(DON’T) panic! AT REFUGEE WEEK

As part of Refugee Week, there will be a night of short films written/directed by filmmakers from refugee backgrounds at the Southbank Centre, and one of those films is the worst kept secret of all time: a short film I wrote and directed called ‘panic!’

It stars our very own Nadia Nadif and Safia Lamrani, and I can’t stress enough how phenomenal they are in it. I’ve showed it to countless people who have just attacked me with praise for their performances. I’m so ridiculously in awe of the way they took on the roles and made them their own- it would’ve been an entirely different film without them.

The amazing Agatha Ezzedine (and her production company Qalbi Productions) was one of our producers and without her I honestly don’t think the film would be anywhere near as amazing as it is without her and all the amazing people she recruited to the team!

And Aya Zabadne who was amazing as part of the production team every step of the way! (And low-key saved a vital shot from being ruined in the last few minutes of shooting haha).

There are countless other people in this group that helped in hundreds of different ways (some of whom you’ll see in the credits!) and soooo many people here who were kind enough to offer feedback and notes along the way.

Southbank Centre 25th June. 300 seater. 100 have already been sold. 4 other brilliant short films. (One of them from BAFTA-award winning Syrian director Hassan Akkad!). A group Q&A hosted by the wonderful Sarah Agha afterwards. What more could you ask for?

Tickets on sale here.