Programme developed in partnership with Hekayyatna.
Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London.
Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery
Ghost Trail (Les Fantômes)
*London Migration Film Festival Opening Gala*
Film + Q&A | 27 Nov; 6:00pm | Genesis Cinema
Having survived a spell in Syria’s notorious Sednaya prison, Hamid is now part of a secret group pursuing fugitive war criminals from Assad’s regime. His mission takes him to Strasbourg, on the trail of his former torturer whom he must confront.
A reflection on memory, trauma, and the recently ended Syrian civil war which propelled so much of the language and political response to the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, Ghost Trail offers a timely, tense, and spellbinding moment of reflection to mark the start of the 10th edition of London Migration Film Festival.
Dir: Jonathan Millet | Length: 1h 46m | Language: Arabic, French
Film + Q&A with director | 28 Nov; 6:30pm | Genesis Cinema
In Folkestone, where refugees attempt to reach from France on a daily basis, tensions are rife. Old traditions die hard, voices struggle to be heard and the notion of British identity is regularly asserted and contested. In the face of mounting pressure, director Jessi Gutch sets out to do the unthinkable: seek common ground. Honest conversations with six people, grappling the divisions surrounding race, class and politics, give way to a rumination on how make sense of our present moment, in spite of all the uncertainty and fear.
Dir: Jessi Gutch | Length: 1h 27m | Language: English
Film + Q&A | 28 Nov; 6pm | Ciné Lumière
Georg, a German refugee, is trying to escape present-day occupied France. As the days pass, other refugees around him are captured or killed. His hopes lie on a passage to Mexico he managed to get tickets for - but the wait seems interminable.
To mark 50 years since the death of Hannah Arendt, the film will be followed by a discussion on the ongoing significance of Arendt’s work to contemporary issues of migration, specifically her ideas on statelessness, liminality, exile, and totalitarianism.
In collaboration with Goethe-Institut London
Dir: Christian Petzold | Length: 1h 41m | Language: German
Workshop | 29 Nov; 1:00pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
An interactive animation workshop that explores the politics of food, feasting, recipes, and community within the context of immigration. For many immigrants, the plate becomes one of the last remaining threads connecting them to a fractured identity.
In this workshop, participants will create short, hand-made stop-motion sequences using paper cut-outs to animate a personal scene, whether remembered or imagined.
All equipment will be provided.
Hosted by Amina Ben Ismail and Enjy Jarrouj | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
How Did We Get Here?
Migration, colonialism & the rise of the far-right
Town Hall + Discussion | 29 Nov; 3:15pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Join Hekayyatna for a thought-provoking town hall thinking about “How Did We Get Here?”. In this gathering, we invite you to journey through the history and current state of immigration to the UK, with a particular focus on the SWANA South West Asia and North Africa region.
As we explore the deep roots of British colonialism and its lasting impact, we’ll examine how the British Empire treated its subjects and the complex question of citizenship that has drawn so many to the UK. We’ll also reflect on the reverberations of Enoch Powell’s infamous speech and how it has shaped modern anti-immigration sentiment and rising xenophobia.
Hosted by Hekayyatna
SOLD OUT
Long Table | 29 Nov; 4:45pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Memory, Messiness and Migration is a participatory Long Table event exploring how our memories and messiness, personal, ancestral, and collective, shape our understanding of migration. Hosted by storyteller and filmmaker கிஷான்த் ஜவகர் - Kishanth Javegar, the evening will begin with Kishanth's reflection on tracing his Tamil roots across India and Eelam.
Followed by an open Long Table discussion where participants are invited to share their “Hot Takes” and bring migrational memory items. Together, we’ll sit with the complexities and contradictions of migration; its beauty, discomfort, and in-between spaces, creating a space for dialogue, honesty, and shared reflection beyond echo chambers.
Hosted by Kishanth Javegar | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
SOLD OUT
Moria Six
Film + Q&A | 29 Nov; 3:30pm | Bertha DocHouse
In September 2020, after a spurious trial, six refugees are convicted of starting the fire which destroyed the Moria camp on Lesbos. Following this, the filmmaker begins a correspondence with one of the “Moria Six”, Hassan, as new smart camps are being built across the Aegean islands.
