Part of the FILMS WITHOUT BORDERS SEASON. Three documentaries looking at the experiences of refugees on arrival in European countries. Featuring Glasgow, Greece and Benwell. Followed by discussion.

Including:

FROM BRNO TO BENWELL 21 minutes Dir: Hugh Kelly 2007
From Brno to Benwell is a story from Newcastle upon Tyne about Roma activist and musician Miro Simko. We are let into his life and follow him in his dedicated struggle to improve life for himself, his family and his community. The west end of Newcastle has become home to around 1,500 Roma families from the Czech Republic, local residents explore the reasons why.

WELCOME – 21 minutes – 2004 Dir: Camcorder Guerillas

Hundreds of refugees are being put out of their homes with no benefits and no rights to work. Unable to return to their countries they are in a stateless limbo on Glasgow’s streets.

“My life is frozen,” says a Zimbabwean maths teacher who has been living “Underground” since being evicted from his council flat. “I’m existing, but it’s not a life. I don’t think Scottish people know we are being chucked onto the street or they would not allow it to happen”.

This film was made to raise awareness about the issue of asylum seekers and refugees being made destitute and to give examples of what people can do about it.