Project Link
https://f.io/YGT5E3Y_

Bahati

illustrated docu-short "Bahati" follows a Rwandan refugee's deeply personal story of displacement and survival. Through hand-drawn minimalist animation and her own voice, Bahati's journey captures one young woman’s attempt to regain control of her life, as she faces her past to make space for her future.

  • Harun Yasin Tuna
    Director
  • Leila Shifteh
    Director
  • Harun Yasin Tuna
    Writer
  • Bahati Ernestine
    Writer
  • Harun Yasin Tuna
    Producer
  • Bahati Ernestine
    Key Cast
  • Harun Yasin Tuna
    Editor
  • Leila Shifteh
    Editor
  • Pelin Aysan
    Illustrator
  • Cagri Ugur Gurses
    Animations
  • Bahati Ernestine
    Voice-over
  • Jacob Suske
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Essayistic, Animation
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    19,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada, Kenya, Rwanda
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • HotDocs Theater
    Toronto
    Canada
    April 13, 2023
    Canada Premiere
  • Cannes Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    May 24, 2023
    CANNES COURT MÉTRAGE – SFC | Rendez-vous Industry
  • The UN Headquarters
    Geneva
    Switzerland
    June 8, 2023
    Private
  • Lemesos International Documentary Festival
    Limassol
    Cyprus
    August 8, 2023
  • UNAFF International Documentary Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    October 19, 2023
    US Premiere
  • Global Migration Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    December 7, 2023
Director Biography - Harun Yasin Tuna, Leila Shifteh

Leila Shifteh and Harun Yasin Tuna are filmmakers based between Vancouver, New York City, and Istanbul, with a shared passion for storytelling and a strong focus on migrant communities and human rights issues. Their work spans across different countries, shedding light on important subjects that often go unnoticed.

Leila Shifteh is an Iranian-American-Canadian documentary filmmaker, visual artist and refugee protection lawyer. As a filmmaker, she combines her background in forced migration and human rights with experience working with organizations like UNHCR, WITNESS, USCRI, and Refugee Solidarity Network.

Harun Yasin Tuna is a Turkish visual artist and documentary filmmaker with a focus on women's and children's rights, and migration-related issues. He has worked in film for 18 years around the world.

The filmmaker duo’s work has screened at the Venice Architecture Biennale twice, Montreal McCord Museum, Surrey Art Gallery, Institute for Peace and Justice in San Diego and several film festivals around the world, including Cannes.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

We are excited to share the extraordinary life story of a former refugee, Bahati with festival audiences around the world.