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From Casablanca to Calais: exile on celluloid

From Curtiz’s Casablanca to Frear’s Dirty Pretty Things. A panel of filmmakers take on exile in film.

When and where

Thursday 10 June 2010, 8.45pm to 10.30pm
NFT1, British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XT

For more information on how to get to BFI Southbank visit www.bfi.org.uk.

Handmade coloured pennants with refugee-friendly messages painted on them.

In celebration of Refugee Week, Brightwide, Refugee Action and BFI Southbank bring you a unique panel discussion that looks back on the representation of refugees in film throughout the years.

Capable host for the evening will be Channel 4’s Samira Ahmed and the panel of film luminaries will include directors such as Mat Whitecross (Road to Guantanamo, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Moving to Mars), Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen) and Kenny Glenaan (Summer, Gas Attack, Yasmin) and cultural commentators such as Professor Terence Wright.

This panel discussion will feature material from the BFI National Archive and examine the extent to which film can provide a window into the reality of refugees' lives.

Refugee Action, Brightwide and BFI Southbank will also be holding a private reception before the event for special guests.

And if you can’t join us for the event, don’t fret. Because during Refugee Week you’ll be able to watch the biggest and best in thought-provoking and head-stretching cinema from the comfort of your front-room.

Make some popcorn. Dim the lights. Fire up the computer. And visit brightwide.com for the first-ever Refugee Week online film festival where you can take your pick of award-winning films about the refugee experience and tick off one of Refugee Week’s Simple Acts in the process.