We are excited to announce an update for our final keynote at the Crossings and Connections: Norwegian Migration to North America conference at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, June 18–22, 2025. Hisham Zaman, an award-winning Norwegian filmmaker of Kurdish descent, will give the final keynote presentation at Crossings and Connections, titled: Between Reality and Fiction: Exploring Migration through Cinema. Zamam’s 2007 film, Vinterland, will also be screened as part of the presentation. A number of his migration-themed films will also be screened at a post-conference film festival and have short introductions given by Zaman himself.
Keynote Description:
In an increasingly globalized yet often fragmented world, the cinematic representation of migrants and refugees plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse and fostering empathy. In this insightful talk, acclaimed film director Hisham Zaman will explore the profound significance of how these journeys and realities are portrayed on screen. Drawing from his own past as a political refugee, Zaman will offer personal reflections on the importance of film as a medium for telling the stories of those on the margins, whose experiences are not often captured in mainstream society. Using examples from his own filmmaking and from broader cinematic works, he will discuss the challenges of transposing complex human experiences to a fictional universe, unpacking how visual storytelling and humour can illuminate the universal themes of identity, belonging, resilience, and hope that link all human migration stories, irrespective of time and place. This session invites a deeper reflection on film’s capacity to build bridges of understanding, challenge prevailing stereotypes, and validate the enduring human experience of seeking a place to call home.
Keynote Bio:
Zaman’s path to filmmaking was an unlikely one. Born in 1975 in Kurdistan, Zaman and his family were forced to flee their home when he was a boy. Their family spent several years as refugees in Iran and Turkey and were eventually granted political asylum in Norway when Zaman was 17 years old. Although his early interest for filmmaking wasn’t approved of by his father, Zaman still managed to sneak out to the cinema with approval from his mother, while also working as a car mechanic to support his family. He continued to explore his passion for filmmaking by joining amateur cinema clubs. He rented his film equipment until he was accepted to the Norwegian Film School at Lillehammer in 2001.
After graduating from film school in 2004, his early short films played at international film festivals and he began to receive his first nominations and awards. In addition to Vinterland, his resume of films include the short films Piraten (2002), The Bridge (2003), The Roof (2004), and Hedda (2016). Full-length films to his credit are Bawke (2005), De Andre (2009), Før Snøen Faller (2013), Brev til kongen (2014), The Boy in the Picture (2016), and his most recent work, A Happy Day (2023).
Pulling from his own experience, migration is an overarching theme throughout many of Zaman’s films. They center on the stories and lives of characters united by a common refugee experience. Zaman works to humanize the experience of migrants across the world through themes of love, sacrifice, revenge, loyalty, and honour.
The post-conference film festival on Sunday, June 22, will showcase a diverse selection of films – including dramas, documentaries, and shorts – that illuminate the journeys, challenges, and complexities of migration to, from and within Norway and the United States. The festival will include three additional films by Zaman’s. Keep an eye on our conference schedule for the full schedule.