1/. In non-#COVID19 times, today would have seen the start of the world's remotest film festival, in a refugee camp deep in the Sahara desert
#FiSahara has a special place in my heart
10 years ago, 6 days & 6 nights in the desert, changed my life forever
#FiSahara has a special place in my heart
10 years ago, 6 days & 6 nights in the desert, changed my life forever
2/. I'd gone as journalist to cover the festival, but had been struck by how little the world knew about #WesternSahara
"As our convoy headed back across the empty desert, our thoughts were with people we'd left behind" I wrote in @Independent at the time independent.co.uk/arts-entertain…
"As our convoy headed back across the empty desert, our thoughts were with people we'd left behind" I wrote in @Independent at the time independent.co.uk/arts-entertain…
3/. When I got back to London - the sand still in my hair - I handed in my notice
A month later, in May 2009, I became a full-time journalist, started planning for the #FiSahara Film Festival 2010 and - with a small but dedicated team - launched the Free Western Sahara Network.
A month later, in May 2009, I became a full-time journalist, started planning for the #FiSahara Film Festival 2010 and - with a small but dedicated team - launched the Free Western Sahara Network.
4/. “Unlike most things planted in the desert, the #FiSahara has taken root & continues to grow & flourish” Javier Bardem
Over the next decade, my journalism would take me all around the world
But each year, I'd return to the film festival in the Sahara theguardian.com/world/2014/may…
Over the next decade, my journalism would take me all around the world
But each year, I'd return to the film festival in the Sahara theguardian.com/world/2014/may…
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