*All screenings will feature Descriptive Subtitles.

*The screening on July 9th will be followed by a Q&A with director Edward Lovelace and will be supported by a BSL interpreter from Sign For All.

Edward Lovelace’s inspirational and moving documentary follows Lawand, a young Kurdishboy who is deaf since birth. He and his family move from Kurdistan to Derby in desperate search of a better life in a world where Lawand can communicate.

The Garden Cinema View:

Name Me Lawand opens with a Kurdish family migrating to the UK seeking a brighter future for their profoundly deaf son. Remarkably, Lawand's parents discourage him from learning Sign Language, insisting he communicates as a non-deaf person, which deepens his sense of isolation. Seeing Lawand transform from a withdrawn and lonely to a confident individual after learning BSL and connecting to the D/ deaf community is a rewarding experience. It's also heartwarming to witness the immigrant family gradually embracing BSL and be actively supported by the Derby community against deportation.  

What initially feels like an ableist melancholic storyline slowly unfolds into one of empowerment and liberation, as Lawand and his family navigate the challenges of migration whilst discovering the power of communication. A truly empowering documentary, this is a must-see.