Writing workshop | 23 Nov; 12:30pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
What if people no longer needed to seek asylum? What if borders were abolished? What if we could migrate to a future utopia? Sci-fi writing prompts like these can help us to imagine a future world. In Postcards to the Future, participants are guided to create a film pitch exploring "time-migration".
Diving deeper into the film ideas, participants are then invited to send a fictional postcard.... which may or may not reach its time-travelling destination.
Through writing exercises and group discussion, Postcards to the Future invites you to engage critically with the ideas of migration through space and time.
In collaboration with One Thousand & One Letters
Storytelling | 23 Nov; 2:30pm | Upstairs at the Ritzy
Join Hekayyatna for an experiential storytelling event which follows the trail of breadcrumbs of what stays after we go.
Alongside the audience’s own experiences, this event will unpack and reveal the significance and symbolism of the objects we leave behind during movement and migration, and how these can paint a picture of who we are now.
Attendees will be prompted to reflect on the objects they have left behind, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and contemplate how their absence has shaped who they have become. From forgotten notes in library books to family photos lost on ruined walls, to packed suitcases of belongings – the event will explore how we archive what we no longer possess.
In collaboration with Hekayyatna
Workshop | 23 Nov, 1pm | Palestine House
Did you know, there are 12.3 million words in the Arabic language, compared to 171,000 in the English language? Well, in this fun, interactive and discussion-based workshop, you’ll be guided into the world of words and phrases exclusive to the Arabic language. In this workshop, we'll unpack the word 'Ghorba' - which refers to living in the diaspora - and we'll explore how it manifests in your life and culture!
*This is for both English and Arabic speakers. The workshop will be run in English.
Run in collaboration with Culture Mocktail
Tour & workshop | 23 Nov; 2pm | Tower Hamlets Cemetery
An insightful trek through Tower Hamlets Cemetery to learn about the histories of people of colour, gender diverse people, and working class people of East London, which will be followed by an interactive workshop.
We will think about how we can leave living memories in our public spaces. The workshop will unpack material from local archives revealing the histories of marginalised communities, asking participants - how can local, diverse communities leave their mark as neighbourhoods rapidly change? Guided by prompts, we will create ‘living monuments’ with ethically foraged materials.
This is an interactive and insightful workshop for all ages where we will explore the relationship between local history and our natural environment.
In collaboration with Chromatic Agency
Film + Q&A | 23 Nov; 4.30pm | Institute of Contemporary Arts
Disconsolate Ivorian bride Aya abandons her groom at their wedding, then promptly moves to the Chinese city of Guangzhou where she finds work in a tea shop owned by a divorced trader. He mentors her in the art of tea connoisseurship and, gradually, they fall in love. In doing so, they are confronted with the complexities of cultural assimilation. Can their affair survive the turmoil of their pasts and other people’s prejudices?
Sissako’s film, in a clear nod to Wong Kar Wai, reveals a narrative of aspirational migration across the rarely addressed axis of Asia and Africa, offering an evocative and insightful perspective on interconnectedness.
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako | Length: 1h 50m