Arab Film Club Returns to London: Curated by Sarah Agha for Refugee Week 2025
Actress and writer Sarah Agha is set to host a compelling evening of cinema and conversation on Sunday, 29 June 2025, as she curates the latest instalment of the Arab Film Club at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Part of this year’s Refugee Week programme under the theme “Community as Superpower”, the event promises an emotionally resonant selection of short films exploring themes of migration, displacement, and resilience. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers, hosted by Agha herself.
Blending poetic, dramatic, comedic, and sci-fi elements, the curated lineup reflects the diversity of the Arab and refugee experience. Films on the programme include:
- The Nobody (11 mins, 2024) by Razan Madhoon – A haunting story of an airport immigration officer confronted with the death of an unidentified passenger arriving from Egypt.
- The Woman in the Wardrobe (7 mins, 2024) by Ruby Phelan – An intimate portrayal of Nadiya finding refuge in a wardrobe during labour, supported by the UNFPA and the Feminist Centre for Racial Justice.
- Strange Cities Are Familiar (21 mins, 2019) by Saeed Taji Farouky – A political refugee in London attempts a painful return to Palestine to see his dying son.
- Submarine (7 mins, 2016) by Mounia Akl – Set amid Lebanon’s garbage crisis, it follows Hala, the last woman refusing to evacuate her home.
The programme highlights cinema’s power to humanise trauma and amplify stories often pushed to the margins. “It’s a celebration of how art can carry the weight of memory and resistance,” said Sarah Agha in a statement.
Presented in partnership with Counterpoints Arts, the event is recommended for ages 14+ due to references to war, death, and trauma. Tickets are available from £10.00 (+£3.50 booking fee), with limited concessions at 25% off.
Event Details:
- Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
- Sunday, 29 June 2025
- 6:30pm – Approx. 2 hours
- Tickets and further details: Southbank Centre – Arab Film Club
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