Sky and Ground

SKY AND GROUND tells the story of the family’s journey to Germany. Starting out on foot from the Idomeni refugee camp near Thessaloniki, Greece, we followed the Nabi family for 3 months as they make their way through the Balkans into Hungary, Austria and eventually Berlin. Along the way they suffer countless setbacks and heartache—all captured by our cameras. The level of access and the caliber of storytelling set this film apart from other coverage of the refugee crisis. We are with the family moment to moment as they leave all they know behind, in search of a better life. The plight of the refugee story is, in some ways, the oldest story in the world, and through startling intimacy and immersive cinematography, the film takes on a timeless quality.

The global refugee crisis we are facing today shows no sign of abating. In fact, it continues to grow worse, and as recent elections in the US and the UK reveal, immigration and refugees continue to be the hot button issue. In this climate, it’s vitally important to reveal the humanity of the refugees themselves. This film accomplishes that task, with a story both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

The project was funded by the Ikea Foundation,The Neda Nobari Foundation, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Emerson Collective, The Barrie Landry Foundation, Wellspring advisors and the Fledgling Fund. The film is part of a larger initiative titled “Humanity On the Move’, which seeks to engage communities with powerful films and storytelling focused on refugees, migrants and the challenges they face.