In a weekend of ‘staggering’ attendance at the Winnipeg Real to Reel Festival, R31’s film Volendam: A Refugee Story took home the Best Feature Documentary prize. The film, which examines the story of Mennonite refugees fleeing the Soviet Union during the Second World War, was screened three times during the festival with a total attendance of nearly twelve hundred. This included dozens of former Mennonite refugees who had left Europe during the 1940’s on the actual ship Volendam, of which the film is named after.
“It was overwhelming” said director Andrew Wall. “We really had no idea how passionate and emotional that people would be about the film. Then after each screening I was surrounded by those that had lived through this story of famine, persecution and war. They were shaking my hand, hugging and thanking me for remembering their story.”
The film is currently being completed for broadcast this spring. DVD / Digital distribution for purchase and classroom curriculem Summer / Fall of 2020.
Some further reading..
Winnipeg Free Press “Film revisits ‘miracle’ voyage to freedom” Article
CHVN “Winnipeg Film Festival Sees Staggering Attendance Records” Article
