Documentary Hub at Centrala

Join us at Centrala for a day of documentary, food and culture!

We’ll be showing documentaries submitted to Forward from all over the world, as well as debuting the short documentaries created as part of Viewfinder’s Then & Now project.

Then & Now is a project that has funded seven short documentaries celebrating diversity in Birmingham by spotlighting community stories. Each of the documentaries will have an accompanying activity, food or entertainment.

Screenings: 

Rise of the Mixy

A bold and moving documentary that traces the rise of Britain’s Desi Pubs, a symbol of cultural fusion and quiet revolution.

Born from struggle, shaped by resistance, and seasoned with heritage, this film uncovers how a marginalised community turned centuries-old institutions into vibrant spaces of belonging.

They faced racism, riots, and rejection.
And yet, they built something extraordinary.

Prisoner in MY Mind (South Africa)

Richard Motasi was a policeman based in Hammanskraal Police Station. The Northern Transvaal Security Police compiled a file on him which suggested that he was an ANC agent giving sensitive information over to the ANC. During the TRC Amnesty hearings it came out that there was an order to eliminate Richard as he was a threat to the Security Branch and the Government of the day.
On the 1st of December 1987 a security police hit squad went to their home. Both Richard and his wife, Irene were executed. Five year old Tshidiso was in the home at the time, miraculously survived by hiding in a cupboard.
Today, married with two children, 41 year old Tshidiso tries his best to shield them from the trauma he experienced, but every now and then he feels like a prisoner in his own mind.

Dion and the Unicorn
Filmed during preparations for Dion Kitson’s first solo show at Ikon last year, this documentary captures the Dudley art prankster in full flow – revisiting his childhood bedroom, slashing trampolines and discovering the face of Thatcher on an ironing board.

Stronger on the Field

This documentary explores men’s mental health challenges and the stigma surrounding them from seeking help. It highlights how sports communities help and encourage open discussions about these issues.

21st Century Monastery

Amid the wreckage of addiction and lost hope, a radical rehab offers the last chance for redemption—where faith, labor, and sheer willpower decide who gets to reclaim their life.

City of Cars

A short film born out of fear and frustration, it documents the situation in early summer 2023, when a series of horrific road traffic collisions shocked the city of Birmingham and the community reaction 

Sikh-ing Faith

A film by David Kukadia

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