Private Project

The Deportation of a Model Citizen

Two police officers are to pick up Aida, a young well-integrated student, from her foster mom and escort her to the airport where she is to be deported back to Syria.

A touching and hard-hitting drama created with inspiration from a true story about a Syrian refugee.

Oscar qualified for the 2023 awards

  • Jacob Thomas Pilgaard
    Director
    Behold, Such Clown, Incident at School, The Casting of an innocent woman
  • Jacob Thomas Pilgaard
    Writer
  • Pernille Hyllegaard
    Writer
  • Kiril Schjørring
    Producer
  • Thalita Beltrâo Sørensen
    Key Cast
    "AIDA"
  • Joey Moe
    Key Cast
    "LASSE"
  • Mads Hjulmand
    Key Cast
    "MARCEL"
  • Cecilie Bogø Bach
    Key Cast
    "EVA"
  • Søren Vejby
    Key Cast
    "POUL"
  • Tine Gotthelf
    Key Cast
    "KIRSTEN"
  • Kristian Arbs
    DOP
  • Steen Bech
    Editor
  • Rune Klausen
    Sound Design
  • Anne Rømer
    Composer
  • Anna Arden
    1AD
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, War
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 29, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Denmark
  • Country of Filming:
    Denmark
  • Language:
    Danish
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini LF
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Odense International Film Festival
    Odense
    Denmark
    August 28, 2022
    World Premiere
    Nominee: Youth Competition, Audience Award
Distribution Information
  • Willow Film
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Jacob Thomas Pilgaard

Girl's Night Out 2015
At the top of the mountain 2015
Behold, such clown 2017
The Casting of an innocent woman 2018
Incident at school 2020
The Deportation of a Model Citizen 2022
Khalid 2023

Having graduated from the film school 18Frames in 2015 Jacob founded Willow Film in 2016.

The 3 films, "Behold, such clown" , "The Casting of an Innocent Woman" and "Incident at school" have won almost 90 awards at international festivals.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

With a keen passion for real time drama my films tend to focus on the meeting of strangers and how they influence each other’s lives. The backdrop often being the sins of the past and atonement.

Or, as of lately, a comment on what's happening in the world because I believe in the power of films to make people reflect on how we treat each other.