Highly secure, hidden, and compounded by illegal pushbacks, the film examines the increasingly violent and dehumanising techniques that Greece, as a frontier of Fortress Europe, is using to control migration.
Dir: Jennifer Mallmann | Length: 1h 22m | Language: Greek, German, English
SOLD OUT
Short Documentary Films Competition | 29 Nov; 6:10pm | Bertha DocHouse
An evening of short films, each using different approaches in documenting stories of people on the move. From a deep dive into archival material on Palestinian flowers. to an exploration of the connection between language and migration, this programme encompasses the best documentary short films we’ve seen this year.
Film + Q&A | 29 Nov; 3:00pm | Lexi Cinema
State of Statelessness is the first-ever Tibetan-language anthology feature film, exploring the themes of statelessness and migration through four stories of Tibetans living in exile.
Directed by Tibetan filmmakers in India, America, and Vietnam, the film captures the realities of a scattered people, from a father’s tale of the Mekong River to a son’s discovery of a family secret in Dharamshala.
Dir: Tenzing Sonam, Ritu Sarin, Tsering Tashi Gyalthang, Sonam Tseten, Tenzin Tsetan Choklay | Length: 1h 46m | Language: Tibetan, Vietnamese, English and Hindi
In partnership with London Tibet Film Festival
Films + Objects + Q&A | 29 Nov; 6:30pm | National Maritime Museum
Migrant crossings in the Mediterranean Sea increased during the 2010s, and lethal European policies of surveillance and securitisation led to thousands of deaths at sea. Join Tim May, Curator of Maps and Mobilities to explore this subject through objects in the museum’s collection and the screening of two short documentaries by Forensic Oceanography, ‘Liquid Traces: the Left-to-Die Boat Case’ and 'Death by Rescue – The EU’s Lethal Policies of Non-assistance'.
*WARNING: These films address distressing subject matter which may be unsuitable for children.
Film | 29 Nov; 3:15pm | Genesis Cinema
In a busy restaurant in New York, low-paid migrants of all backgrounds keep the kitchen going - all focussed on their own dreams, dramas and aspirations. Meanwhile, management pulls every trick in the book to keep workers subjugated - including promising, and denying, vital papers to secure visas.
A vivid portrait of the state of the ‘American dream’ - with its broken promises and hopes.
Dir: Alonso Ruizpalacios | Length: 2h 19m | Language: Spanish, English
* UK premiere *
Film + Q&A | 29 Nov; 6:30pm | Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
Three Filipino siblings, all domestic workers in Italy, reunite in their sister Lilia's inherited villa. As the night unfolds, buried grievances, shared memories, and long-held silences surface, testing their fragile bond.
A haunting but gentle meditation on generational displacement, inheritance, and the unspoken tensions that may (quite literally) fracture families.
Dir: Liryc Dela Cruz | Length: 1h 15m | Language: Tagalog, Italian, English
Workshop | 30 Nov; 12noon | St Margaret’s House
In this workshop, Arbër Qerka-Gashi invites participants to explore how cinema and film have shaped problematic societal notions about marginalised communities across diverse contexts.
Drawing on research into representations of Romani and Albanian communities in Yugoslav cinema, Arbër challenges traditions of harmful portrayals and opens up space for participants to collectively reflect on and re-imagine how such narratives can be disrupted.
Hosted by Balkanism | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Storytelling + Workshop | 30 Nov; 1:00pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Join us for a meaningful and insightful storytelling event, where we’ll dive into culture and migration.
Community members will come together to connect and learn about each other’s experiences. We’ll hear from featured storytellers who have migrated for a variety of reasons, including for education, work, war, love and more, as they share defining moments in their story that touched or impacted them in some way.
Attendees will also have the chance to become a storyteller and share their experiences. And there will be guided cultural conversations on the topic in small groups, where attendees can share their stories and learn from one another too.
Hosted by Culture Mocktail | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Workshop | 30 Nov; 2:00pm | St Margaret's House
Stories and the Black Woods celebrates the soul of West African cinema from Nollywood to Ghallywood and beyond. Through film excerpts, live story-sharing, and a vibrant panel with filmmakers of West African descent, the event explores how migration shapes creativity, identity, and storytelling.
