Amplifying hidden voices through film: Daniele Rugo’s journey with the British Academy

Programme: British Academy/Leverhulme Trust Small Research Grants 2018; Heritage, Dignity and Violence 2019

Project title: 'Memories from the Margins. Bottom-up practices for dealing with conflict-produced heritage in Lebanon and Syria'

Award amount: £9,050, £294,259

Name of institution: Brunel University London

A filmmaker, scholar, and professor of film, Rugo’s work explores experiences of violence and conflict, giving voice to those who are often unheard.

Supported by the British Academy’s Heritage, Dignity and Violence 2019 programme, Prof Rugo’s latest project led to several important outcomes, most notably The Soil and the Sea, a compelling documentary that captures the memories of relatives of the disappeared during Lebanon’s civil war. The film offers a deeply human perspective on a complex and painful history, using the unique strengths of documentary storytelling to distill personal experiences into narratives that resonate across cultures and borders.

Thanks to British Academy funding, The Soil and the Sea has reached audiences worldwide. Screenings and coverage by major media outlets, including The Guardian, have helped raise international awareness of Lebanon’s history of conflict and the ongoing need for truth and justice. The funding also enabled Prof Rugo's team to travel to Lebanon to conduct fieldwork, working closely with families of the disappeared to instigate important conversations through film screenings and interviews. These testimonies and findings were used by the recently established National Commission for the Missing and the Disappeared, to support its fact finding into the disappeared during the Lebanese conflict.

For Prof Rugo, ensuring that these stories are heard beyond Lebanon was critical. He sees the global audience not just as passive viewers, but as potential contributors to change through their own civic and political engagement.

The stories of people living with the aftermath of war are often reduced to statistics or policy debates. But through film, we can show the personal and psychological impact of war over decades.

Without the support of the British Academy, many of these stories might have remained hidden, confined to personal memories instead of contributing to a broader understanding of post-war realities.
- Prof Daniele Rugo.

Beyond the impact of the film itself, being a British Academy award-holder has been transformative for Prof Rugo’s career. The funding allowed him the time and resources to focus on the work he is most passionate about, while also creating new partnerships and networks within the field of conflict studies and filmmaking.

Reflecting on his journey, Prof Rugo advises emerging researchers to embrace ambition but to remain grounded in projects they truly believe in. Passion, he believes, is what ultimately drives the quality and impact of meaningful work.

Prof Daniele Rugo’s story is a powerful example of how research, art and advocacy can come together to drive understanding, influence audiences, and bring hidden histories to light. Through his work he continues to demonstrate the vital role that storytelling plays in fostering knowledge, empathy and change.

Find out more about past award-holders and projects under the Heritage, Dignity and Violence Programme.