We have started a new and fascinating project dealing with the river gypsies ( Bede people) of Bangladesh. We have filmed this marginalised and stigmatised group in urban centers and remote parts of Bangladesh. Our thanks go to Mr AKM Maksud of Grambangla Unnayan Committee and to Father Renato Rosso for the insights we received.

A brief trip to South Africa. We interviewed several people – amongst them Ahmed Kathrada who spent 26 years in prison. With Marikana in the background, this was a trip where we encountered much disillusionment amongst all and sundry. We also created a mural of Ruth First in Soweto.

Saw the Six Oranges team in Sicily, Lampedusa and Malta. We were filming for our doc on Italian immigration. Incredibly, the day after our arrival in Lampedusa we saw boat landings from Libya. They came in a very precarious rubber craft which set sail from Libya packed with migrants. The next day we interviewed fishermen who had rescued migrants from the sea the night before. In Malta we filmed in Safi detention centre where unexpectedly we came across Bangladeshi workers.  After detention for many months, indeed upto 18 months, detainees are released into open camps. We filmed in Hal Far open camp. We also talked to interior Minister Bonnici and the Jesuit Refugee Service.

This is a review of our activities in 2011. This year we filmed in France, Poland, Italy and the USA. Thank you to all our interviewees for taking the time to share your stories and expressing your views. In 2011, we were fortunate to have the assistance of ( in chronological order) Sharon Ashbourn, Tabby Booth and Angelica Riccardi. Without their help our programme of work would have been much less interesting. Thanks also to Luz Salcedo who was our editor. Michael RJ Rushmore, aka Vandalog, also worked on a project with us ( watch this space…!)   Click the image to be taken to the site.

Our short film “Street Art Collides with Reality” is part of the Official Selection for the 2011 Rushes Soho Shorts film festival. The film shows three street artists – Ben Slow, Joseph Loughborough and Joe Deane – painting in the east end of London. Their painting of a destitute woman and child ( Ma o Shishu) is sadly echoed by what we discover behind the facade of the building….The film will be screened at the ICA on 23rd July 2011.

2010 was a challenging year with a variety of projects involving trips to Bangladesh, South Africa , France and Brazil. We have made a summary page of our activities HERE. We also changed offices three times and we are now happily ensconced ( for the time being!) in Hanbury Street, off Brick Lane. Come and visit!