Name Me Lawand (PG) was filmed at The Royal School For The Deaf, Derby.

QUAD in Derby has a national Premiere screening of an award-winning new release which focuses on a young Deaf boy who travels to Derby as a refugee to find a new home. Name Me Lawand was filmed in Derby, including at Royal School for the Deaf where he is currently a pupil. The special screening, taking place on Thursday 22^nd June at 6:30pm, will include a BSL interpreted Q&A with the film’s director Edward Lovelace and members of the crew. Lawand, now aged 13, will also be present. The screening is taking place as part of Refugee Week. Name Me Lawand will be released in cinemas UK-wide, including QUAD, by BFI Distribution on Friday 7th July.

Name Me Lawand is a documentary film which follows a five-year-old Lawand – profoundly Deaf since birth and unable to communicate with those around him. He wants to find a world where there are people like him and those who will understand him. Along with his family he undertakes a treacherous journey from Iraq to Derby, home of Royal School for the Deaf. This new life soon comes under threat when the family face deportation but along with members of the Derby community, they begin a new quest to fight to stay in the place they now call home. Lawand develops from being voiceless to becoming a voice representing others in the D/deaf community in a touching and inspirational coming-of-age story.

Paul Burrows, Headteacher at Royal School for the Deaf Derby added: “Communication is a beautiful gift to give and receive. With it, lives are transformed and enhanced. Someone’s true potential is realised when they are able to communicate and interact with the world around them. This is an inspiring story about a remarkable young man who initially lacked the ability to communicate effectively. However, word by word, sign by sign he has been given this gift. It is a heartbreaking story at times, but ultimately an uplifting story of hardship, adversity, and challenge. Lawand’s story teaches you many things, perhaps the most poignant one being how simple yet powerful the ability to communicate with one another is.”

Name Me Lawand (PG) + Q&A screens at QUAD on Thursday 22^nd June at 6:30pm.

Edward Lovelace, the film’s Director and members of the production team will be a Q&A in QUAD following the screening.

Tickets are priced £10 or £7.50 concessions, £5 for those aged 18 to 25 years. For more information or to book tickets please see: https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/NameMeLawand

 Name Me Lawand (PG) is on general release, including at QUAD, from: 7^th July 2023. Tickets can be booked at https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/name-me-lawand-pg/

See the trailer here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GqcLq3_i8E&ab_channel=BFI

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS 

QUAD is Derby’s centre for art and film, a mixed arts venue based on the Market Place. QUAD is the city’s cultural hub with a three-screen cinema, an art gallery showing the best in contemporary visual arts, digital workshop spaces plus an award-winning Café bar. QUAD has been at the heart of Derby’s cultural scene since it opened in September in 2008 and is internationally recognised for providing quality and excellence in the Arts. QUAD delivers an exciting, innovative and diverse programme which is popular with visitors of all ages, with a reputation in Photography, digital innovation & family friendly events. The venue organises FORMAT International Photography Festival and Derby Film Festival. QUAD is a partnership between Derby City Council and Arts Council England. QUAD is open daily from 10am, for more information please visit: www.derbyquad.co.uk  http://twitter.com/derbyquad  For further information please contact QUAD’s Marketing & Audience Development Manager, Kathy Wilson on 01332 285422 / kathyw@derbyquad.co.uk

Royal School for the Deaf Derby (RSDD) is a non-maintained day and residential special school with a nationwide catchment area.  There are approximately 110 children and young people on roll aged between 3 and 19.  All of the pupils have Education and Health Care Plans for hearing impairment. RSDD prides itself on being a warm and inclusive environment which provides both day and week-long residential places for deaf children and young people.  Language is developed using the child’s preferred method of communication.  We are proudly bilingual and promote the use of BSL and English equally to fulfil their potential both academically and socially. Children and young people are listened to, can express their views and are understood.  The broad range of national curriculum subjects offered is delivered using an individualised approach tailored to the language profiles of each child.  The in-house Audiologist and in-house Speech and Language Therapy team who specialise in working with deaf children, provide expert support. Royal School for the Deaf Derby, 180 Ashbourne Road, Derby DE22 3BH,  01332 362512  www.rsdd.org.uk  Registered Charity No. 1062507 Patron: Duke of Devonshire, KCVO, CBE, DL        Headteacher: Paul Burrows

NAME ME LAWAND (PG) 2022 / 91 mins / UK / UK release date: 7 July 2023

Cinemas listed here: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/name-me-lawand

With Lawand Hamad Amin and Rawa Hamad Amin. Released by BFI Distribution. Written and directed by Edward Lovelace. Produced by Fleur Nieddu Lovelace, Sam Arnold, Beyan Taher, Neil Andrews, Marisa Clifford and Edward Lovelace

About BFI Distribution BFI Distribution brings a broad range of films into UK-wide cinemas, from classics and important world cinema titles to exciting contemporary British and European films. From iconic classics like A Clockwork Orange, Singin’ In The Rain and Midnight Cowboy, world cinema classics such as La Dolce Vita, The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, Seven Samurai, The 400 Blows and La Haine, past British films like Distant Voices, Still Lives, Maurice and Naked, to contemporary independent new releases, including the BAFTA-winning Bait, Little Joe, Varda By Agnes, Lynn + Lucy, Mogul Mowgli, County Lines, the BAFTA-winning After Love, All My Friends Hate Me, Enys Men, the Oscar-nominated EO and God’s Creatures, BFI Distribution regularly provides programmers and audiences with an eclectic and engaging slate of releases. Films frequently include restored masterpieces (many by the BFI National Archive) previously unavailable for theatrical screenings, such as The Epic Of Everest, Napoleon and SOUTH, and touring packages from directors such as Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and François Truffaut, enabling regional venues to programme director-focused seasons themselves.