ABOUT THE FILM
An unflinching look at hunger's toll
on the children of war-torn Yemen
In March 2018, the UN reported that 10 million Yemenis were one step away from famine and that hunger is threatening an entire generation. Borne out of a sense of urgency at the sustained civilian suffering caused by the human-caused famine in Yemen, we embedded with a team of doctors and nurses working at Therapeutic Feeding Centers (TFCs) treating those most at risk of starvation.
Filmed from inside two of the most active therapeutic feeding centers in Yemen, HUNGER WARD documents two women health care workers fighting to thwart the spread of starvation against the backdrop of a forgotten war. The film provides an unflinching portrait of Dr. Aida Alsadeeq and Nurse Mekkia Mahdi as they try to save the lives of hunger-stricken children within a population on the brink of famine.
The film bears witness to the unfolding tragedy with a cinematic
eye - thus rendering horror watchable, and deepening empathy for our subjects and awareness of the significant civilian suffering
resulting from the current conflict.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I believe that the most compelling films often emerge from a deep and abiding belief that - simply put -
they must be done.
But is a passion to tell a compelling story and the craftsmanship to execute it enough? Five years ago, I decided it wasn’t. Despite a career of producing and directing documentary films that I felt were compelling statements on contemporary issues of our time, I came to believe they were not reaching a great enough audience nor activating sufficient change.
So I changed my approach to center on a single, core principle: empathy. I believe that if we can generate empathy for others it becomes exceedingly difficult to create barriers. I call this approach Humanitarian Cinema and focused my next two films on studying the global refugee and displaced persons crisis with a cinematic eye and rendering films capable of eliciting empathy for the burgeoning refugee and IDP (internally displaced person) community.
The first two films of this Humanitarian Cinema trilogy were 50 Feet from Syria and LIFEBOAT. HUNGER WARD is the third and is borne out of a sense of urgency at the sustained civilian suffering caused by the human-caused famine in Yemen.
The film documents the human cost of the on-going conflict in the country and will serve to catalyze debate surrounding a largely forgotten war.
We are striving to create a film that activates both the heart and the intellect while simultaneously laying bare American complicity in the current civilian deaths in Yemen. We believe bringing to an audience the specter of a human-caused, preventable famine made possible by American tax dollars will ultimately strengthen the call for legislative reform surrounding U.S. military assistance to the Middle East.
- Skye Fitzgerald
THE REFUGEE TRILOGY
In 2015 our team produced 50 Feet from Syria – focused on the civilian impact of the Syrian conflict.
This was the first of a trilogy of films focused on one of the great humanitarian crises of our time – the plight of refugees and IDPs (internally displaced persons) in a global and interconnected world. We embraced a small-team, nimble production paradigm designed to prioritize intimate access from the heart of a crisis. 50 Feet from Syria was licensed by Netflix (US), Bell Media (Canada) Al Jazeera (15 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East) and numerous additional national broadcasts. The film was also shortlisted for an Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
The second film of the trilogy, LIFEBOAT bears witness to refugees and migrants desperate enough to risk their lives in rubber boats leaving Libya in the middle of the night, despite a high probability of drowning. LIFEBOAT puts a human face on the refugee crisis and provides a spark of hope surrounding how civil society can intervene in a meaningful way. LIFEBOAT was subsequently licensed by The New Yorker (US), Bell Media (Canada) and Al Jazeera (Europe/Middle East). The film was also nominated for an Academy Award® and National Emmy®.
The third film of the trilogy is HUNGER WARD. Focused on the plight of starving and displaced civilians at the mercy of a forgotten war in Yemen, we utilize the same, nimble production paradigm to create an intimate, yet cinematic film intended to engender empathy for those most deeply impacted by the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. After HUNGER WARD’s release, we intend to release the Humanitarian Trilogy as a cohesive whole, comprising nearly two hours of total running time.
In a political environment increasingly hostile to immigrants and refugees, we believe documenting the real-life plight of those fleeing war and oppression is as essential and important as ever and a vital call-out to the conscience of the entire global community.
