Rats That Eat Men film screening and Q&A

Isobel Mascarenhas-Whitman (filmmaker), Edwin Sesange (Out and Proud Diamond Group) and Anna-Maria Nabirye

‘Rats That Eat Men,’ a short film about a gay, Ugandan physiotherapist and a young, Polish labourer who discover they're squatting in the same dilapidated London townhouse. The directorial debut by Isobel Mascarenhas-Whitman, stars Joseph Olivennes as labourer Alojzy and Anna Maria Nabirye as Ritah. Unaware of each other's presence Ritah is squatting in the basement, on the run from a marriage of convenience which has gone wrong and everyone is a potential threat. In the attic, carefree Polish labourer Alojzy is dodging calls from his mother as he surveys his new kingdom- London, paved with excitement... Their first meeting spooks both of them, but sharing a home means their stuck with each other.  Unable to escape each other's presence they warm to one another’s quirks and try their best to help each other cope with very different struggles.

The film will be introduced by panelists from the African LGBTI organisation Out and Proud Diamond Group (OPDG) and followed with a Q&A discussion.

About the Speakers

Isobel Mascarenhas-Whitman: Whilst studying Anthropology at the university of Bristol, Isobel began acting alongside her course. Moving to London she was drawn behind the scenes interning in the Literary Department at Hampstead Theatre - a first port of call for writers, before moving to a literary agent. During this period, she co-founded post-punk outfit Vile Films. In 2012 she began a research project with the Barbican’s Arts Lab, and developed research based psycho-geographically informed work in film and performance art. Training in comedy with the Soho Young Comedy Lab, she went on to participate in the Soho Young Writers Program. Isobel trained as a director under Kristine Landon Smith, creator of the Intracultural method, and under casting director Tree Petts. Freelancing for casting directors, primarily as a streetcaster, she has assisted on commercials’ projects with numerous directors, including Dom Joly, Gus Van Sant, JA Bayona and on feature films including Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016). Acting credits include Gregor (2014) and Captain Webb (2015). In 2014 Isobel set up ImageFiction Films with Sam Goldwater. Founded by Sam Goldwater and Isobel Mascarenhas-Whitman, ImageFiction Films are a London based production company with a focus on untold, highly visual stories in documentary and fiction. Previous productions include documentary, Regolith, which follows a group of teenagers in the daily trials of life on the world's largest electronic waste site – Agbogbloshie.

Edwin Sesange is a Ugandan LGBTI rights activists and Director of the African LGBTI organisation Out and Proud Diamond Group[ OPDG] – whose mission is to ensure the preservation of human dignity, freedom and justice, and the promotion of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Africa and other countries where LGBTI persons are persecuted. Edwin and his colleagues actively campaign for LGBTI rights and the repeal of anti-homosexuality laws, as well as supporting LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, Holland and France. OPDG has supported many LGBTI asylum seekers to gain refugee status. Edwin has been cross-examined in many Asylum and immigration tribunals in support of LGBTI asylum seekers in United Kingdom. Edwin has visited many centresLast year, the organisation was named no.48 by G-List Society honouring the most influential black LGBTI individuals and organisations in the world. Edwin [and his colleague Abbey Kiwanuka] appeared at no.25 on the 2015 Rainbow List [of the most influential LGBTI people in the UK]. Edwin also made it onto the 2015 World Pride Power list, QX Magazine Unsung heroes 2015 and has been a Positive Role Model nominee in the National Diversity Awards for the past two years. OPDG has organised many campaigns to challenge homophobia, transphobia and other injustices towards LGBTI people, the most recent one is the Rally to call on the Anglican Primates 2016 to listen to LGBTI people. The campaign managed to get an apology from the Archbishop of Canterbury for the way the Church has treated LGBTI people in the past and present. OPDG has organised several HIV and Mental health awareness workshops for LGBTI asylum and refugees. OPDG has also authored letters to the Head of the Commonwealth, UK Prime Minister, President of Uganda among others highlighting how anti-LGBTI laws stall HIV prevention. http://opdg.org

Anna-Maria Nabirye: Selected film includes The Keeping Room (Gilbert Films), The Briny (DNA/Film4), Deep State (Karen Mirza & Brad Butler). TV credits include Misfits & Waterloo Road. Anna-Maria is a member of The Faction core ensemble and is cast to play Buckingham in Richard III and Medea in a solo adaptation of Medea in Rep2016. Theatre credits include The Globe, Old Vic, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Soho Theatre and Grid Iron. Anna-Maria Nabirye can be seen performing in Yael Farber's Les Blancs at the National Theatre until June 2nd. http://AnnaMariaNabirye.com

Organiser: Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies

Contact email: cb92@soas.ac.uk