On the Border of Greece and Macedonia
Four days ago, the European Union decided to allow only refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan into Northern Europe, stranding thousands of people at the Idomeni transit camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia. This report is from the Idomeni camp, where a variety of protests are ongoing by Iranians, Pakistanis, Moroccans, and Somalis who say they'd rather die than be sent home.
Photos by Camilla Q. Madsen
Macedonian police blocking the border. The rail track goes from Greece to Macedonia.
Men from Pakistan and Bangladesh are protesting and asking why they are not being let through to Macedonia: "We wouldn't have come here if we didn't have problems at home," a man from Bangladesh says (right).
Moroccan men protesting the border control. The protesters have made a coffin with the name Achraf. He is one of two men (allegedly) killed by Serbian Police two days ago while illegally crossing the border to Croatia at night.
Iranian men sewed their mouths shut to protest against the border controls of the Balkan Route.
Military and police from Greece and Macedonia guard the border.
People have been putting up tents along the train tracks.
Young Moroccan man lying motionless on the ground. After a while, the Red Cross came and carried him out. Many of the people are afraid the border will open any minute. Therefore, they don't go to the camp area to eat and drink, causing some to faint from dehydration.
The Refugee Trail
Timothy John Hinman of Third Ear invited me to speak about podcasting at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival on November 9th, and I was supposed to return home today, November 14th. But instead of going home I've decided to rent a car and drive south, following the refugee trail (backwards) to the Greek island of Lesbos. The refugees I've spoken with here in Copenhagen have told me amazing stories and I feel an obligation to record as many as I can. So I'm going to drive south through Europe, finding refugees moving north and ask them: "Why did you leave home? Where are you going? What has happened along the way?" I should be able to get the story produced and posted by the end of November.
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The Death of Ruth Tuck: A Docu/Drama
A story for Halloween from the archives (1986). I wanted to make a documentary about how our culture deals with death and dying, but then decided it would be better to do it as a docu/drama, with some actors and some "real" people. My friend Ken Larsen wrote and directed the dramatic parts. I interviewed doctors, morticians, grave diggers, etc. The main character, Ruth Tuck, is completely fictional.