged photographs, combined with statistics and a haunting sound design, create a filmic experience that experiments with the visual narrative of traditional documentary shorts.

Inspired by the early photofilms of Alain Resnais, Van Gogh (1948) and Guernica (1950), and Chris Marker’s LA JETEE (1962), ‘Refugees’ is presented in a style reminiscent of the early photofilms, but timed and formatted in a vertical aspect ratio, illustrating an influence derived from the current Shorts/Reel style of films produced for social media platforms.

All photographs in this photofilm were made when I was a photojournalist covering traumatic world events for various newspapers, magazines, and NGOs.

  • Adam Knott
    Director
  • Adam Knott
    Writer
  • Adam Knott
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Other
  • Runtime:
    1 minute
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Hong Kong
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital/ film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    9:16
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Adam Knott

Adam Knott creates photofilms (films that consist of photographs placed in a cinematic context) that are inspired by the early photofilms by Alain Resnais, Van Gogh (1948), and Guernica (1950), and Chris Marker’s LA JETEE (1962).

The goal of Adam’s work is to show the strength of the human spirit and create provocative images that grab the viewer’s attention, then place these images into a cinematic sequence combined with provocative text and immersive sound design to create a filmic experience.

Adam Knott is an acclaimed photographer whose photojournalism work has seen him travel to the world’s most troubled hotspots:

Tiananmen Square student demonstrations, China 1989
HIV AIDS orphans, Romania 1991
Refugee Camps, Hong Kong 1989 – 1991
Black Saturday Bushfires, Australia 2009
Martial Gangs, East Timor 2010

His documentary style work has also focused on:
The Great American Waitress 1995-2000
Diary of Depression of a Writer 2001-2008
Hollywood Discarded 2005-2007

EDUCATOR
Adam has taught at college and university level, where he was Adjunct Professor of Design & Photography at Mount Sierra College, Pasadena and lectured at the renowned Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles (top 5 Art & Design colleges of USA).

He currently mixes assignment work and creating photofilms, with teaching photography and design at TAFE NSW, one of the world’s oldest vocational education providers (1883).

Adam lives in the Blue Mountains National Park with his wife, the author, Erin Vincent, and their fluffy cat, Little Eve.

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Director Statement

‘Refugees’ is a photofilm that consists solely of photographs, placed in a cinematic context, that documents the hardships and trauma experienced by refugees in various refugee camps.

These refugees live in prison-like camps where they often experience harsh and inhumane conditions. Babies are born in these camps, where the mortality rates are extremely high due to factors such as inadequate access to food, clean water, healthcare, and sanitation.

Emotionally charged photographs, combined with statistics and a haunting sound design, create a filmic experience that experiments with the visual narrative of traditional documentary shorts.

Inspired by the early photofilms of Alain Resnais, Van Gogh (1948) and Guernica (1950), and Chris Marker’s LA JETEE (1962), ‘Refugees’ is presented in a style reminiscent of the early photofilms, but timed and formatted in a vertical aspect ratio, illustrating an influence derived from the current Shorts/Reel style of films produced for social media platforms.

All photographs in this photofilm were made when I was a photojournalist covering traumatic world events for various newspapers, magazines, and NGOs.