Southside Open Air Cinema Day brings together three powerful screenings exploring climate displacement, exile, memory and collective resistance. Taking place across one full day at Queen’s Park Arena in Glasgow Southside, the programme moves from planetary crisis to intimate lived experience before culminating in a special outdoor screening of Everybody to Kenmure Street, returning the film to the neighbourhood where the events unfolded.
Opening the day is Black Water by Natxo Leuza (12:30pm-3:00pm), presented in collaboration with the Scottish Documentary Institute. The film examines the growing crisis of climate displacement in Bangladesh, where rising sea levels threaten to displace millions and reshape entire communities.
The programme then moves into Routes & Returns (3:30-5:30pm), a Refugee Festival Scotland curated shorts programme bringing together works by Bircan Birol, Razan Madhoon, Huss Al-Chokhdar and Madi Awadallah. Across these films, memory, queerness, longing and migration unfold through personal and poetic forms, exploring what it means to negotiate belonging while carrying the fragments of home.
The day concludes with Everybody to Kenmure Street by Felipe Bustos Sierra (6:00pm-9:30pm). Set against the events of the Kenmure Street immigration raid in Glasgow Southside, the film documents the collective action that stopped two men from being detained by the Home Office. Screening the film close to where the events took place transforms the evening into a community gathering rooted in remembrance, solidarity and celebration. The screening will be introduced by Sabir Zazai (CEO of Scottish Refugee Council), followed by a special panel discussion with Felipe Bustos Sierra, Aamer Anwar, Tabassum Niamat and Mohammad Asif.
Together, the programme traces a journey through global crisis, lived displacement and public solidarity, creating a shared civic space for reflection, conversation and collective gathering in the heart of Glasgow Southside
Image Credit: Still from Everybody to Kenmure Street, Dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra
Curated by Huss Al-Chokhdar
Supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery.
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Pre-event information for attendees:
• Young people and children under 18 are not permitted on site without a parent, guardian, or responsible adult accompanying them at all times. There is a maximum ratio of 1 adult to 2 children.
• All tickets must be purchased by someone aged 18 or over. All under 18s must attend with a responsible adult. Please note that tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded.
• As this is an unlicensed event with no food vendors onsite, guests are welcome to bring their own snacks and soft drinks. However, alcohol, glass bottles, large picnics, and hot meals are not permitted.
• Free drinking water will be available onsite throughout the event.
• Water bottles are permitted, but they must be emptied before entry and can be refilled at the onsite water station.
• We strongly recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to avoid queues at the entrance and missing the beginning of the film.
• Foldable chairs are permitted.
• Dogs are not permitted within the amphitheatre space due to loud music, crowd noise, and sudden sounds during screenings which may distress animals. This policy follows recommendations from the PDSA regarding pets at loud public events. Assistance and guide dogs are exempt from this policy.
• No vehicles are permitted within the event site.
Travelling to the venue:
On Foot
Queen’s Park is in the heart of Glasgow’s Southside. Set within the park, Queen’s Park Arena is best accessed via the entrances on Pollokshaws Road, Balvicar Street or Victoria Road. There are further access points to the park on Langside Avenue and Langside Road.
By Car
Parking is very restricted in and around the Queen’s Park area, we strongly advise travelling by bicycle, foot or by one of the public transport options outlined below.
By Bike
Set within the park, Queen’s Park Arena is best accessed via the entrances on Pollokshaws There is a Nextbike Glasgow bike station at the Pollokshaws Road entrance to the Queen’s Park. There are a further 43 locations city-wide, with bikes being available for hire 24/7.
By Train
Queen’s Park Station is the closest station to Queen’s Park Arena. Trains run direct from Central Station to Queen’s Park Station with travel time being under 10 minutes.
By Bus Buses from the City Centre directly to Victoria Road can be accessed via routes 4, 4A, 5 and 6. Routes 57, 57a & 38e drop off at Shawlands. Services 4a, 38a & the 57 & 57a link the West End to the Southside.
