Agnieszka Holland on refugee film Green Border

Human migration and seeking asylum from conflict and climate change continues to be the story of the twenty-first century. While Australia’s isolated position as an island nation is unique, the many borders of Europe are something else entirely. 

Academy Award nominated screenwriter and director Agnieszka Holland is known for her political and cultural film work out of Poland over many years. Her 2023 film, Green Border, is based on the true story of refugees stuck at the Belarus-Poland border in 2021. 

Green Border is a fascinating film that reveals the tensions between the people behind the statistics. It won the Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival last year. Additionally, it was screened at the Perth Festival from March 17th to March 23rd. 

Holland spoke with RTRFMs Danae Gibson earlier, who began by asking if the making of this film felt inevitable for the director.