On Thursday, 26 September, the Mile End Community Project (MCP) hosted the first screening of their residency programme at BLOC, designed to showcase films that resonate with local communities and offer unique perspectives. The initiative aims to bring diverse content to the big screen that reflects current social issues while connecting with the audience in meaningful ways.
The screening featured Blockade, a film that explores the historical and social dimensions of activism, making it particularly relevant in today’s climate. This screening was made possible through a collaborative effort with Nijjor Manush, an independent group focused on educating the Bengali and Bangladeshi communities in the UK. They aimed to present a film that had never been shown in the UK, highlighting the importance of grassroots movements.
The event was a resounding success, attracting a sold-out audience eager to engage in discussion. Director Arif Yousef participated virtually, sharing that the film's message of non-violent protest was especially relevant in today's world.
MCP’s efforts have been pivotal in fostering a platform for the screening of diverse community curated stories. Co founder Nurull Islam said:
'For many attendees, it was their first visit to BLOC, and they were pleasantly surprised by the space, noting that they were unaware of its existence until now. Overall, the screening was a huge success. It brought together a diverse audience, sparked important conversations, and provided a unique platform for a film that hadn’t previously reached UK audiences.'
Tanim Abedin from Nijjor Manush said:
'This film is made by an independent director and not backed by any large corporation. The role of MCP has been really important in helping to get this important recollection of history in front of a wider audience. We found BLOC to be an amazing space for our screening. The space lent itself really well to the group discussion and interview with the director.'
The QM Centre for Creative Collaboration is proud to support this screening partnership with Mile End Community Project. This is the first of four screenings curated by MCP and their partners this year, more info on upcoming events will be shared soon.