Inverness film event to be staged at Eden Court Theatre to mark Refugee Festival Scotland 2025
Diversity and community in the Highlands will be celebrated at an event being staged in Inverness as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2025.
The Building Solidarity & Kinship film screening at Eden Court Theatre tomorrow (Saturday) will showcase a series of moving short films.
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Programmed by creative writer and researcher Esraa Husain, the festival’s programming fellow, the afternoon will present four thought-provoking short films, each offering a lens on community-building and resilience.
The event, presented in partnership with the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF), was inspired by Esraa’s own experiences of immigration and the need for communities to find belonging.
“At its heart, this event is about creating a space where people from different backgrounds can come together, share their stories, and feel seen,” Esraa said.
“We are aiming to showcase the power of film and discussion to build community, foster solidarity and celebrate the courage and creativity of diverse communities.
“I wanted to present an intergenerational, multicultural line-up that reflects the intricacies and diversity to be found within people’s lives, journeys and experiences of immigration.”
The films include the award-winning The Flowers Silently Witnessing by Greek-Lebanese-Palestinian filmmaker Theo Panagopoulos and Baz Sells’ Two Black Boys in Paradise based on a poem exploring issues of racism and homophobia in the UK.
Also being shown are Mark Thomas’ Permissible Beauty, a critical examination of colonial histories, and Dissonance, a heartfelt portrait of a queer Nigerian filmmaker Adéráyọ̀’s experience of moving abroad and navigating personal heartbreaks.
Having previously lived in Aberdeen, Esraa was eager to take their festival programme to the north of Scotland.
“The choice to stage the event in Inverness was deliberate, as in my experience there are unique challenges for people looking to connect with a community in some parts of Scotland, particularly with barriers around transportation,” Esraa said.
“Living in the north of Scotland has taught me how critical it is to build connections here so this event is an opportunity to overcome these barriers and bring people together in a shared space of solidarity and understanding.”
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and opportunity to share food.
Local activists and creatives, including Mya Chemonges-Murzynowska, of the African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association (ACAMHA), artists Irum and Zalala from the Highland Multicultural Friends and the festival’s 2024 Programming Fellow Huss Al-Chokhdar will discuss themes of kinship and solidarity.
There will also be the chance to view a mural created by Highland Multicultural Friends.
This year marks a significant milestone for Refugee Festival Scotland as it celebrates 25 years of celebrating art, culture and community and marks the 40th anniversary of Scottish Refugee Council.
This event is one of more than 150 taking place across Scotland, most of which are free to attend and involving artists and performers from more than 30 countries.
The Building Solidarity & Kinship screening event takes place at 3pm tomorrow.
