Exhale is excited to be partnering with Take One Action for their ‘Real Utopias’ film festival this year. This screening was curated by a group from Exhale’s community as part of Take One Actions grassroots programming strand.

Join us on 28th Sept at GMAC Film for a day of food, film and discussion!*

The films that will be showing
The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing

When Scotland-based Palestinian filmmaker Theo Panagopoulos stumbled upon archival footage of Palestinian wildflowers in The National Library of Scotland, he decided to digitise it. Panagopoulos describes the resulting short film as an “intervention of the original footage”, as he weaves the tenderness and sincerity of his own reality into the colonial representation of his ancestral homeland. Hauntingly beautiful sounds of the ney (an ancient Arabic flute) backdrop the tensions implicit throughout the film – between memory and longing; gratitude and grief; beauty and violence – as we are left pondering what it means to archive entanglements between people and land.

ASOG
In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, TV Host-turned-teacher Jaya leaves their job and unsupportive boyfriend to pursue their passion for drag in hopes of winning the “Ms. Gay Sicogon” Pageant. Before leaving, they run into their former student, Arnel, heading in the same direction in hopes of finding his father. Banding together, the unlikely duo’s difficult yet cathartic journey is marked by a series of encounters with victims of the recent environmental devastation.

After the films, there will be an opportunity to reflect and discuss the themes covered including social and environmental issues such as queer rights and anti-imperialism. This will be facilitated by local community organisers whose work reflects the themes of the films. This event is for Queer BPoC+ and allies. Food and refreshments will be provided.

*Note this event is open to everyone, not just QBPoC+
Book here https://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/event/asog-glasgow/