Trio of film events about 'female disruptors'

A scene from Origin, which is showing at Folkestone's Silver Screen Cinema

Three special film events with powerful messages about race and racism will take place in Folkestone in April.

Organised independently of one another, they showcase the work of "three powerful female disruptors".

Writer Gabriella Apicella, who co-organised one of the events, said the fact that three separate film events were taking place in April proves the community is "thriving".

She said: "One of the things I have found since living in Folkestone is there is a naturally diverse, bustling community."

Ellen E Jones is author of Screen Deep: How film and TV can solve racism and save the world

The first event is a screening of a documentary about iconic artist Frida Kahlo at the Folkestone Silver Screen Cinema, followed by a Q&A with the director Carla Gutierrez.

Part of the Doc Club's monthly documentary club, the "intimately raw and magical journey" will be screened on 17 April at 19:30 BST.

Next up is BBC Radio 4’s Ellen E Jones, who will be talking about her book, Screen Deep: How film and TV can solve racism and save the world.

The journalist will be in conversation with vintage film shop Paradiso owner Stephen Blakemore at the Folkestone Bookshop on 19 April at 18:00 BST.

The final event, organised by writer Gabriella Apicella and Screen South, is a screening of Ava DuVernay's highly praised film Origin, which delves into American racism.

It follows the journey of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson as she writes the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents and will be shown at Silver Screen Cinema on 21 April at 15:00 BST.

Gabriella said she was compelled to bring Origin to town because "everyone needs to see it".

She said: "I had the good fortune to see Origin in December 2023 and have simply not been able to stop thinking about it since.

"Ava DuVernay has created this astonishing bit of work that can actually galvanise people into looking at things differently.

"The natural link between all these events is they are all the work of three disrupters - three highly intelligent women who say 'no, it's not got to be this way' - and they are doing it!"