On November 6, 2024, the World Urban Forum, hosted by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Cairo, Egypt, saw the world premiere of HOMELESS, a powerful documentary directed by Italian filmmaker Valerio Zanoli. Tackling the global crisis of homelessness with unflinching honesty, the film captures the lives of those who are often unseen and unheard, offering a raw, empathetic perspective that has already sparked significant discussion.
Presented as part of the broader initiative Let’s Make a Difference, the documentary aligns with the United Nations’ mission to foster sustainable urban development and promote social equality. By premiering at the World Urban Forum – a gathering focused on creating inclusive, sustainable cities and human settlements – HOMELESS serves as both a cinematic achievement and a call to action. It invites audiences to confront the realities of homelessness while challenging global leaders to address the systemic issues that perpetuate it.
About the director: Valerio Zanoli
A Filmmaker with a Purpose
Valerio Zanoli is renowned for using his lens to tell stories that transcend mere entertainment, often addressing social issues and human rights concerns. His dedication to using film as a tool for advocacy has established him as a compassionate storyteller who brings visibility to marginalized communities. In HOMELESS, Zanoli blends his artistic sensitivity with his passion for social justice, capturing the stories of individuals who have lost their homes and livelihoods while amplifying the urgency of global action to address homelessness.
This project was made possible through Let’s Make a Difference, a movement designed to mobilize resources, partnerships, and community support for individuals facing poverty, displacement, and marginalization. Through this initiative, Zanoli’s film finds a unique platform to expand its reach, empowering audiences to support meaningful change.
Valerio Zanoli is a film director and producer who turned his passion for cinema into social entrepreneurship. Over the years, he’s been giving life to movies that aim to have a social impact by raising both awareness and funds for important causes.
Zanoli has recently completed the documentary HOMELESS, which was called “impactful, emotional, human” by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The film had its world premiere at the World Urban Forum convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and it is being used by UN-Habitat for its World Urban Campaign.
After graduating from the prestigious School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, with a Presidential Scholarship and a Dean’s Scholarship, Zanoli produced and directed his first film, THE MINIS. The movie stars NBA legend Dennis Rodman and is available in several countries, with an official videogame and partnerships that span from Yahoo! to McDonald’s.
One of Zanoli’s most acclaimed productions is NOT TO FORGET, with a cast that includes Karen Grassle and 5 Academy Award winners: Louis Gossett Jr., Olympia Dukakis, Cloris Leachman, Tatum O’Neal, and George Chakiris. The film is distributed by Vertical Entertainment and MGM Studios.
Zanoli also produced and directed the deeply moving HOPEFUL NOTES, which was awarded the first prize at the International Social Commitment Awards and 5 out of 5 doves by The Dove Foundation. The film is distributed all over the world by Pure Flix Entertainment.
Starring international singer Anastacia, Zanoli’s film ALL YOU CAN DREAM had its world premiere at the Giffoni Film Festival and its U.S. premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It later received support letters from the Office of the First Lady and UNESCO “Education for Children in Need.”
The Story Behind HOMELESS
HOMELESS documents the stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, each affected by homelessness in different ways. While homelessness is often associated with poverty, the documentary delves deeper into the structural and systemic issues that contribute to housing insecurity. Factors such as economic inequality, lack of affordable housing, unemployment, and mental health challenges are all explored as part of the complex web that traps people in cycles of instability.
Through intimate interviews and evocative cinematography, HOMELESS brings these individuals’ voices to the forefront. Zanoli’s approach is as much journalistic as it is cinematic, shedding light on the personal struggles that often go unnoticed by the general public. Viewers are introduced to individuals whose resilience, humanity, and dreams persist despite their circumstances. Each story reveals not only the hardships these people face but also their strength, resourcefulness, and determination to reclaim dignity in a society that often overlooks them.