More than a screening, it’s a space for filmmakers, film lovers, and audiences from various cultures to connect, reflect, and celebrate the cultural power of cinema. Join us for two hours of inspiration, dialogue, and discovery, honouring the stories that cross borders, unite communities, and keep the spirit of African storytelling alive.
Hosted by Inyang Edoho | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Workshop | 30 Nov, 2:45pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Beauty is political. It affects how bodies are perceived and cared for by institutions, communities, and the state. It is not enough to hold legal rights; one must look like a “good citizen”.
Whose presence is legitimate? Who is human enough to grieve? Which bodies are recognised as citizens, and who may be discarded without mourning?
This workshop examines how aesthetic norms operate as systems of social control, granting legitimacy to some while denying humanity to others. Through creative reflection, participants will explore how bodily presentation influences the treatment, protection, and dignity of those navigating displacement or migration.
Hosted by Unruly Beauty | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Short Fiction Films Competition | 30 Nov; 5:30pm | ICA
An afternoon of short films - stories of people on the move that are confronted with the new reality their life has become. From difficult goodbyes, to unlikely encounters, this programme encompasses the best short fiction films we’ve seen this year.
Workshop | 30 Nov; 4:00pm | St Margaret's House
Independent filmmaker David Fedele (three films at London Migration Film Festival) leads this interactive workshop on ethical documentary storytelling.
Explore the tough questions: Whose story are we telling? What right do we have to tell it? How do we ensure responsible representation?
David shares his mistakes, lessons learned, and DIY filmmaking approach—from concept through distribution. Open to filmmakers at any stage, plus a special invitation to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to learn how to tell their own stories—independently or in collaboration.
Interactive format. Ask questions any time. Debate encouraged!
Hosted by David Fedele | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Literature + Podcast + Talk | 30 Nov; 5:00pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Migrant women writers and storytellers come together for an evening of readings, conversation, and live podcasting, celebrating creativity and connection across borders.
Through poetry, fiction, and lived experience, Voices Without Borders explores belonging, identity, and the power of shared storytelling.
Join us for an inspiring night of words, sound, and hope — stories that move, voices that unite.
Hosted by Trime Podcast and The Other Side of Hope | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
*UK premiere*
Film + workshop | 30 Nov; 6:15pm | Genesis Cinema
Filmmaker Arjun Talwar turns his Warsaw street into a lens through which he explores migration, nationalism, and belonging. This documentary blends humour and tenderness with the stark realities of exclusion. In his search for community, Talwar asks if one ever stops being a stranger in a chosen home.
The film will be followed by a writing workshop in collaboration with Gather with Anis, during which audience members will be encouraged to create work inspired by the film, and maybe make some new friends.
Presented with SplicD Cinema and Gather with Anis
Dir: Arjun Talwar | Length: 1h 37min | Language: Polish, English, Roma
Film + Q&A | 1 Dec; 6:15pm | Rio Cinema
Aisha is a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in a neighbourhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and local gangs. Stuck between an undefined relationship with a young Egyptian cook, a gangster that blackmails her into an unethical deal in exchange for safety, and a new house she’s assigned to work in, Aisha struggles to cope with her fears and lost battles, causing her dreams to cross with reality and leading her to an impasse.
Incorporating elements of magical realism and body horror, Aisha Can't Fly Away shows how a decent life may be rendered impossible by the conflict, coerced compliance, and exploitation experienced by women refugees in this ambitious and slow-burning feature.
Dir: Morad Mostafa | Length: 2h 3m | Language: Arabic
Film + Q&A | 1 Dec; 6:00pm | Richmix
A furious cry of resistance against racist oppression and a revolutionary landmark of political cinema, this feature debut from Mauritanian director Med Hondo is a bitterly funny, dazzlingly experimental attack on capitalism and the legacy of colonialism.
Soleil Ô follows a starry-eyed immigrant as he leaves West Africa and journeys to Paris in search of a job, a community, and intellectual engagement—but soon discovers a hostile society where his very presence engenders fear and resentment. With this freewheeling masterpiece, Hondo crafts a shattering vision of awakening Black consciousness.
