We were amazed and inspired to learn that not one, but two Film Festivals have taken place in the displacement camps of southern Gaza this year.

We bring you a selection of the best films screened at both festivals: Creators Despite Displacement - the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) International Film Festival marking its 7th year – and Al-Aouda Festival, in its 8th year.

With equipment frequently destroyed, many of the poignant films depicting perspectives and feelings on the current reality were shot on phones. Red carpets were rolled out among the tents and rubble.

In this Palestinian classic, the mayor of a West Bank village wants his son to adhere to Palestinian tradition in his upcoming wedding. Custom conflicts with the Israeli military curfew. Against expectations, the father gets clearance from the occupying governor. But there's a catch: the governor and his Israeli colleagues have to be on the guest list…..

After-film discussion with Fred Coker, founder member of the Workers’ Film Association in 1974, who has carefully kept the original reels of the film.

Michel Khleifi, Palestine, Belgium, France, 1987 1hr 40mins

With international reporters locked out, Palestinian journalists have made huge sacrifices to keep the world informed of the genocide in Gaza. More media workers have been killed by Israel since October 7 than in any other conflict in modern history.

Using film, presentation and discussion, Palestinian journalists Juman Quneis and Ahmed Alnaouq will tell us about the crucial work that journalists do in Gaza and the West Bank to keep the world informed of the unprecedented killing and destruction.

Before it evolved into a series of outrageous spy capers, Fast & Furious actually began life as something very different. The first films in the franchise were mid-budget crime pictures set within the world of underground street racing, and they featured a cast of relative unknowns. This Film School Day will be a crash course in the unusual origins of Fast & Furious.

Hoolan Ensemble is a recently formed collective of musicians and composers dedicated to performing innovative and unusual contemporary music, and to collaborating with other art forms. Join them for an electrifying evening of live music and film inspired by the forgotten artistic achievements of women in early cinema.

Community in Unity, local LGBTQ+ groups and support organisations together to promote their events and activities as the city comes together to mark Hate Crime Awareness Week 2024 - drop by and say hello, find out what's available and make new friends in Leeds.

#LGBTInclusiveLeeds #LeedsLovesDiversity

If you're interested in joining us for this event, or the Queer Sports Festival 2025 please email Dean to express an interest at events@angelsoffreedom.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you at the next Leeds Inclusive Employer Network event where we'll be hearing from Jamie Jones Buchanon, Andrew and Jennie from Leeds Carers and the DWP Access to Work team to find out about free support in the workplace.

Our host for the event, Answer Digital's office is situated approximately 10 minutes walk from the back exit of Leeds City Station, towards and past Bridgewater Place. Parking is available. Please see their website for further information.

We are thrilled to announce Nubian Noire's joint collaboration with The National Archive - the largest archive in the United Kingdom, official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales.

Do you live in the Leeds 7, 8, and 9 areas of Leeds?  Are you passionate about Black History Studies?  Would you like to learn and expand your knowledge whilst gaining new skills? 

If this sounds like you... great! 

Investigate how Black women carved out their own place in the action hero film genre.

Black women have a unique representative journey in film. Travelling from the servitude of 1915’s The Birth Of A Nation (Dir. D.W. Griffiths), through to the ‘bad mamma’ icons of the Blaxploitation genre, landing on today’s images that fulfil at least some of the archetypes of the action, superhero characteristics.

Theme - Community

This month, our photo social will focus on the theme of community and will be hosted by photographer, and Take It Easy team member, Hannah Platt.

Taking inspiration from the latest exhibition by Hyde Park Art Club - 'Is This What We Have Left?’, we want to explore how photography can be used to document a community, create a sense of belonging, and showcase it's heritage.