Filmmaker documents plight of Calais refugees
AFILMMAKER has joined a team at the refugee camps in Calais to document the desperate situation of the people there.
Natalie Kennedy, 31, has been helping make a film about the plight of asylum seekers and migrants at the French port who are fleeing their countries to escape conflicts. Thousands of refugees from countries including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan gathered at makeshift camps this summer and tried to make the crossing from Calais into the UK by stowing away on lorries, trains and ferries.
Natalie, a mum of one from Macclesfield, says people are trying to make the dangerous crossing every day.
She is helping make a feature length film – directed by Jason Wingard from Manchester – as well as directing a documentary to run alongside the film.
The team collected items from around Macclesfield before they went and will be donating half the profits to refugee charities.
Natalie, of Crossall Street, said: “The people here are desperate. People are still trying to cross every day and I’ve seen a few people die from their injuries.
“People don’t do the things they are doing unless they are really desperate. The conditions are awful and people are getting very sick.
“For the film we’re taking real stories from people here and creating a fictional story around it, but also I’m directing a documentary about how we made the film and more generally what’s going on in the area.
“I wanted to delve more into people’s stories.
“Very little is being portrayed accurately about the situation here. It’s a devastating place to be.
“There are lots of good people trapped in the camps, doctors, lawyers. They want support and want people to listen to them.”
Natalie, who has a fouryear-old son Rain, started out as an actor before learning more about filmmaking.
She made a film in Macclesfield called Trauma with her ex partner Paul Morrison.
Her last project was a film with Tommy Jessop, a well known actor with Down’s syndrome, called Down and Out.
Natalie said: “I’ve been in the industry for a long time now but love directing most, that’s where I want my career to go.
“I love what I do and want to stay in Macclesfield.
“It’s a creative hub of activity and I’d like to make more films here.”