Led by professional photographers and filmmakers from around the world, ReFOCUS Media Labs courses have given students the ability to express themselves and share stories of struggle and resilience.

Students go on to make their own films, work as freelance journalists, chronicling the migrant experience.

And many others remain with ReFOCUS to teach new waves of asylum seekers, who often struggle to find work in a foreign country where they do not speak the language.

“When I was little, it was my dream” to make movies, says Maliheh. “Now, I can.”

FEATURE STORY
by Lawrence Andrea

Our annual showcase of work by our international community of creators, musicians, and DJs who all work to unify in the face of forces determined to divide.

Live performances and DJ sets complimented a wide array of film screenings, original photography, graphic design, music videos and reportage.

Since 2017, hundreds of artists from around the world have developed their visual communication skills and artistic voices in our community. The Festival serves as a vehicle to bring their work to the big screen, and to professional galleries around the world.

Since the inaugural show in Athens (2023) Art Under Pressure continues to tour European and American cities including Lucerne, Valencia, Berlin, London, New York and Philadelphia.

Reach out to learn more about upcoming events, and schedule one in your own city.

ReFOCUS Media Labs has created an international network of media creators, predominantly with refugee backgrounds, who apply their developed media skills in the service of your media needs.

It’s easy to ask what a client wants, but we take the time to see what you really need, and we're eager to develop meaningful long-term relationships as your needs change and evolve.

Our creative team has developed amazing client-partnerships in recent years working with musicians for live events, NGOs, conferences, and special events.

Recent Client-Partners include:
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, NYU- New York University, Sea Watch, Ben & Jerry's, Allianz Foundation, IRC- International Rescue Committee, Better Days, Glocal Roots, Safe Place International, Yoga & Sport With Refugees, to name a few.

More are joining our community each day.
Reach out, let’s talk!

Seeking asylum in Europe has never been easy, but nothing prepared us for what unfolded on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2020.

A multimedia interactive exhibit of photography, video, reportage, VR/360 video, and audio interviews provides an insider’s perspective, conveying what it means to be a refugee in modern Europe.

Our interactive exhibit was the centerpiece of the multimedia showcase at Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (2021).

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ALTERNATIVES HUMANITAiRES

In September 2020 the Greek island of Lesvos made a brief return to the media cycle when fires destroyed the camp, forcing over 13,000 people to the streets.

Desperate to secure humanitarian services while the Greek government and military limited access for NGOs and journalists to report, most were hoping a new day had dawned with the death of the most notorious camp on European soil.

ReFOCUS citizen journalists, who documented the frightful moments on the eves of the fires, continued to document the days and months to follow in the temporary new camp, clarifying a brighter day for human rights was not dawning.

The images from Moria shown in a new project by the NGO "Sea Watch" with ReFOCUS Media Labs are all the more astonishing: people dance and pray under olive trees, they sing and laugh together, do sports and fly kites. Photographers from ReFOCUS worked with journalists to create impressive reportage and made videos that not only show the continued great misery and desperation of the people, but also positive moments.

The people behind the camera also write their own story. Almost all of them live in the camp themselves and are part of a non-profit training project. The Refocus Media Labs network teaches the refugees media and journalistic tools and prepares them on site for their future working lives after their time in the camp. Through their eyes, Moria and its residents come particularly close to the viewer in the pictures.

(Athens) – Greek authorities have not done enough to address the acute overcrowding and lack of health care, access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene products to limit the spread of Covid-19 in camps for asylum seekers, Human Rights Watch said today. Greece’s government should immediately take measures to protect those most at risk of Covid-19 in the island camps to avert a public health crisis.

“While the Greek government is working to stop the spread of the virus, the images of the squalid conditions in camps on the islands make clear that it’s not complying with minimum preventive and protective measures against Covid-19 there,” said Belkis Wille, senior Crisis and Conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Even handwashing and social distancing are impossible in these circumstances.”

official judge & mentor:
JORDAN SIEGEL

Every quarter ReFOCUS partners with a practicing professional photographer who serves as a judge/mentor to review work submitted by current and former ReFOCUS students.

Recent themes we have explored include Light & Shadow, Color, People, Street.

Our first theme of 2025 will be "Home", with National Geographic Explorer and Photojournalist Hailey Sadler serving as official judge/mentor.

SCROLL DOWN for our latest challenge and WINNING IMAGES

official judge & mentor:
SAYED HABIB=BIDDEL

Every quarter ReFOCUS partners with a practicing professional photographer who serves as a judge/mentor to review work submitted by current and former ReFOCUS students.

Recent themes we have explored include Light & Shadow, Color, People, Street.

Our first theme of 2025 will be "Home", with National Geographic Explorer and Photojournalist Hailey Sadler serving as official judge/mentor.

SCROLL DOWN for our latest challenge and WINNING IMAGES

official judge & mentor:
MELCHIOR DIAS SANTOS

Every quarter ReFOCUS partners with a practicing professional photographer who serves as a judge/mentor to review work submitted by current and former ReFOCUS students.

Recent themes we have explored include Light & Shadow, Color, People, Street.

Our first theme of 2025 will be "Home", with National Geographic Explorer and Photojournalist Hailey Sadler serving as official judge/mentor.

SCROLL DOWN for our latest challenge and WINNING IMAGES

official judge & mentor
LARS SCHMIDT

Every quarter ReFOCUS partners with a practicing professional photographer who serves as a judge/mentor to review work submitted by current and former ReFOCUS students.

Recent themes we have explored include Light & Shadow, Color, People, Street.

Our first theme of 2025 will be "Home", with National Geographic Explorer and Photojournalist Hailey Sadler serving as official judge/mentor.

SCROLL DOWN for our latest challenge and WINNING IMAGES