Home / Arts and Entertainment / Glasgow Residents Halt Immigration Raid, Inspire Global Film
Glasgow Residents Halt Immigration Raid, Inspire Global Film
26 May
Summary
- Residents of Kenmure Street successfully prevented an immigration raid.
- A documentary about the event won a Special Jury Award at Sundance.
- Emma Thompson voices the mysterious 'Van Man' in the film.
In May 2021, Glasgow residents on Kenmure Street intervened to stop a UK Home Office immigration raid. They surrounded a van, preventing agents from detaining two Sikh men. This act of civil resistance, spearheaded by a mysterious figure known as "Van Man," became the subject of the documentary film 'Everybody to Kenmure Street.'
The film recently garnered a Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance at the Sundance Film Festival. Director Felipe Bustos Sierra, who lived in Glasgow during the incident, discussed the film's journey, including its screenings at various international festivals and its upcoming shows in Sydney. Emma Thompson not only executive produced the film but also voiced "Van Man."
Bustos Sierra, whose parents were exiled from Chile, highlights Glasgow's history as a diverse city with a strong tradition of community support, making it a significant location for such an event. The film, which opened theatrically in New York on May 22, 2024, aims to shed light on immigrant rights and government actions.
