Short Films Screening
Watch exceptional short films from around the world, made by refugee and asylum-seeking film-makers, and curated by Sarah Agha, founder of the Arab Film Club.
Each title is either written and directed by a refugee film-maker or draws on real life experience to tackle the theme in some way.
This showcase proves the power of cinema, as each film-maker succeeds in humanising both struggle and injustice with their art.
The programme includes projects from BAFTA-winning film director Hassan Akkad and Counterpoints Arts’ Pop Culture & Social Change Producer, Laith Elzubaidi.
The screening is followed by a Q&A hosted by actress, curator and presenter of the BBC’s The Holy Land and Us, Sarah Agha. Agha founded the Arab Film Club during lockdown, a community celebrating and exploring cinema from the Arab world.
Titles include:
Yellow by Elham Ehsas (12’). In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full-body veil from a Talib shopkeeper, and face a new future.
Aziza by Soudade Kaadan (13’). A newly displaced Syrian couple take a drive around Beirut, which soon morphs into a hallucinatory and nostalgic trip.
Address Unknown by Anton Fisher (24’). South Africa, 1976. A postman goes looking for his childhood best friend who went missing due to forced removals, before he himself is forced to relocate or face the bulldozers.
Panic! by Laith Elzubaidi (8’). Every night Layla and her sister Noor are forced to huddle under candlelight to protect themselves from an ominous threat. Until one night, a more psychological threat endangers them both.
Matar by Hassan Akkad (23’). The story of Matar, a Syrian asylum seeker in England. When confronted with the hostile immigration system, he is forced to live on the fringes of society and rely on his bike to survive.
Need to know
For ages 13+
Dates & times
Price
- Standard entryFrom £5*
- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
Tickets can only be sold through the Southbank Centre and our authorised agents, and can't be resold. You can return your tickets to the Southbank Centre for a credit voucher up to 48 hours before the event. Tickets resold on any third-party platforms will become invalid.
Get presale tickets
Members get the first chance to book our entire programme of events, including go-down-in-history gigs, concerts with world-class orchestras, and talks from cultural icons and political giants.
Venue
Purcell Room
Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
Open 90 minutes before an event until the end of the event. Closed at all other times.
Our address is: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. The nearest tube and train stations within 5-7 minutes walk are Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines) and Embankment (District & Circle lines). There are also lots of bus routes with stops 2-5 minutes from our venues. For more information on getting here by road, rail or river.
Pre-booking online is recommended. Check our website on the day for returns. There’s no need to print your e-ticket – just show your phone to our Visitor Assistants on entry.
Some free events don't require a ticket. Found an event labelled FREE on our website with no way to book? Simply turn up on the day.
If you don't receive your e-ticket
Your e-ticket will be sent to you seven days before the event date from [email protected]. If you don't receive your e-ticket, and it's not in your junk or spam folder, please get in touch.
More information
Find out all you need to know about tickets, including concessions, group bookings, returns, credit vouchers and more, via the link below.
Get an overview of the seating layout of the Purcell Room by downloading our seating plan.
Toilets
An accessible toilet is located in the foyer.
A Changing Places toilet is located on Level 1 Royal Festival Hall next to the JCB Glass Lift, for the exclusive use of disabled people who need personal assistance to use the toilet.
The facility includes a height-adjustable bench, tracking hoist system, a centrally-placed toilet, a height-adjustable basin and a shower. Please visit the Welcome Desk on Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, where a member of staff can provide you with the key. You can also use the phone next to the Changing Places toilet to speak to a member of staff. The facility is open daily 10am – 11pm.
Cloakroom
The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room cloakroom is closed. You won’t be able to bring any bags over 40 x 25 x 25cm into the venues, so please leave large bags at home.
We're cash-free
Please note that we're unable to accept cash payments across our site.
Purcell Room is located in Queen Elizabeth Hall. For step-free access please use Royal Festival Hall JCB glass lift to Level 2 and enter via Riverside Terrace.
Talk to a member of staff at the auditorium entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue, or you need extra time to take your seat. They can arrange priority entry for you as soon as the doors open.
Please bear with us while we update our access map to reflect the refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyer spaces. The step-free routes remain the same.