Optimistic Immigrants is a multi media event run by Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell of Optimistic Productions. It builds on the themes of Eastern European exile, immigration and integration seen in their feature film in production commissioned by More 4 called How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire http://www.myvodkaempire.com. Admission includes a free shot of the premium Ukrainian Vodka – Zorokovich 1917 - ‘the spirit of revolution.’

Optimistic Immigrants explores all stories and diverse creative explorations of migration bringing together film, music, performance and discussion with a specific focus on the layered history and stories of the locality in which each event is held.

Eastern European music will accompany a series of film screenings exploring both historic and contemporary migration issues with some of the film makers and their subjects on hand to introduce and discuss their stories. The event will also include the opportunity to witness the amazing Paper Cinema and Kieron Maguire and the unique chance to sample Zorokovich 1917 – the literal spirit of Dan Edelstyn’s ancestors – the top quality Ukrainian vodka that forms the basis of his quest to re-establish a Vodka Empire! Join the Vodka Club, watch the film trailer, hear live readings from Maroussia Zorokovich’s manuscript and enter installations inspired by her romantic accounts of revolution and exile.

Music and performance throughout the evening by:

Zac Gvirtzmann and Dave Shulman

Zac is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer who currently plays with a spread of bands including The Irreverents, Mephisto Grande, Afrikbawantu, The Magic Lantern, The Gog, The Transylvaniacs, Jamie Doe & the Boomtown Swingalings, Quentin Tarantino & the Reservoir Dogs, The Gadjo Club and ZebreJebre!, covering a range of styles including Funk, Balkan Folk, Jazz, Afrobeat, Folksong and Heavy Gospel.

Dave Shulman graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in June 2005. There he studied saxophone and composition. He also studied klezmer and in addition has studied Balkan music with Dave Bitelli.

Monooka

Romanian singer, songwriter, actress, poet, puppeteer, animator and filmmaker.

The Paper Cinema & Kieron Maguire.

Like watching a film being created before your eyes, The Paper Cinema create live animation using lovingly-crafted paper puppets who inhabit surreal paper worlds. Live music by Kieron Maguire on viola and flamenco guitar.

DJ Penny Metal

Boldly playing tunes no one else dares, Penny Metal is a DJ extraordinaire! Heart warming, life affirming and really good fun, Penny’s unique and inimitable style is never limited by her love of all things Russian and Eastern European.

Programme of short films

How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire (UK | 5 min | Dir: Dan Edelstyn)

Since finding his Grandmother Maroussia Zorokovich’s vivid account of life in and escape from Russia during the 1917 Revolution Dan has been obsessed by her riches to rags story of romance and exile. In February 2008, using her lively and colourful manuscript as a guide Dan went on a quest to discover his roots in the Ukraine.

Broken Promise (UK | 20 min | Dirs: Hugh Hartford / Rosa Rogers)

Originally made for Aljazeera’s ‘People&Power’ strand, this documentary explores just how the UK Home Office immigration rules changes impact on the lives of people living and working in Great Britain.

The Referee (UK | 10 min | Dir: Mike Paterson)

Against the backdrop of the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, ‘The Referee’ tells the story of Nikolai, a Ukrainian Sunday League football referee on London’s Hackney Marshes.

Borderland (UK | 10 min | Dir: Caterina Monzani)

When Ozlem’s village in Turkish Kurdistan was bombed by the Turkish army she fled and came to London where she now lives in the predominantly Turkish area of Dalston and work in a Kurdish community centre where, she is also struggling to make some sense of her own identity.

Letters Home (UK | 12 min | Dirs: Julie Moggan / Simon Chambers)

A series of Channel 4 3 minute wonders focusing on the ‘hidden’ work carried out by immigrants in the UK.

The Battle for Cable Street (UK | 10 min | Dir: Yoav Segel)

In 1936 Oswald Mosley requested to march through the East End with his army of Blackshirts in a display fascist power. Government at the time deemed stopping the march to be an infringement of the freedom of speech. However Jews, Irish, dockworkers and Communists joined the people of the East End in a multi cultural stand against fascism and intolerance.

Blustons (UK | 10 min | Dir: Anne O’Connell)

Part of a series of films about ‘Hidden London’ this film centres on Blustons ladies wear shop on the Kentish Town Road set up by a Russian Jewish couple, sent to London by their families to escape persecution in Russia.

Children of the Ghetto (UK | 7 min | Dir: Elliot Tucker)

Tracing a section of London that between 1880 to 1940 was home to a large number of Eastern European Jews.

Also:

Sample your free shot of Zorokovich 1917 vodka, and get caught up in the spirit of revolution and become a member of the Vodka Club. Check out Film for Humanity’s project ‘Beyond Brick Lane - Bengali Reflections On Today’s East End’ screening around the space. Enter the worlds left behind - of ‘shadows in the drawing room’ and ‘a fugue composed of all the broken love songs in the world’ in installations by Hilary Powell inspired by the manuscript of Maroussia Zorokovich and her memoirs of life during the Russian Revolution and flight westwards to Northern Ireland.