Lebanon in the UK: Diaspora Shorts was a programme of short films by 5 (women) Lebanese filmmakers based in the UK, part of our season: New Lebanese Cinema: Reclaiming Storytelling. The season is focused on contemporary filmmaking in Lebanon which sees a new generation of directors telling authentic stories of life on the ground, eschewing as much as possible some of the constraints of European financing bodies and co-productions.
The five filmmakers discuss filmmaking in Lebanon today and what it means to be part of the diaspora.
https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/lebanon-in-the-uk-diaspora-shorts/
Info and tickets: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/season/south-asian-heritage-month-2025/
Throughout July and August, join us for an array of screenings and partnership events around South Asian Heritage Month 2025, which is themed ‘Roots to Routes.’ From Nepal to Sri Lanka, these films celebrate identity, connection, and community, as well as the power of cinema as a medium for self expression, protest, and joy.
Chris Berry is Professor of Film Studies at King’s College London, where he teaches and researches cinemas of the Sinosphere. He introduces Ann Hui’s devastating Boat People, which focuses on the experiences of refugees forced to flee their country in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Recorded on 21 April at The Garden Cinema
39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ
With director Ann Hui and Tony Rayns. Following her ‘Vietnamese Trilogy’, one of the cornerstones of the Hong Kong New Wave, Ann Hui took her career in a different direction, and began adapting literary works. The first of these was Love in a Fallen City, based on the novella by Eileen Chang, whose writing Hui had long admired and wished to bring to the screen, followed by Eighteen Springs (1997) and Love After Love (2017).
This screening was part of the Hong Kong New Wave season and was in partnership with the Chinese Cinema Project and Focus Hong Kong. Supported by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office London.
Recorded on 19 April 2025 at The Garden Cinema
39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ
With Ann Hui and Chris Berry. The Story of Woo Viet combines action, romance and character drama, and through its tale of refugees also meditates on the experiences of the Hong Kong diaspora overseas.
This screening was part of the Hong Kong New Wave season and was in partnership with the Chinese Cinema Project and Focus Hong Kong. Supported by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office London.
Recorded on 18 April 2025 at The Garden Cinema
39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ
Art director Lydia Fry and set decorator Charlotte Dirickx discuss their roles and experiences, as well as the relationship between set decoration and art direction.
Starting out as a prop designer, Lydia Fry has been working in art departments for fifteen years on some of the industry’s most acclaimed movies and franchises. Recent art direction credits include Blade Runner 2049, Cruella, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One, and Spectre.
Having trained at Goldsmiths and Kingston Art School, Charlotte Dirickx has worked as an art director in TV, and is now a set decorator for films, such as Saltburn, Hard Truths, and most recently, The Thing with Feathers.
For our regular industry panels, we invite knowledgeable speakers to discuss their specific branch of the industry, leaving plenty of time for asking questions. After the discussion, we all head into the Garden Bar, to network with fellow members.
Recorded on 23rd April 2025 at The Garden Cinema
39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ
The UK’s first full season of Lebanese cinema, celebrating the country’s new voices with Q&As, live music, Lebanese wine, and famous regional delicacies.
More information, film listings and tickets.
Fri 23 May — Thu 14 Aug 2025
Film listings and tickets