Refugee movie shows at festival

Edinburgh's refugee community was directly engaged in the making of the film

A "raw-edged and passionate" portrait of the lives of Edinburgh's refugee community has its premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

"Trouble Sleeping" was shot in the capital and is artistic director Robert Rae's first feature film.

He wrote the script with long time collaborator Ghazi Hussein and a team of writers with direct experience of the issues facing refugees in Scotland.

The film was co-produced by Edinburgh's

Theatre Workshop and Makar Productions.

Rae said: "We gathered stories from Edinburgh's refugee community and the great majority of the principal cast are first-time actors."

Earlier this year the film won best new work at BAFTA Scotland's New Talent Awards.

Advertisement

Extracts from the film and interviews with some of the actors

Festival director, Hannah McGill, described it as "raw-edged and passionate."

She continued: "The first feature from Theatre Workshop burns with relevance.

"It's inspiring provocative stuff."

The film looks at what happens to a fragile community when secrets come to light.

Rae said it had been created in a "careful and respectful way".

He added: "It is able to offer a sometimes critical but always honest insight into the lives of Middle Eastern refugees living in Scotland."

According to its producer, the film also "challenges public perceptions about refugees and their lives in Scotland".

"Trouble Sleeping" features performances from actors Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot and Gangs of New York) Nabil Shaban (Doctor Who) and Alison Peebles (The Acid House).