A double-bill screening for the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2023, plus two film shorts.

Short: The First Black Train Driver

A striking documentary from Director Glenn Clarke about Wilston Samuel Jackson's journey to becoming Britain's first black train driver, reuniting him with his beloved trains, the Mallard and Flying Scotsman, and finally his Blue Plaque recognition.

Short: The Homemaker

The story of James Alexander, the first Black Caribbean man to establish a housing association in 1969 in the UK. This autobiographical Windrush documentary explores how an immigrant from Trinidad navigated the social-political environment to house hundreds of West Indian, and Irish families during a time when vulnerable people suffered from poor housing all over the country.

Death of England

Neil Maskell (Peaky Blinders) and Giles Terera (Hamilton) play Michael and Delroy in this powerful and timely film from the National Theatre.

January 2021. Britain is locked down, divided and facing some difficult truths. Old friends Michael and Delroy are dealing with issues much closer to home. During an explosive afternoon in their East London flat, the two are forced to confront their relationship with their country – and with each other.

From Writers Clint Dyer (The Happy Tragedy of Being Woke) and Roy Williams (Sucker Punch), and Director Clint Dyer, Deputy Artistic Director of The Royal National Theatre.

Hostile

BAFTA long-listed documentary from Director Sonita Gale, focusing on the UK’s complicated relationship with its migrant communities.

Told through the stories of four participants from Black and Asian backgrounds, Hostile reveals the impact of the evolving ‘hostile environment’ - a term used by the UK government in 2012 to illustrate the atmosphere they wanted to create for migrants, with the intention of provoking them to leave of their own accord.

Hostile explores how the lives of international students, members of the Windrush generation and so-called ‘Highly-Skilled Migrants’ have been affected. With Brexit, the Points Based Immigration System and the Nationality and Borders Bill taking effect, the film asks: once the ‘hostile environment’ has targeted all migrants, who will it target next?

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