In the shadow of war, displacement and occupation, survival becomes an act of creativity and resistance.
Moving between Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and Kosovo, these intimate documentaries explore friendship, collective care, technological innovation and the courage to speak out, revealing how people transform grief and trauma into compassion, connection and hope.
Includes a post-screening discussion with Hasan Kattan, Maria Marrone and Meray Diner, chaired by Maren Ellerman, Arts, Displacement & Mental Health Producer at Counterpoints Arts.
Co-presented with:
About the Programme
Allies in Exile
dir. Hasan Kattan (United Kingdom, 2026) 39m
Scottish Premiere
For 14 years, Syrian filmmakers Hasan Kattan and Fadi Al-Halabi have journeyed together through war and storytelling. Confined inside a UK asylum hotel, they document a new chapter, exploring friendship, displacement and how filming itself becomes an act of survival.
Themes of war and trauma, including depictions of severe violence, injury and death.
In 769 km, New York
dir. Sofiia Buhrii (Ukraine, 2025) 15m
UK Premiere
In Kyiv, a bakery employing people with mental health problems and learning disabilities provides a vital lifeline for people living under Russian occupation. Following a 769km journey from the bakery to frontline communities, this moving documentary explores purpose, resilience and collective action, highlighting how meaningful work can unite people and tackle stigma.
Themes of war.
Rendered in Light
dir. Maria Marrone (UK, 2025) 21m
Scottish Premiere
Separated from his family in Gaza, software engineer Mosab turns grief into action, building virtual reality programmes to help survivors of genocide cope with trauma. This film is an intimate portrait of resilience, exploring how compassion, kindness and creativity become tools for survival.
Themes of genocide, with references to severe violence, injury and death.
They Called Us “My Doll”
dir. Meray Diner & Dafina Daka (Kosovo, 2025) 11m
UK Premiere
During their residency in Kosovo, directors Meray Diner and Dafina Daka uncovered accounts of sexual violence used systematically as a weapon of war. Drawing on testimonies from Kosovar women, this documentary explores its hidden emotional aftermath, including shame, isolation and the cost of breaking the silence, offering a powerful portrait of resilience and collective memory.
Themes of war, trauma and sexual violence.
