A powerful documentary about a Glasgow protest that stopped two Sikh men from being taken away by immigration officers will open the city's film festival next month, shedding light on the power of community action.
The film, titled 'Everybody To Kenmure Street', captures the events of May 13, 2021, when a Home Office raid in Pollokshields sparked a wave of local resistance. Hundreds of Glaswegians took to Kenmure Street, preventing the two men from being forcibly removed.
Directed by the acclaimed Bafta-winning filmmaker Felipe Bustos Sierra, the documentary uses crowd-sourced footage, archive film, and set-designed scenes with actors portraying anonymous testimonies. It will have its gala UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Theatre on February 25, marking the start of the 22nd edition of the film festival.
Bustos Sierra, known for his previous work on 'Nae Pasaran', which highlighted the role of workers at the East Kilbride Rolls Royce factory in ending General Pinochet's regime in Chile, expressed his excitement about sharing the film with his hometown audience.
"This film is a snapshot of a day, a neighborhood, and the enduring right to have a voice and live in peace," he said. "Glasgow's history of civil disobedience and its impact on meaningful change has been a guiding light throughout the making of this film. I'm thrilled to share it with the GFT audience, who will hopefully find joy in remembering their power as beacons in uncertain times."
Paul Gallagher, the head of the film festival's programme, praised the film's relevance and inspiration, stating that it tells a story "pertinent to the whole world right now."
The documentary is executive produced by the renowned two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson and is set for a full cinema release in March. The festival organizers also announced that the event will conclude with the UK premiere of James McAvoy's directorial debut, 'California Schemin', on March 8.
This marks the second consecutive year the festival opens and closes with a Scottish feature film, following the success of 'Tornado' and 'Make It To Munich' in the 2022 edition. The full programme for the festival will be revealed on January 21, promising a diverse and captivating lineup.
