1h 31m

Directed by: Edward Lovelace

Lawand is a young Kurdish boy, deaf since birth. At five years old his future in Iraq looks destined to be limited and lonely. In desperate search of a better life in a world where he can communicate, his family decide to leave their home. After a treacherous journey and a year in a refugee camp, the help of a deaf volunteer brings them to Derby where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf.

As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic and inquisitive boy, who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself. But just as Lawand is joyfully finding his place in the world, the family face deportation from the UK.

Employing a striking lyrical and observational visual style, writer-director Edward Lovelace spent four years filming Lawand, learning British Sign Language himself. In this moving and inspiring portrait, we follow Lawand’s evolution from extreme isolation to becoming able to be his true self. This is a story about the strength that language gives us, whatever form it takes, and of the power of friendship and community.

Name Me Lawand is a Pulse Films production with support from BFI Doc Society Fund (awarding National Lottery funding) and Electric Shadow Company. 

The screening on Sunday 5 Nov will be followed by a post screening Q&A with film producer Beyan Taher and Laith Elzubaidi from Counterpoint Arts about representations of displacement in films. 

This film is part of Platforma festival in collaboration with Counterpoint Arts. A feast by Cook Speak Eat with be served from 2pm – 6:30 pm with arts activity.  A comedy special starts at 7pm. 

Sunday 5 November

Thursday 9 November

Guildhall Cinema Pricing: 

We are applying a set of flat prices on all of our films* so you always know how much it'll be to experience an amazing piece of Cinema at Guildhall. You can choose from three set prices: 
  
£11 Pay It Forward 
Choosing this price enables us to maintain our Open Concession ticket price. It includes a Standard ticket as well as an additional payment that we will use to maintain our accessible tickets. 
  
£8.50 Standard 
Our Standard ticket, always £8.50. 
  
£6 Open Concession 
Not everyone can access cinema at our standard price, so we are offering an Open Concession, where you can purchase a ticket at a reduced price if you need to. No need to prove why you need a reduced price ticket. 
  
*Event Cinema and Special Film Events are priced separately.