Journalism and Crisis: “Heart of Stone” Screening

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Join us for a special screening of Heart of Stone (2018), followed by a conversation with filmmakers Claire Billet and Olivier Jobard. 

The filmmakers, both deeply engaged in documenting conflict, migration, and post-war life, bring their expertise and long-term storytelling approach to this conversation. We invite you to stay for the discussion and Q&A to explore the themes of the film, the realities of migration, and the role of documentary storytelling in shaping our understanding of these experiences.

The discussion will be moderated by Marie Doezema, Senior Special Projects Manager at the Columbia Global Paris Center. It will be held in English and French, with translations into English by Laura Brimo.

Screening

Heart of Stone (2019)dir. Claire Billet & Olivier Jobard89 min.

This powerful documentary follows Ghorban, who arrived in France alone at 12 years old, undocumented, after an arduous journey from Afghanistan. Labeled an unaccompanied minor, he was placed in Child Welfare Services, where he began navigating both his past—marked by war, abandonment, and poverty—and his future, caught between two countries. Over eight years, Claire Billet and Olivier Jobard documented his coming of age, offering an intimate portrait of migration, identity, and resilience.

Speakers

Marked by six years of living in war-torn countries as a journalist, Claire Billet shifted toward writing and directing documentary films in 2010. Her work focuses on life after war, exploring memory to shed light on the mechanisms of conflict. Claire Billet has received several grants (including from the Lagardère Foundation and Scam’s Brouillon d’un Rêve program) and awards (Scam’s Étoile Prize, One World Human Rights Film Festival, Cœur du Mois du Doc, among others). Her work has been screened at festivals in Paris, Leipzig, Brussels, Tehran, Castellorizo, Barcelona, Bayeux, Perpignan, and beyond. She has also completed two documentary scriptwriting programs at Scam and La Fémis. Website

Olivier Jobard is a photojournalist represented by Agence Myop. After studying at the École Louis Lumière, he spent 20 years at Sipa Press, covering conflicts around the world. In 2000, his work led him to Sangatte, where he met Afghan, Chechen, Iraqi, and Bosnian exiles. This experience sparked a deep interest in migration and displacement, which has since become a central focus of his work. Through long-term projects, he documents the individual experiences of migrants, highlighting their journeys, challenges, and resilience. His approach prioritizes time and trust, allowing for in-depth storytelling that moves beyond statistics to portray migration through a human-centered lens. Website

Journalism and Crisis

This second annual “Journalism and Crisis” followed an inaugural series held in New York City. The series facilitates discussions about some of the most critical questions facing journalists and journalism today, particularly in an international context. Learn more about the 2024 Journalism and Crisis.

Organizers

The Columbia Global Paris Center, established at Reid Hall in 2010, is one of Columbia University’s eleven global centers. It aims to promote research, teaching, and transnational collaboration. Through its scholarly and cultural programming, its Atelier podcast, and its civic engagement initiatives, the Paris Global Center strengthens Columbia University’s connections in France and internationally while providing a platform for intellectual exploration of social and environmental issues in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. 

Columbia Global brings together the Columbia Global Centers, Columbia World Projects, the Committee on Global Thought, the Institute for Ideas and Imagination, and Undergraduate Global Engagement.

Venue

Nestled in the Montparnasse district, Reid Hall hosts several Columbia University initiatives: the Columbia Global Paris Center, the Institute for Ideas and Imagination, the Columbia Undergraduate Programs, the  M.A. in History and Literature, and the GSAPP Shape of Two Cities Program. This unique combination of resources is enhanced by our global network whose mission is to expand the University's engagement with the world through educational programs, research initiatives, regional partnerships, and public events.

The views and opinions expressed by speakers and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Columbia Global Paris Center or its affiliates.