At DOXA's Justice Forum, The Pickers follows migrant workers on European farms, May 2
A panel discussion with workers and community advocates takes place after the VIFF Centre screening
SPONSORED POST BY DOXA Documentary Film Festival
In The Pickers, Seydou from Mali picks oranges in Southern Italy as a day labourer without a contract, paid per crate. Film still by cinematographer Marcus Zahn
The 24th-annual DOXA Documentary Film Festival will take place from May 1 to 11. Among this year’s highlights is the B.C. premiere of The Pickers, directed by Elke Sasse, at the VIFF Centre on May 2 at 5:20 pm. A panel discussion will follow the film, which is part of the Justice Forum program.
From Italy to Spain and Greece to Portugal, The Pickers follows the migrant workers who keep Europe’s farms running—without contracts, fair wages, or basic rights. Many live in makeshift camps devoid of water or electricity, trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation.
Seydou from Mali picks oranges in Italy, Naveed from Pakistan has spent eight years harvesting olives in Greece without papers, and Bahija from Morocco works in Spain under a contract that still denies her a fair wage. Through candid testimonies and stark contrasts between idyllic supermarket produce and the hidden suffering behind it, the film exposes the systematic exploitation at the root of Europe’s agricultural supply chain.
A hut settlement of harvest workers in Italy, shown in The Pickers. Film still by cinematographer Marcus Zahn
For 15 years, Justice Forum has been one of DOXA’s cornerstone programs, showcasing films that facilitate critical dialogue around a broad range of social issues and sow the seeds for change. Each Justice Forum film is paired with a live or pre-recorded conversation between speakers relevant to its issue, including filmmakers, experts in the field, academics, and community activists. The five films selected this year present essential perspectives on resistance, environmental justice, and human rights, highlighting the resilience of communities fighting for a more just and sustainable future.
“We’re screening The Pickers because the exploitation it reveals across Europe’s farms is not far removed from what’s happening here in B.C.,” states Marianne Thodas, DOXA’s programming and industry manager. “Migrant workers are essential to our food systems, yet many face long hours, unsafe conditions, and limited legal protections. This conversation—featuring Sanctuary City Vancouver, Migrant Workers Centre BC, and Fuerza Migrante—will connect the film’s global context to the lived realities of seasonal workers in the Okanagan and Fraser Valley. It’s a chance to hear directly from those organizing alongside migrant workers, and to confront the systemic barriers that continue to deny them fair treatment, status, and safety.”
For tickets to see The Pickers and more information, visit the DOXA website.
Post sponsored by DOXA Documentary Film Festival.
Related Articles
Featured
