KUALA LUMPUR: 'Lost at Sea', a powerful animated film produced by (MSF) and Barcelona-based Noon Films, has been garnering international recognition and acclaim.
According to a press statement released today, the film recently won two significant awards, solidifying its position and impact in global cinema.
The movie won Best International Short Film at the Heroes International Film Festival in Rome, as well as the 4th Chema Castiello Award for the Best Short Film with social relevance and outstanding capacity to be used in classrooms for a younger audience at the Festival for Social Cinema and Human Rights in Asturias, Spain.
The poignant short sheds light on the harsh reality faced by the Rohingya as they embark on perilous journeys in search of safety.
The film draws inspiration from the real-life experience of Muhib, a Rohingya man who fled Myanmar and took a dangerous sea voyage to seek refuge in Malaysia.
Muhib and other refugees found themselves stranded on a fishing boat in the Andaman Sea, where they saw 27 people die, a grim reminder of the immense risks faced by those fleeing conflict and persecution.
Dream-like flashbacks are woven into Muhib's story. He is haunted by the song his mother sang to him in Myanmar.
As he grapples with the trauma, the audience is taken on a journey about the resilience of the human spirit amid adversity.
The Rohingya continue to make the same journey, in even greater numbers.
A recent report from the UN refugee agency noted that there was "a surge in the number of desperate Rohingya refugees reportedly dying or going missing" on similar boat journeys last year.
MSF regional operational director Paul Brockmann said "569 Rohingya were reported to have perished or gone missing last year in Southeast Asian waters, with nearly 4,500 embarking on deadly sea journeys — a significant increase on previous years".
He said recognition of the film underscored its powerful storytelling and its potential as an educational tool to raise awareness about the challenges faced by displaced communities globally.
"'Lost at Sea' stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of Doctors Without Border, Richard Swarbrick the animator and Noon Films, using the medium of animation to amplify the voices of those who have endured unimaginable hardships.
"The film serves as a call to action, urging audiences worldwide to empathise with the plight of refugees and engage in meaningful conversations surrounding human dignity and hope," he said.