The Palestine area is where a massive number of refugees occurred when Israel declared its independence in 1948. This is a result of the interference and reign of the powerful countries, which has been continuing from before WWII. It can be regarded as the beginning of the history of war refugees. The current situation in Syria and the tragic lives of refugees are also directly connected to this.
Kamakura Hideya, a Japanese documentary filmmaker has constantly been following the problem of the Palestinian refugees. He has introduced Raji Sourani to the public, who is fighting for the life and rights of the Palestinian people in the Gaza area. Seo Gyeong-sik, a Korean Japanese writer has also shared interest with director Kamakura and participated in making the film.
is a precious work. It contains interviews with Raji Sourani who had closely escaped from atrocious attacks and blockades of the Israeli military to visit Japan. The audience is invited to watch the film ; explore the reason for the Palestinian refugee and the refugee issue in general, and; reflect on the act of intervening with reality through documentary filmmaking.

The Palestine area is where a massive number of refugees occurred when Israel declared its independence in 1948. This is a result of the interference and reign of the powerful countries, which has been continuing from before WWII. It can be regarded as the beginning of the history of war refugees. The current situation in Syria and the tragic lives of refugees are also directly connected to this. Kamakura Hideya, a Japanese documentary filmmaker has constantly been following the problem of the Palestinian refugees. He has introduced Raji Sourani to the public, who is fighting for the life and rights of the Palestinian people in the Gaza area. Seo Gyeong-sik, a Korean Japanese writer has also shared interest with director Kamakura and participated in making the film. is a precious work. It contains interviews with Raji Sourani who had closely escaped from atrocious attacks and blockades of the Israeli military to visit Japan. The audience is invited to watch the film ; explore the reason for the Palestinian refugee and the refugee issue in general, and; reflect on the act of intervening with reality through documentary filmmaking.

What does the current world look like in the eyes of a diaspora? What sort of hope can be dreamed?
Korean-Japanese scholar Seo Gyeong-sik and Han Seung-dong, a senior reporter at Hankyoreh will be talking about life in the diasporic era. Han had translated many of Seo's publications such as , , and . At this special Book Talk, the two will be conversing on various themes; the relationship between Korea and Japan in the eyes of a diaspora; stories of the Japanese intellectual activists that had captured Seo. The audience is cordially invited to the search for hope, hidden among despair. It will be an occasion to seek the possibility of coexistence.

In a society where the inner discrepancy is deeply rooted, the fatigue and rage of the members often transform into hatred and discrimination, aimed at the weak or the others. Women, LGBTQ, immigrants, refugees, people of darker color, and people of different ethnicity are easily exposed to violent situations by the privileged majority.
This is also an issue for Korean society where the male-centered social orders still grip power. Crimes and violence based on misogyny do not seem to come to an end; the discussions on Women's rights are soon drifted away to a controversy about 'reverse discrimination'; the word 'feminist' has long become a "scarlet letter"; the anonymous online network is tarnished with misogynistic cyberbullying. Being a woman is just 'enough' to be a target of hatred, What do you think would happen to these women if the following identities are added to them? 'Immigrant, sex worker, laborer, North Korean defector': The hatred just deepens. Based on the awareness of such reality, we have introduced films focused on diasporic woman individuals at 'Diaspora in Focus' this year.
Also, we have prepared another program; a special conversation to share deeper views of the matter. Jay Sohn(Sohn Hee-jung), a cultural critic and a feminist film researcher has been re-invited to this year's D-Academy. Sohn is actively engaged in suggesting feministic sensitivity to pop culture and diverse media. With this year's guest directors, she will be sharing her thoughts on film, feminism, and doubled hatred and discrimination against women and immigrants.

Aliens have rights. A stranger who has crossed the border to escape danger for survival should not be treated as an enemy. (S)He has the right to receive protection and security from the land of another. However, the rights that modern nations promise to provide to aliens depend on the generosity of the provider. But generosity alone cannot fulfill the recognition of their existence: Generosity tends to discern evil from the asylum-seeking aliens. The ethics of hospitality does not require any conditions, inquiries, nor limits in welcoming the other. Why is it not enough to legislate generosity? How can we meet honestly with a strange alien-other? To welcome someone without any questions or limitations is an immensely challenging ethic ideology. Yet, what is the reason that such ethics are required in facing immigrant women who cross borders?

Of the categorized 'aliens', people who cross borders for political reasons are classified as 'refugees', those who have done so for economic purposes or others are called 'immigrants'. However, the results of the research on the lives of immigrants and refugees show us that these two categories are closely related. An individual crosses the borders of a nation-state in order to realize the aspiration of a good life, a happy life. If the borders are closed due to the nation's political or economic interests, the individual takes a detour or seeks other routes. Who, in what right can stop such movement?
In this session, we stop thinking of an individual either as a native who owns citizenship, an immigrant, or a refugee; just as a nation-state would categorize a person in the frame of nationality. We will seek a solution to a new topology where we can all communicate from the same existential situation. This is also an effort to identify the existential situations of each of 'us'.
The recent determination of Britain's 'Brexit' and 'The Trump Phenomenon' in the US are the two examples that clearly show how discrimination and exclusion of immigrants transform into hostility. Those who possess hostility and prejudice against people of a different race usually do not show their thoughts. However, the media and politicians like to use racism as a provocative topic and in political maneuvering. Through the distortion of information, the immigrants and refugees are made scapegoats; in the name of 'national' security and economy. In such situations, the 'ashamed' racists shamelessly reveal themselves; spitting hate speeches or committing hate crimes.
Through this session, we examine the cases of emotional discrimination and hostility against immigrants and refugees in Korean society, and how such discrimination and hostility are revealed in the form of law and system. Moreover, we will be discussing the path and procedure for Korean society to become a place of welcome.

According to various opinion polls, Korean nationals tend to have stronger prejudice against foreigners than other nationals. Overt prejudice is undoubtedly a problem, but covert prejudice is even more dangerous, to a broader extent. A study suggests that implicit prejudice may provoke harsher discrimination. The hidden bias unsuspectedly but powerfully affects the people in question. Even those who claim to be 'anti-discriminationists' or 'equalitarians' may be unconsciously affected by the implicit prejudice.

In the current view of the rapidly diversifying Korean society, it is of dire importance that we acknowledge overt and implicit prejudice, analyze the cause, and come forth with the solution to the problem.
'Diaspora in images: Beyond Prejudice' will provide the opportunity for researchers, filmmakers, and activists to gather and talk about our own implicit biases: And to seek a solution to disintegration, conflict, and enmity caused by such prejudices.