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maltatoday SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER 2017 41 This Week What led you to focus on migration in general and African migration in particular as the fulcrum of your work? My parents, who are Spanish, were employed as 'seasonal' work- ers in the early 1960s in Switzer- land – which allowed them to earn a wage, while also contributing to the Swiss economy. Since the post-war period, Swit- zerland sought to acquire a manual labour workforce from Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, Portugal and even ex-Yugoslavia. A good number of them held the status of 'saisonnier' – a status that was unique in Europe, and also uniquely unjust. Effectively, the duration of your stay was limited to nine months, after which you would have to return to your coun- try of origin and remain there for three months. The worker was not free to change their job, neither could they look for accommodation by them- selves; they would have to make do with the accommodation provided to them by the employer. Neither could family members reach the worker at any point. Which means that tens of thou- sands of people were accommodat- ed in precarious conditions, mainly in barracks, subjected to very dif- ficult working conditions, particu- larly in the construction, hospitality and agricultural sectors. It was only by means of an agree- ment with the European Union on the free movement of persons that this status was abolished in June 2002. Just like the thousand others clan- destine children born to 'saison- niers', I lived my childhood in hid- ing. Today, I own a Swiss passport, but I will never forget where I come from. Do you believe that documentarians need to tackle these issues more urgently now, more than ever? That (perhaps like climate change) the dynamics of migration are an 'unignorable' reality of our current global context? Documentary filmmakers are the witnesses of their times. It is our duty to be present wherever the fundamental rights – be it of men, animals or nature – are flouted, and to bring to public attention. Documentaries are tools for de- mocracy, helping us become aware of a reality overshadowed by gov- ernments that flout freedom of ex- pression, or multinationals who lie for the sake of profit. Moreover, our films can stand as a record to benefit future genera- tions. For me, our films are a mem- ory for future generations. For me, a country without documentaries is like a family album without a photo – an empty memory. What are some of the core themes that emerge from your movies, and how have these developed over time, with each subsequent film developing from the other? I never think back on which film I can make. The films come to me and impose themselves like an inescapable imposition. My films encompass various themes: alter- ity, the gaze on the Other, and the acceptance of difference being the chief among them. I believe that the strongest communities are the ones who truly look out for their weakest members. And I will al- ways fight for this to be made pos- sible. Speaking of your films that will be shown at the RIMA Film Festival, what kind of feedback and reactions have you received about them so far? Do you think that you can bring about tangible change through your films? My films tend to provoke a po- lemical discussion in my coun- try, Switzerland. They tend to be warmly received by the younger members of the public. I make it a point to screen my films for students of various ages, and I even offer my support to stu- dents who have decided to write their dissertations on the subjects that I confront in my films. The extreme far-right party UDC, which is among the strongest par- ties in Switzerland, regularly tries to censor my movies and to pre- vent them from being screened in schools. They've also tried to file lawsuits against me, and I have also received various anonymous death threats. But this only strengthens my resolve to confront these in- justices. Are you looking forward to showing your films as part of the RIMA Film Festival, and what kind of impact do you hope the films will have as a result of your participation there? Yes, each country and each fes- tival provides an opportunity for a passionate encounter. I've just come back from Mexico, where issues of migration are certainly very current and vivid. Showing my films there gave me the oppor- tunity to engage in rich and con- structive debates which resonated deeply with the Mexican audience. Because cinema, at the end of the day, is a universal language. Two films by Fernand Melgar will be screened at the Rima Film Festival. Special Flight will be screened on October 27, and The World is Like that will be screened on October 28. Both screenings will take place at the Malta Postal Museum, Archbishop's Street, Val- letta, and both screenings will start at 20:00. Bookings and more infor- mation: http://www.rimaproject. org/28/41/Film-Festival-2017 Making the best of a universal language The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for the year 2017/2018 will be available from all Health Centres from Monday 16th October. Persons over 55 years, children between 6 months and 59 months old, and persons of any age suffering from chronic diseases of the lungs, heart, liver, kidney, diabetes, and any immu- nodeficiency conditions, including HIV and AIDS are eligible for free vaccination. In these cases, the Sched- ule V Control Card or a recent medical certificate stating the person's medical condition should be presented. Priority will be given to the above persons until the 21st October. Following this date, the influenza vaccine will be available free of charge for all persons over the age of 6 months until stocks last. Between the 16th and 28th October the Immunisation Clinics at Floriana, Mosta and Paola Health Centres will be open as follows: 08:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 19:00 on Saturdays. The clinics in Gzira, Rabat, Cospicua, B'Kara and Qormi Health Centres will open 08:00 to 13:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 12:00 on Saturday. From the 30th October onwards the vaccine will be available from all Health Centres during their usual opening hours. Persons caring for housebound patients are to phone CommCare on 22589393 to book the Influenza vaccine. All persons are to present their I.D. card in order to receive the vaccine. Parents bringing young children for vaccination should produce the Baby's Book or Vaccination Record. SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE Ahead of two of his films being screened at the Rima Film Festival next week, the Swiss documentary filmmaker Fernand Melgar speaks to TEODOR RELJIC how the dynamics of the global migrant experience continue to inform his work Fernand Melgar