Foreign Root film–directed by award-winning filmmaker Andzej Gavriss– shows the human face of migration – a thought-provoking reflection on resilience and belonging.
In a year with an estimated 123.2 million forcibly displaced people globally (UNHCR, 2025), acclaimed Ukrainian pop innovator Ivan Dorn is launching a pro-refugee statement: Foreign Root. This thought-provoking short film looks at the refugee experience through a new lens, offering a nuanced and human perspective on migration.
The 13.5-minute film tells a universal story of survival against the odds, celebrating the complex heritage and unbreakable spirit of migrants in a cinematic portrait rich in compassion and optimism.
Director Andzej Gavriss brings his celebrated, poetic, and human-centered storytelling to Foreign Root. Known for his evocative narratives, Gavriss weaves his own experience of migration into the project, crafting a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Watch the trailer for Foreign Root below:
A surreal story of survival, anchored by personal experience
Foreign Root follows a bus filled with migrants as they navigate the challenges of displacement and the uncertainty of their future. Ivan Dorn, who co-wrote and soundtracked the film, also stars as the bus driver. He leads the journey across state lines, while contending with border controls, as the passengers find solace and strength in music, shared stories, and each other. The film juxtaposes surrealist elements with a visceral portrayal of the loneliness and fear of being stateless, creating a deeply emotional and resonating portrait of humanity.
Foreign Root channels both the artist’s and director’s experiences of displacement, while reflecting on questions of identity and belonging. From cast to crew, the project is a testament to creative collaboration across borders.
Ivan Dorn, who has made his home in Paris since 2022, makes music, soundtracks films, performs, and works as a multimedia artist while using his influence to promote cultural openness, dialogue and freedom of expression.
“Foreign Root challenges people’s prejudices or unconscious biases about migrants. The film underscores the individual value of each person and what we stand to gain from each other. It draws from my own experience of displacement, my experiences living in France now – and over a decade of travelling the world. Foreign Root is also about human resilience. These migrations are not just stories of survival; they are stories of hope, community, and transformation.”
Ivan Dorn, Musician & Artist
“With the world turning upside down lately, I wanted to make a film as naive and honest as a child’s drawing. It’s a call for friendship and compassion, inspired by my own journey from Latvia to the UK 15 years ago. It’s about finding belonging among strangers and asking the world to love its neighbors a little more.”
Andzej Gavriss, director and filmmaker
Foreign Root is a bold rallying call for migrants everywhere. Highlighting the human face of migration, it’s also a poetic reflection on borders, belonging, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Watch Foreign Root here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGeqLHWvKis
