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Sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini fled Syria as refugees. While crossing the Aegean Sea, their dinghy's engine broke; they, along with two others who could swim, saved the lives of those on board.

Just a year later, they were competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Their story resonated deeply with director Sally El Hosaini. She says their relationship drew her in and compelled her to turn their story into a film.

During filming, Hosaini made sure to have refugees both in front of and behind the camera who had made the same journey as the girls.

Hosaini says she wanted the film to show women on cinema screens that are rarely seen, to celebrate female emancipation and ambition, and to allow girls to "own their narrative and subvert the stereotypes of who these women and refugees are."

(Photo: Director Sally El Hosaini arrives at the world premiere of "The Swimmers" at the Toronto International Film Festival. Credit: Reuters)