A Global Crisis in Focus
The decision to premiere HOMELESS at the World Urban Forum emphasizes the global nature of the homelessness crisis. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) estimates that over 1 billion people globally live in inadequate housing conditions, with millions facing homelessness. This number is worsened by factors such as rapid urbanization, economic crises, and forced migration, placing immense pressure on cities to create safe and affordable housing solutions.
The film’s debut at the UN-Habitat event underscores the need for urgent intervention on a global scale. Urban leaders, policy makers, and representatives from over 150 countries gathered at the forum to discuss urbanization’s challenges and explore solutions for creating more sustainable, inclusive cities. By premiering HOMELESS in this context, Zanoli’s work has positioned itself as a catalyst for dialogue among the very people with the power to effect systemic change.
After the screening of HOMELESS, Christine Auclair, Coordinator of the Word Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat, shared the following words: “World Urban Campaign is a family. World Urban Campaign is about solutions. World Urban Campaign is about giving a voice to everyone, and about changing the narrative as well. So, I think this is a very powerful documentary in that sense. This is really a key part of the Campaign.”
Visual Impact and Emotional Resonance
Zanoli’s filmmaking style in HOMELESS is both poignant and purposeful. The documentary combines striking visuals with hauntingly beautiful music, allowing viewers to experience both the weight of the characters’ circumstances and their indomitable spirit. By crafting a narrative that is neither sensationalized nor overly sentimental, Zanoli respects the dignity of the individuals featured in his film, offering audiences an authentic representation of homelessness without overshadowing the complexity of each person’s story.
The film avoids clichés and stereotypes, focusing instead on the individuality of each subject. By framing the documentary around personal stories, Zanoli emphasizes the fact that homelessness is not just a statistic or an isolated issue – it is a deeply human crisis that deserves empathy and action. This approach allows viewers to connect emotionally with the subjects, making it difficult to ignore the urgent need for solutions.
Let’s Make a Difference: A Movement for Change
The Let’s Make a Difference initiative, which supported the production of HOMELESS, is a project dedicated to addressing social injustices and creating impactful changes. With this documentary, the initiative hopes to reach a global audience, inspiring viewers to contribute to organizations that fight homelessness and advocate for affordable housing.
This movement, much like Zanoli’s film, seeks to empower individuals to make a tangible impact. By raising awareness and providing actionable resources, Let’s Make a Difference transforms viewers’ empathy into real-world support for those affected by homelessness. World-renowned singer Andrea Bocelli reinforced this call to action with a powerful letter: “Home is dignity, it is life, it is the warmth, the comfort, the joy of being able to count on shelter and to offer it to one’s family. […] I believe that each of us has a moral obligation to strive for the well-being of the less fortunate.”
The Global Impact of HOMELESS
With its premiere at the World Urban Forum, HOMELESS has the potential to influence policies and attitudes toward homelessness at an international level. The film’s presence at such a high-profile event reinforces the idea that homelessness is a shared responsibility. By confronting the uncomfortable truths about housing inequality, HOMELESS challenges both governments and citizens to commit to creating fairer, more inclusive societies.
Valerio Zanoli’s documentary is not just a film, as it is a reminder that behind every homeless statistic is a person with a story and a hope for the future. The premiere of HOMELESS represents a call to global citizens, urging them to see homelessness not as an isolated issue but as a crisis that transcends borders.
Conclusion: A Vision for Change
HOMELESS is a testament to the power of film to inspire social change. By portraying the harsh realities of homelessness with dignity and respect, Zanoli has created a documentary that resonates far beyond the screen. It is a rallying cry for empathy, a tool for education, and a bridge connecting policy makers, activists, and everyday viewers to the shared goal of eradicating homelessness.
In a world where housing is often treated as a privilege rather than a right, HOMELESS stands as a powerful reminder that shelter, safety, and dignity are fundamental human needs. Through this film, Valerio Zanoli and Let’s Make a Difference have created a beacon of hope, inviting each of us to become part of the solution.