HUNGER WARD in the Media
Print Media
05/05/21 - HUNGER WARD Soundtrack - William Campbell
04/01/21 - Review - Oscar Shorts Nominees
03/31/21 - MTV Doc Films' Oscar-Nominated 'Hunger Ward' Set for Paramount+ Debut
03/29/21 - Doctors on the Front Lines of the World's Worst Humanitarian Crisis
03/29/21 - Academy Award Short Doc nomination: Hunger Ward by Skye Fitzgerald
03/25/21 - HUNGER WARD to be featured in Deadline Contenders
03/15/21 - HUNGER WARD Nominated for an Oscar® for Documentary - Short Subject
03/05/21 - Director Skye Fitzgerald narrates scene from HUNGER WARD
02/23/21 - MTV Documentary Films Acquires Oscar-Shortlisted Doc HUNGER WARD
02/18/21 - A Guide to Oscar's Shortlisted Documentary Shorts
02/17/21 - Five Short Docs on the Oscar Shortlist
02/10/21 - HUNGER WARD Wins Best Director & Best Editing at the SIMA Awards
02/09/21 - Film academy reveals nine Oscars shortlists
02/09/21 - 93rd OSCARS SHORTLIST from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
11/09/20 - Exclusive Clip: Oscar-nominated Director Skye Fitzgerald's 'Hunger Ward'
10/26/20 - 'Hunger Ward' nominated for Best Short Documentary Critics' Choice Awards
10/26/20 - 'Hunger Ward' nominated for Critics Choice Award
10/20/20 - 'Hunger Ward' chosen for prestigious Holly Shorts Film Festival from Los Angeles
10/13/20 - 'Hunger Ward' highlighted in Holly Shorts Film Festival lineup & will be opening night film
08/27/20 - Variety announces Skye Fitzgerald's new doc film 'HUNGER WARD'
TV / Radio / Podcasts
03/18/21 - 'Hunger Ward' depicts the effects of war and famine on children in Yemen
2/19/21 - Interview with HUNGER WARD Director Skye Fitzgerald
12/23/20 - Teresa Cotsirilos & Ray Suarez - We have the power to stop world hunger
12/10/20 - Josh Fox - Filmmaker Skye Fitzgerald on his heartbreaking documumentary HUNGER WARD
11/30/20 - Inside Yemen's Hunger Wards - UN Global Dispatch Podcast with Mark Leon Goldberg
11/18/20 - Director Skye Fitzgerald Discusses His Documentary 'Hunger Ward' with R.C. Samo
For more Spin Film and HUNGER WARD news, CLICK HERE
MORE NEWS
CREDITS
A FILM BY
SKYE FITZGERALD
PRESENTED BY
RYOT Films
PRODUCED BY
VULCAN PRODUCTIONS
DISTRIBUTED BY
MTV DOCUMENTARY FILMS
A SPIN FILM PRODUCTION
PRODUCERS
MICHAEL SCHEUERMAN
SKYE FITZGERALD
EDITOR
DAN SADOWSKY
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
JEFFREY BALL
ORIGINAL SCORE
WILLIAM CAMPBELL
FEATURING
AIDA ALSADEEQ &
MEKKIA MAHDI
PARTNERS
Since its inception, Vulcan Productions has leveraged platforms ranging from film and television to XR and other emerging media to produce and distribute content that informs, inspires, and activates audiences – putting stories to work with far-reaching impact campaigns that advance new policies, shift individual behaviors, and contribute to significant institutional change. The team will continue to tell great stories and empower audiences to take action on important issues until Vulcan Productions sunsets in early 2021. During this time of transition, Vulcan Productions will continue to support its partners on existing projects.
Spin Film is a documentary production company focused on bearing witness to unfolding tragedies with a cinematic eye. By rendering contemporary crises watchable, we believe we can deepen empathy and understanding and ultimately marshal human and financial resources towards mitigating the pressing emergencies of our day. Spinfilm.org
RYOT is an immersive media company based in Los Angeles. Joining forces with more than 50+ media and tech brands at Oath, RYOT is one of the most prolific virtual reality and 360° content studios in the world. RYOT spotlights global and social issues, creating innovative 360° and virtual and augmented reality experiences for viewers. Their films span five continents and profile courageous individuals.