Hostile
Feature-length documentary focusing on the UK’s complicated relationship with its migrant communities.
To conclude our programme of events as part of Solent Sanctuary Week 2023, we are pleased to welcome Director Sonita Gale and her award-winning feature length documentary 'Hostile' to Solent University for the very first time.
This year marks the 10th anniversary since the Home Office began using the term ‘hostile environment’ to describe its approach to tackling immigration. Hostile tells the stories of those most affected by the policies adopted to make the UK a hostile environment for immigrants.
Hostile is a BAFTA and BIFA Longlisted feature-length documentary written, produced, and directed by Sonita Gale, focusing on the UK's complicated relationship with its migrant communities. Told through the stories of four participants from Black and Asian backgrounds, the film focuses on the impact of the evolving 'hostile environment' policies that target migrants, including No Recourse to Public Funds which is forcing people into destitution.
The film explores how the lives of international students, members of the Windrush generation and 'Highly Skilled Migrants' have been affected. The film features music from award-winning musicians Nitin Sawhney and spoken word from George the Poet. Nitin Sawhney also served as an Executive Producer.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director Sonita Gale.
About the Director
Sonita Gale is a British Asian writer, producer, and director. Elevating the stories of migrants and marginalised communities is at the forefront of her work.
‘Hostile’ was Sonita’s debut feature documentary as director and was selected for a number of international film festivals, debuting at the Raindance Film Festival in 2021.
Since then, Hostile was a finalist in the 2022 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (in the ‘Supreme Award’ and ‘Best Director – International’ categories) and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2022 British Urban Film Festival. The film won Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 South London Film Festival, at Filmocracy Fest 2022 and the Roxbury International Film Festival 2022.