Dundee is to host a new film festival designed to celebrate the contribution refugees make to life in Scotland.
Held at Abertay University, the Refugee Film Festival runs all week and will feature films by acclaimed directors including Ken Loach, Stephen Frears and Michael Winterbottom.
Each brings into sharp relief the harrowing circumstances that force people around the world to flee their homes and seek refuge in another country.
Behind the festival is Abertay lecturer Dr Monish Bhatia, who said: “Asylum seekers are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and the aim of the festival is not only to celebrate the contribution of refugees to our society but also to highlight the predicaments of asylum seekers and promote respect, dignity and tolerance.
“Often they are labelled as ‘bogus, welfare scroungers, illegal or boat people’ but in reality there is no such thing as a bogus refugee and such labels create an atmosphere of hate and intolerance.
“Most refugees are forced out of their home countries and some have lost their loved ones or become separated from them along the way.”
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick opened the festival.
He said: “Scotland is home to many cultures and national groups and the inauguration of a Refugee Film Festival is a timely one.”
The free screenings take place in the university’s Hannah Maclure Centre, at 5.30pm each day.
In This World will show on Wednesday, with Dirty Pretty Things on Thursday and the award- winning 2Be on Friday.