With the Syrian conflict firmly rooted in its sixth year, millions of people continue to be torn away from all they’ve ever known, fleeing the perilous war zone on their doorsteps.
After Spring is the story of what happens next; what it’s like to live in Zaatari, the largest camp for Syrian refugees. Experience the pain, love and hope, as you follow the emotional journeys of two refugee families in their upheaval and transition, as well as the selfless aid workers fighting to keep the camp running.
Incredibly poignant and remarkably positive, After Spring delves into the unseen side of the Syrian conflict: the real communities affected by the vast destruction. These extraordinary people, who despite their horrific experiences, manage to not only survive – but thrive – against all odds, in the barren landscape which they have been forced to call home.
With no end in sight for the conflict or this refugee crisis, everyone must decide if they can rebuild their lives in a place that was never meant to be permanent.
Ellen Martinez is a documentary director, producer, and writer whose films tell urgent stories through a character driven lens. She directed and produced AFTER SPRING, a feature documentary about the Syrian refugee crisis. The film was Executive Produced by Jon Stewart, had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, was broadcast on Starz. Her second feature SLUMLORD MILLIONAIRE follows the story of four tenants fighting back against corrupt landlords and developers in NYC. It World Premiered at DOC NYC 2024 and won the Audience Award. The film will have a theatrical run at DCTV Firehouse Cinema in spring 2025 and will be broadcast on PBS in July 2025. As a producer and casting producer she has worked on projects for HBO, Disney+, PBS, Participant Media and Imagine Documentaries. Ellen was an honoree as a Director on DOC NYCs inaugural “40 Under 40” list and was a Netflix Nonfiction Directing/Producing Fellow. She grew up overseas living in Dubai, Venezuela and Syria and attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is now based in Brooklyn, New York.
