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Exodus: Our Journey to Europe - Winner's acceptance speech, Factual Series, Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards in 2017

14 May 2017

Winner's acceptance speech on behalf of the Production Team of Exodus: Our Journey to Europe  in the Factual Series category

AMES BLUEMEL:  Oh, that's great. I would just like to quickly thank BAFTA, of course, and the big team we had making Exodus, and the BBC for being so supportive during the process of this film. But really, I would like to thank mainly the sort of the courage of the contributors that shared their story and, actually, it is with that in mind that I want to break the rules slightly and just bring Hassan over here.

(Applause)

HASSAN AKKAD:  Thank you, James. For you to understand how surreal this moment for me is, exactly 20 months ago I was on a dingy trying to cross from Turkey to Greece and I am here right now. It's ...

(Applause)

 Ladies and gentlemen, Exodus: Our Journey to Europe was my yesterday but it is somebody else's today and tomorrow.  Since we have made this documentary, over 10,000 people have died trying to seek refuge in Europe.They are not just numbers, they are not just facts and statistics; they are husbands and wives and fathers and mothers and children; and they -- this goes to them.  It goes to the untold stories.  Thank you very much.

(Applause)