Dajori
Martin Páv, Nicolas Kourek
Czech Republic ● 2024 ● 87’
11.10.2025 ● 17:00 ● BABYLON
Czech + EN subs
The protagonist of Dajori (mother in Romani) is forty-five-year-old Marie Hučková, who lives with her husband in Varnsdorf. After her younger sister Iveta ends up on the streets with her nine children, she decides to take her own fate and theirs firmly into her own hands and attempts to break out of the vicious circle of poverty that characterises their hometown. This sensitive film, which captures three years of a newly formed family's life together, follows the small joys and daily challenges of caring for others and asks whether a mother's love can overcome the dysfunctional system in which socially excluded localities find themselves.
Director: Martin Páv, Nicolas Kourek; Sound Design: Anna Žihlová; Color Grading: Petr Simo; Cast: Adam Šuniar, Michal Zachenský, Dominik Vetrák; Executive producer: Julie Žáčková
Missed Lives – The Dom People
Mehmet Kuyumcu
Türkye ● 2024 ● 40’
10.10.2025 ● 18:00 ● BABYLON
Turkish, Domari + EN subs
Missed Lives – The Dom People documents the everyday life of Dom, Abdal and Romani families in Antakya, Türkiye. Without a script or staging, the film follows their struggles with deep poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination. Starting as a photography project, it evolved into a documentary that was interrupted by the devastating 2023 earthquake. Many of the recorded materials were lost, yet with rescued footage and new filming after the disaster, the work continued. The result is a deeply personal and collective testimony about survival, erased cultural memory, and increasing rights violations against one of Türkiye’s most marginalized communities.
Director: Mehmet Kuyumcu, Cinematography: Ferman Erol, Editing: Ferman Erol, Ozan Çağlar, Sound Hasan Hıddır (Domari song) Music Traditional Dom music, Narration & Sociology Consulting / Research & Content Development: Aytaç Kayacık, Consultants Erkan Karabulut, Imre Azem, Hemra Nida Köse English Translation Tuba Akın, Newal Beğik, Domari Translation Hatice Kuyumcu, Cast Dom, Abdal and Romani families of Antakya, Production Ali İsmail Korkmaz, Foundation & Truth Justice Memory Center
Director: Mehmet Kuyumcu, Cinematography: Ferman Erol, Editing: Ferman Erol, Ozan Çağlar, Sound Hasan Hıddır (Domari song) Music Traditional Dom music, Narration & Sociology Consulting / Research & Content Development: Aytaç Kayacık, Consultants Erkan Karabulut, Imre Azem, Hemra Nida Köse English Translation Tuba Akın, Newal Beğik, Domari Translation Hatice Kuyumcu, Cast Dom, Abdal and Romani families of Antakya, Production Ali İsmail Korkmaz, Foundation & Truth Justice Memory Center
That Boy
Toby Gorniak
UK ● 2025 ● 42’
10.10.2025 ● 18:00 ● BABYLON
English
The film captures an extraordinary encounter between Toby Gorniak MBE, a Roma activist and refugee who fled Poland in the early 1990s after attacks by neo-Nazi skinheads, and Mirek, a former neo-Nazi and football, now born-again Christian. Their conversation explores the roots of hate, its consequences, and the fragile possibilities of reconciliation. While rooted in Toby’s lived experience of persecution and resilience, the film also traces Mirek’s transformation from a life of hate and violence to becoming an advocate against extremism. His testimony provides unique insights into the psychology of extremism and the potential for redemption. By bringing together victims and former oppressor, the film examines the healing potential of restorative justice in cases of hate crimes and violent racism. Through raw storytelling and compelling testimonies, the film reveals how personal transformation, and honest dialogue can become powerful tools for fostering understanding and challenging hatred.
Director: Toby Gorniak; Film Concept Michał P. Garapich; Executive Producers: Toby Gorniak MBE, Michał P. Garapich, Video Production: New Vandal Media, Academic Supervision: Anna Jochymek, Rafal Soborski, Michał P. Garapich Funding & Academic Support Economic and Social Research Council, London Metropolitan University Consultation Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Faith Matters
Director: Toby Gorniak; Film Concept Michał P. Garapich; Executive Producers: Toby Gorniak MBE, Michał P. Garapich, Video Production: New Vandal Media, Academic Supervision: Anna Jochymek, Rafal Soborski, Michał P. Garapich Funding & Academic Support Economic and Social Research Council, London Metropolitan University Consultation Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Faith Matters
El Regalo /
The Gift
Lara Izagirre Garizurieta
Spain ● 2025 ● 14’
10.10.2025 ● 20:00 ● BABYLON
Spanish + EN subs
Aurora, Dessi and Samara, three nice young women with gypsy background go down to the center to buy a birthday gift for their niece Sarai. Something which seems totally normal to most people – looking at cloths in a shop – develops into an adventure with unknown outcome.
Director and screenwriter: Lara Izagirre Garizurieta; Camera: Gaizka Bourgeaud; Sound mixer: Alejandro Castrillo, Edition Maitane Carballo Costumer: Paloma Araquistain, Producers Lara Izagirre , Garizurieta Garazi, Elorza Vadillo, Script: Mikele Landa Eiguren, Music: Paula Olaz, Art direction: Izaskun Urkijo Alijo, Makeup: Rakel Blazquez Cast: Desirée Clavería Duval, Samara Jiménez Vega, Aurora Cortés Clavería
Director and screenwriter: Lara Izagirre Garizurieta; Camera: Gaizka Bourgeaud; Sound mixer: Alejandro Castrillo, Edition Maitane Carballo Costumer: Paloma Araquistain, Producers Lara Izagirre , Garizurieta Garazi, Elorza Vadillo, Script: Mikele Landa Eiguren, Music: Paula Olaz, Art direction: Izaskun Urkijo Alijo, Makeup: Rakel Blazquez Cast: Desirée Clavería Duval, Samara Jiménez Vega, Aurora Cortés Clavería
Horo Ano Boro / Dance In The Courtyard
Benjamin Menekshe
Kosovo ● 2025 ● 30’
10.10.2025 ● 20:00 ● BABYLON
Albanian / Romani + Engl ST
A documentary film that reflects on the fragmented history of a community and its cultural survival. Through intimate testimonies,
archival footage, and present-day narratives, the film portrays a story of five generations that built and carried traditions yet were often left without support to continue. It is a protest-like journey: a house without a roof, a sea without water, a history still incomplete.
