Film for Freedom-UK
“The day I walked into the room where we held the workshop, it felt like home, it felt safe… a weight on my shoulders was taken off. I got to make my film, I’m so happy, and I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
Uapii, London project participant
After our incredible Film for Freedom project in Lebanon (find out more here), and with the support of the Bertha Foundation, we brought this filmmaking project to London, to celebrate the power of art and activism to empower refugee women.
This project trained ten refugee and asylum-seeking women in the fundamentals of filmmaking, mentoring them as they made films on the issues of their choice, and supporting them to raise their voices.
In the next phase, they will be connected with organisations working on these issues, and supported them to use their films in awareness-raising.
Refugees and asylum seekers in the UK are facing increasing scapegoating and xenophobia, and are often forced to live in dire poverty. Creating space for empathy and understanding, and creating films that can be used in campaigning, could not be more timely or more needed.
Watch their films below.
With thanks to the Bertha Foundation whose support has made this project possible.
Asylum, Asylum, Asylum (Uapii’s film)
“Do you know what that word means?” Uapii didn’t. Challenging preconceptions and exploring what it means to be an asylum seeker, Uapii shares her story of fleeing Namibia in hopes to live freely as a lesbian.
In Limbo (Ebaa’s film)
Through her film, Ebaa aims to convey ‘the surreal reality and grief’ of being a Palestinian in exile - watching from afar, day after day, as your world and everything you hold dear is destroyed.
Homes for Ukraine (Valerie’s film)
Valerie’s film is part tribute to her Homes for Ukraine sponsor, Althea, to whom she feels deep gratitude for her new life in the UK. And part reflection on what it feels like to live in a ‘parallel reality’ so far from home.
No Comment (Esther’s film)
In a powerful message to her daughters, Esther urges them to always use their voice and stand up for themselves. Not doing so herself, Esther believes, was the reason she was separated from them for so long.