The Slamdance Film Festival ranks among the world's largest independent film showcases. Held annually since 1995 in Park City, Utah, the festival was established by a group of rebellious filmmakers whose works had been rejected by Sundance. Driven by a desire to showcase their films, they established their own festival, adopting the motto 'by filmmakers, for filmmakers'.
Following the tragic death of her mother at the Poland-Belarus border, 16-year-old Kurdish girl Runa has to quickly grow up and take care of her four younger brothers and her depressed, helpless father. During their stay in a refugee camp, the family grapples with trauma, an uncertain future, and the threat of deportation. Runa escapes from daily problems into her sketchbook, which she fills with increasingly disturbing drawings. Silent Trees is partially animated coming-of-age story is set against the backdrop of the global refugee crisis.
The program of this year's Slamdance can be found here.