About the Movie

Nearly 1 billion people around the world cannot prove who they are.

Without access to identification, people in many cases are denied the rights that we believe are basic to humanity: a right to access food and water; a right to freely move within a country, and sometimes between them; a right to not be killed or injured; a right to basic health services. This means that a significant portion of the world’s population lacks the basic right that underpins the entire network of human rights we take for granted.

This population has become consigned to the shadows – invisible to society, and vulnerable to a vast array of exploitation and horrific abuses. Not only are they doomed to lives of poverty, often with nowhere to go or call home, but they become easy prey for human traffickers, slavers, and criminal organizations.

In Shadows in the Dark, Dr. Mariana Dahan explores the dark places where these invisible souls reside, shedding light on a dire yet underacknowledged threat to people across the globe. While governments and NGOs are aware of the statistics, this movie shows the faces. It reveals the real, human stories of those forced to live as shadows, so that we can understand exactly how the ability to prove who you are is a right that must be protected.

From devastating wars in Syria and Ukraine, to impoverished communities in Northern Africa, to refugees trying to eke out a life in France, Dr. Dahan follows human journeys fraught with tragedy and strife so that we can better understand the rampant abuses happening invisibly all around us. Through this film, we see not just a story of human suffering, but also one of hope – there is a clear opportunity to change the lives of people all around the world. By emphasising the need to provide everyone with a way to prove who they are, we can see a road to a better future where hundreds of millions of people may obtain a critical tool in protecting their most basic rights and humanity.

As an independent filmmaker, Dr. Dahan reached out to a diverse array of organizations, human rights groups, and individuals who share a common goal: advancing human rights and human development. This collective drive and vision attracted an Emmy award-winning film crew from the United States, led by the talented movie director Brad Kramer, whose commitment to the project has been nothing short of inspiring.

This endeavor blossomed into an international collaboration, bringing together film crews from the United States, Moldova and Ukraine. The contributions weren't just limited to filmmaking. An overwhelming amount of support in various forms—design, marketing, website development, and other creative services – offered to make the documentary movie a reality. This generosity spanned across the globe, with pro bono contributions coming from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, France, UK, Moldova, Ukraine, Switzerland, and the United States.

The documentary was also enriched by the insights of investigative journalists stationed in key migration crisis regions around the world. Their on-the-ground perspectives brought a raw, unfiltered view of the realities faced by those we spotlight in our film.

"Shadows in the Dark" stands as a testament to the power of collaborative spirit and shared humanity. It is a film made possible by the collective efforts of dedicated individuals and entities from across the globe, united in the cause of shedding light on the unseen and unheard.