Part of the African Diaspora International Film Festival

FEATURE SCREENING: Brides

Screens with the short film Ties*

Teenage best friends Doe and Muna are heading off on what seems like the trip of a lifetime. Quiet, observant Doe hasn’t travelled since arriving in the UK as a Somali refugee at age three. Muna, sharp and fearless with Pakistani roots, leads them through airport security and into the unknown.

But this isn’t a holiday. The girls are bound for Istanbul, planning to cross into Syria to begin a new life they believe holds purpose and meaning. When their fixer fails to appear, panic sets in—but turning back isn’t an option. Alone in a foreign city, they must improvise fast, testing the limits of their courage, their faith, and their friendship.

Ties delves into the lives of three Black women in London searching for belonging, identity, and visibility. Through intimate interviews and glimpses of vibrant neighborhoods, five themes intertwine—belonging, community, heritage, representation, and sisterhood—revealing shared ties and distinct journeys.