HBO’s ‘Cries from Syria’ documentary to be pre-screened at VCU

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Virginia Commonwealth University and the International Rescue Committee will present a special advance screening of “Cries from Syria,” an upcoming HBO documentary about the humanitarian crisis and civil war unfolding in Syria.

The documentary will be screened Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at VCU’s Grace Harris Hall auditorium, 1015 Floyd Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Following the film, a Syrian family will discuss their experience of resettling in Richmond.

“The goal is to educate VCU students and faculty and the public about the Syrian crisis and refugees in Richmond,” said Stephen Allen, site manager of International Rescue Committee in Richmond.

According to HBO Documentary Film’s description:

“‘Cries from Syria’” is a searing, comprehensive account of a brutal five-year conflict from the inside out, drawing on hundreds of hours of war footage from Syrian activists and citizen journalists, as well as testimony from child protestors, leaders of the revolution, human rights defenders, ordinary citizens, and high-ranking army generals who defected from the government. Their collective stories are a cry for attention and help from a world that little understands their reality or agrees on what to do about it.”

This film, by Evgeny Afineevsky, is not rated and contains adult themes and content. Viewer discretion is advised. It is slated to debut on HBO on March 13 at 10 p.m.

The screening is sponsored by the Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities and Sciences, the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education, the VCU Global Education Office, and International Rescue Committee, a nonprofit organization that responds to humanitarian crises around the world and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. The event is also supported by Skirven & Croft and James River Press.

Cries From Syria Trailer (HBO Documentary Films)

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