Written & Directed by: Benjamin Menekshe; Mentor: Eroll Bilibani; Camera: Gjynejt Kallo; Editing: Hakan Karamuco; Narrator: Avdi Misini; Sound (Tonist): Amar Menekshe; Technical Manager: Vigan Bytyqi; Lighting Designer: Fikrim Menekshe; Production: [Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo + partners Dokufest, Kino Lumbardhi, Radio Romano Avazo, Teatri Bekim Fehmiu]
archival footage, and present-day narratives, the film portrays a story of five generations that built and carried traditions yet were often left without support to continue. It is a protest-like journey: a house without a roof, a sea without water, a history still incomplete.
Written & Directed by: Benjamin Menekshe; Mentor: Eroll Bilibani; Camera: Gjynejt Kallo; Editing: Hakan Karamuco; Narrator: Avdi Misini; Sound (Tonist): Amar Menekshe; Technical Manager: Vigan Bytyqi; Lighting Designer: Fikrim Menekshe; Production: [Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo + partners Dokufest, Kino Lumbardhi, Radio Romano Avazo, Teatri Bekim Fehmiu]
Let's Call It Love
Sejad Ademaj
Germany ● 2024 ● 8’
10.10.2025 ● 20:00 ● BABYLON
German + EN subs
When love falls apart, what remains? Caught in a storm of emotions, Rebecca and Paul must face their new reality as their masks slowly slip away.
Director: Sejad Ademaj, Screenplay: Sofie Hirschmüller, DoP, Editing: Katarína Gramatová; Sound Design: Anna Žihlová; Color Grading: Petr Simo Producer*innen Oumayma, Zekri Ajarrai, Sophie Ataya, Kamera: Vincent Eckert Schnitt Felix Dahm, Ton und Sounddesign, Simon Wasserfall Filmmusik: Sebastian Greim und Clemens David Krauß - Samples unterm Sofa Klarinette Anke Burkhardt, Produktion: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, La Fémis, SWR, ARTE
Director: Sejad Ademaj, Screenplay: Sofie Hirschmüller, DoP, Editing: Katarína Gramatová; Sound Design: Anna Žihlová; Color Grading: Petr Simo Producer*innen Oumayma, Zekri Ajarrai, Sophie Ataya, Kamera: Vincent Eckert Schnitt Felix Dahm, Ton und Sounddesign, Simon Wasserfall Filmmusik: Sebastian Greim und Clemens David Krauß - Samples unterm Sofa Klarinette Anke Burkhardt, Produktion: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, La Fémis, SWR, ARTE
Reaching For The Rope
Jake Bowers
UK ● 2024 ● 30’
12.10.2025 ● 20:00 ● BABYLON
English
A new investigation into the suicide epidemic among Gypsies, Roma and Travellers has revealed a hidden mental health crisis that families are struggling to cope with. The suicide rate within this community is estimated to be up to seven times higher than all other communities. The film is the first in a series of three films
investigating some of the moving stories behind the British Gypsy, Roma and Traveller suicide epidemic. Romani journalist and film producer, Jake Bowers, travelled from Kent to Cumbria during the summer of 2024 and explored the cost of poor mental health within
his community.
Writer/Director/Editing: Jake Bowers; Director of Photography: Stuart White Actors: Michael Kiersey, Stefan McCusker, Claire Bowers, Lily Bowers, Janet Ledwith, Myah Smith
investigating some of the moving stories behind the British Gypsy, Roma and Traveller suicide epidemic. Romani journalist and film producer, Jake Bowers, travelled from Kent to Cumbria during the summer of 2024 and explored the cost of poor mental health within
his community.
Writer/Director/Editing: Jake Bowers; Director of Photography: Stuart White Actors: Michael Kiersey, Stefan McCusker, Claire Bowers, Lily Bowers, Janet Ledwith, Myah Smith
The Angry Bird
Jack Lilleywhite
UK ● 2025 ● 10’
10.10.2025 ● 20:00 ● BABYLON
English
After a devastating crash, Romany racer Georgie, nick named 'The Angry Bird,' questions her future in the male-dominated car racing sport and must confront her identity to return as the only woman on track. A Travelers story entailing questions about the community and gender.
Director: Jack Lilleywhite, Writers: Jack Lilleywhite, Lisa Smith
Producers: Lisa Smith, Masha Thorpe, Supervising Producer: Georgie Yukiko Donovan, Elisabeth Hopper; DOP: Sam Finney; Sound: Tom Nott, Carla Geronimi, Editor: Hannah Jayawardene, Sophie Pollock: Composer Anna Phoebe
Director: Jack Lilleywhite, Writers: Jack Lilleywhite, Lisa Smith
Producers: Lisa Smith, Masha Thorpe, Supervising Producer: Georgie Yukiko Donovan, Elisabeth Hopper; DOP: Sam Finney; Sound: Tom Nott, Carla Geronimi, Editor: Hannah Jayawardene, Sophie Pollock: Composer Anna Phoebe