“Returning”: The last event of the Migration Matters Film & Talk Series

By Artem Havryliuk

The third and final event of the Migration Matters Film & Talk Series took place on January 27, bringing the series to a close after exploring three key dimensions of migration: LEAVING, STAYING, and RETURNING.

Following two earlier evenings dedicated to LEAVING and STAYING, the final event turned its focus to return migration – a topic often framed in simplified terms, but shaped by complex realities of choice, coercion, memory, and belonging.

Held at the sold-out Yorck Kino in Berlin-Kreuzberg, the evening opened with a selection of short videos from Migration Matters’ Rethinking Return Migration Series, produced as part of the EU-funded GAPs research project, which Migration Matters has been a part of these past three years. The videos combined street interviews in Berlin with perspectives from researchers and migrants, offering an accessible entry point into the complexities of return migration.

This first film was followed by input and a discussion with Ruth Vollmer from the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC). She shared key insights from her research on return migration, emphasizing that return exists along a spectrum of coercion. So-called “voluntary” return is not always truly voluntary when people lack real choice or agency. Some individuals she interviewed ultimately decided to leave but still described their experience as deportation, due to the pressure and circumstances that prevented them from staying. Ruth also highlighted that return needs to be carefully prepared: successful return and reintegration often depend on access to resources, support structures, and realistic planning.

After this powerful introduction, two documentary films were screened. The first documentary, Born in Damascus by Laura Wadha, is built from old family footage recorded during trips to Syria before the war. These images document a time before families were torn apart and homes destroyed, conveying the haunting sense of a peaceful homeland that can never truly be returned to. In the film, Laura reconnects with her cousin, now living in Canada, who reflects on how her memories of Syria have faded — watching the restored footage feels strangely foreign, as if the place she once called home no longer fully belongs to her.

The second documentary of the evening, Distilled by Christopher Larson, follows the story of Asmir. He was 15 when the war in Yugoslavia broke out. As a teenager, he fled to Germany in a clandestine operation, carrying only a plastic bag with his personal belongings. Twenty-seven years later, Asmir has built a life in Berlin as an entrepreneur: he distills his own spirits and runs a bar in the city. For many years, the question of his origins remained in the background of his busy life. The film documents Asmir’s first return to his homeland, where visiting his old house and confronting long-buried memories evokes a powerful sense of belonging — and of no longer being “the other.”

Following the screenings, filmmaker Christopher and Asmir joined Ruth for a panel discussion, sharing insights into the making of Distilled and reflecting on the emotional and practical challenges of return migration. The audience was invited to ask questions and engage in a conversation about the hardships of emigration, return, and reintegration.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to making this Film & Talk Series possible — our speakers, filmmakers, partners, Yorck Kinogruppe, and all those who joined us in the cinemas. The overwhelmingly positive response to the series has shown how important and timely these conversations are, and we hope to continue creating spaces for dialogue around migration through film in the future.

Thank you also to the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, whose support made the Migration Matters Film & Talk Series possible.