How Refugee Week film festival brings migrants’ experience home

Refugee Week launched a film festival across the UK this week, coinciding with World Refugee Day on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The festival showcases documentaries and dramas that highlight the experiences of migrants and refugees, aiming to bridge the perceived distance between audiences and these often remote realities. Films featured in the festival span diverse locations and themes, including "A World Not Ours" by Mahdi Fleifel, which offers a perspective from Ain el-Helweh, Lebanon's largest refugee camp for Palestinians, and "Dreamers," directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, focusing on an immigration removal centre in the UK.

The festival also includes "Allies in Exile," a documentary by Syrian filmmakers Hasan Kattan and Fadi al-Halabi, which premiered on Tuesday at the BFI Southbank and delves into the complexities of the UK's asylum system. Additionally, the refugee charity Choose Love curated a selection of four short films titled "Fearless Stories." This collection, presented on Thursday at Picturehouse Central, London, chronicles the various stages of seeking asylum, from life in home countries and perilous journeys to arrival in unwelcoming environments and the resulting trauma. These films are intended to "challenge division" and promote understanding.

Josie Fernandez-Marelli, chief executive of Choose Love, emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of diverse people and cultures to the UK. She stated that as societal divisions increase, it is crucial to collaborate to ensure refugees are viewed as individuals with aspirations. The festival's programming aims to foster empathy and humanize the refugee experience through cinematic storytelling.