The idea
At a time of renewed debates around borders and belonging, the series reminds us that migration is not an exception to European identity it is its foundation. Warm, reflective, and visually evocative, Pelican reframes the conversation by celebrating the shared histories that connect us all.
Portraits
Pelican will portray senior men and women aged 75–90 who migrated from across Europe to the United Kingdom as children in the years following the Second World War.
We are seeking individuals who left countries such as Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and beyond, arriving in Britain before the age of 13 and building their lives here.
Through intimate, participant-led interviews, the series will honour their early memories, migration journeys, cultural adaptation and reflections on identity, capturing how they moved from “outsider” to an integral part of modern British society.
Portrait of Jane Goodall; visual ref.
Distribution
The series will be submitted to festivals and will, in a second part, also be distributed online via YouTube, making these stories freely accessible to audiences across Europe and beyond.
Vision & Sound
Each episode blends intimate voiceover with expressive, hand-craftedtypography, contrasting lights and organic textures with close-uos; reflecting the unique identity and emotional landscape of each narrator.
Symbolic visual storytelling brings memories to life, transforming pivotal childhood moments into poetic, moving imagery.
Immersive sound design layered with shifting languages, ambient soundscapes, and delicate string compositions bridges past and present, deepening the emotional resonance of every story.
Ihana Productions
Ihana Productions is the independent production company behind Pelican, developing bold, character-driven stories with a strong visual identity.
Led by filmmakers committed to creative collaboration, the company champions intimate narratives that centre underrepresented voices.
With a focus on emotionally resonant documentary and hybrid storytelling, Ihana Productions brings poetic, socially conscious projects to life for contemporary audiences.