Beyond Utopia," an Oscar short-listed film on North Korean defectors, will be screened at the U.S. State Department in Washington this week, officials said Thursday, in an apparent move to shine a light on the escapees' treacherous journey in search for freedom outside their reclusive country. The screening of the documentary on Friday comes amid concerns about the safety of many North Korean defectors who have reportedly been repatriated to the North from China despite calls by Seoul, Washington and other governments for compliance with the international principle of non-refoulement. "'Beyond Utopia' is a documentary that details the gripping story of families who risk everything escaping the DPRK," the department said in an invitation message, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The screening is to be preceded by remarks from Ambassador Julie Turner, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, and her South Korean counterpart, Ambassad or Lee Shin-wha. Directed by Madeleine Gavin, the documentary features the perilous journey of two North Korean defector families who escaped their homeland before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to raise public awareness, South Korea's foreign ministry also held an event screening the film with the attendance of over 100 ministry personnel in October. It has been shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Oscars. It won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival last year. Source: Yonhap News Agency