Dir: Med Hondo | Length: 1h 38m | Language: French, Arabic
Workshop | 1 Dec; 7:30pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
As people migrate, their culture and cuisine travels with them and dishes adapt to new environments and pantries. How can we preserve the flavours and emotions linked to a favourite dish, or harness inspiration from a new experience and translate them into recipes?
Join chef and food writer Ixta Belfrage at a workshop where you’ll explore how to write recipes using memory, storytelling and practical exercises.
Hosted by Ixta Belfridge
Screening + Talk + Networking | 2 Dec; 7:30pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
This Is Not A Screening! is a monthly open projection night for filmmakers, video artists, animators — and anyone working with moving image — to share works-in-progress and build an open dialogue with audiences. The focus is process over polish: rough cuts, test shoots, early ideas. After each showing, we open the room for thoughtful feedback and reflection. There’s no competition and no gatekeeping.
This Is Not A Screening! is a space to breathe, listen, and build community around shared values. Followed by a networking space open everyone interested in the overlap between migration and film.
Hosted by This Is Not A Screening! | Curated in partnership with Hekayyatna
Film | 2 Dec; 6:45pm | Genesis Cinema
Maria, a Guatemalan guerrillera, in 1976 is forced to flee her country due to the corrupt dictatorship that has already killed her partner - and she has no choice but to leave their newborn son behind. Ten years later, as Mexico is hosting the World Cup and Maria is preparing to expose the crimes of the Guatemalan dictatorship she fled, her son joins her in exile - forcing a choice between motherhood and her cause.
A gripping film looking at the many identities people navigate between - mother, activist, refugee. And at the impact that one’s choices have on those they love and who depend on them.
Dir: Cesar Diaz | Length: 1h 29m | Language: Spanish
Film + Q&A with director | 2 Dec; 6:00pm | Richmix
Ahmed’s idyllic life as a nomadic camel-herder is turned upside down when grazing land is sold to private corporations, and he has to choose between keeping his traditional livelihood or modernising with the times.
In a story that spans over five years, this film invites the viewer to breathe the same air as the camel-herders of Kutch, whose future is being suffocated by our rapidly modernising world.
Dir: Sonum Sumaria | Length: 1h 40min | Language: Kutchi/Sindhi
Film + Q&A | 2 Dec; 7:30pm | SOAS Alumni Lecture Theatre
An Afghan teen girl living in Teheran lives for her dream to become a professional Muay Thai boxer. To do so, she has to overcome many hurdles - rigid training, a family that doesn’t approve of her dream, and the severe limitations imposed on Afghan refugees living in Iran.
A timely documentary looking at the situation for Afghans who have fled decades of conflict and repressive regimes - and at the ways in which people cope with the uncertainty they face.
Dir: Sarvnaz Alambeigi | Length: 1h 13min | Language: Persian, Dari, English
*London Migration Film Festival Closing Night*
Short Films + Talk | 3 Dec, time 7:00pm| Genesis Cinema
This special event marks ten years of migrant cinema by looking not only at what has been represented, but at what can now be imagined. Opening with a short reflection on how migrant cinema has shifted over the last decade, the programme brings together four films that move beyond crisis narratives into speculative, dream-like and ancestral registers. Through fantasy, parable, transcendence and ritual, these works imagine other ways of being, belonging and moving through the world.
The screening is followed by a panel conversation reflecting on how migrant filmmaking has evolved, what border-abolitionist and decolonial futures might look like on screen, and how cinema can help reimagine migration beyond the limits of the nation-state.
Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience
Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london
Supported by the Moleskine Foundation Creativity Pioneers Fund
Venues
Upstairs at the Ritzy: Ritzy Cinema (top floor), Brixton Oval, London SW2 1JG
SOAS Alumni Lecture Theatre (SALT): SOAS, University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Sq, London WC1B 5DQ
Genesis Cinema: 93-95 Mile End Rd, Bethnal Green, London E1 4UJ
Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA): The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH
Bertha DocHouse: Curzon Bloomsbury The Brunswick Centre, London WC1N 1AW
The Lexi Cinema: 194b Chamberlayne Rd, London NW10 3JU
Ciné Lumière: 17 Queensberry Pl, South Kensington, London SW7 2DW
Rich Mix: 35-47 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E1 6LA
Rio Cinema: 107 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB
National Maritime Museum: Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF
St. Margaret’s House: 21 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PL
