The Early Films of Yugesh Walia: Mirror Mirror + Language is the Key

Two groundbreaking films from the early career of Yugesh Walia, emerging in the early 80s as part of the independent film workshop movement.

After studying in India and travelling around Europe with his diplomat father, Yugesh Walia settled in Birmingham in the 1970s to study at the school of photography. His first film, *Mirror Mirror *(1980), is a drama about a young Punjabi woman leading a double life.

Walia went on to produce two more films as part of the Birmingham Film and Video Workshop, and then formed production company Endboard with his brother Sunandan. Their first documentary, Language is the Key (1985), was made for the Commission for Racial Equality and focusses on the importance of multilingual education. Speakers include Benjamin Zephaniah and Professor Stuart Hall.

We are delighted that Yugesh Walia will be present for the screening of these two films.

You can also watch Yugesh Walia’s ‘African Oasis’ in the Vivid Projects space as part of their Videotheque 12-5pm on 15th-17th May - no booking required. African Oasis is a documentary exploring aspects of Black and Asian culture in 80’s Britain through the former Handsworth Cultural Centre in Birmingham.

Mirror Mirror is screening from a 16mm print held at the BFI National Archive.

This event is presented in collaboration with Vivid Projects and BFI National Archive as part of a long-term project to illuminate and restore the films of the workshop movement.

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