As a reaction to the so-called "refugee crisis" in 2015/16, we, Dreikantfilm, established the project "Letters from Abroad“. We wanted to give refugees a face and a name. We wanted to know, where they come from, which path they have taken and what their story is. Knowing that only a fraction makes it here - over the fences at Europe's external borders, into the "European shelter".

In a pop-up studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg, we spoke with five young refugees, Pure and simple: three cameras, some light, black fabric. This material was used to create a series of portraits in which the protagonists spoke about their despairs, fears and hopes, sending a metaphorical letter from afar to their homelands. At the same time — with their views, experiences and opinions — they also sent a message to the people here in Germany. To us.

The series was turned into an online published format on ze.tt.de in cooperation with the ZEIT editorial team at the time.

all films are subtitled in both german and english. the subtitles can be selected directly in the player (cc) using the corresponding function.