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Fundraising Film Screening

16th March 23

As part of his Global Challenges course, Y10 student, Lorenzo, has organised a film screening, fundraising and Q&A event on the evening of 28th April. The event, called ‘The Hostile Environment – Just how welcoming are we to migrants?’ will feature a screening of the documentary, Hostile followed by a Q&A with the Director (and KAS parent) Sonita Gale and MP Sir Stephen Timms.

The issue of migration to the UK and its impacts is incredibly topical and this evening will give members of the KAS community a chance to see this powerful documentary on the subject and to discuss the issues raised. The evening will also serve as a fundraiser for Newham Community Project, a food bank featured in the film supporting migrant communities in the borough of Newham.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite and are by donation, we suggest a minimum of £10.

Even if you can’t make the event you can still donate using this link.

Lorenzo says, “I first got interested in the issue of migration when looking at the small boats crisis as part of my Global Challenges course. When I watched Hostile I really felt the treatment of migrants in the UK was such a big scandal and a mistreatment of human rights, which was going unnoticed, just like other problems around the world, which is why I wanted to do something about it.”

The event will begin with a screening of Hostile, a film by KAS parent, Sonita Gale.

It’s been more than a decade since the Home Office began using the term ‘hostile environment’ to describe its approach to tackling immigration. Hostile tells the stories of those most affected by the policies adopted to make the UK a hostile environment for immigrants.

Sonita Gale is a BAFTA and BIFA longlisted film maker. She is the writer, producer and director of Hostile, a feature-length documentary focusing on the UK’s complicated relationship with its migrant communities. Told through the stories of four participants from Black and Asian backgrounds, the film focuses on the impact of the evolving ‘hostile environment’ policies that target migrants, including No Recourse to Public Funds which is forcing people into destitution.

The film explores how the lives of international students, members of the Windrush generation and ‘Highly Skilled Migrants’ have been affected. The film features music from award-winning musicians Nitin Sawhney and spoken word from George the Poet. Nitin Sawhney also served as an Executive Producer.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A on the issues raised in the film with the Director Sonita Gale and Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, chaired and moderated by KAS student Lorenzo.