99 minutes / Color
English / English subtitles
Closed Captioned
Release: 2026
Copyright: 2026
“You couldn’t have actually done anything that was conceivably as provocative as to launch a Home Office eviction, on the day of Eid, in Scotland’s most diverse community.” — Kenmure Street resident
May 13, 2021. A van marked “Immigration Enforcement” pulls up on a quiet street in Glasgow. In a “dawn raid,” two Sikh men, long-standing residents, are arrested for alleged immigration violations and face deportation. Word of the raid goes out almost immediately, and students, neighbors, members of the local mosque and others — rush to the area in response. One man forces his way under the van to prevent it from leaving. Others put their bodies on the line too, laying down their bicycles and sitting in the street. Dozens, hundreds, and then thousands of people pour in, filming, chanting, and blockading the van in solidarity.
From executive producer Emma Thompson and director Felipe Bustos Sierra, EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET chronicles the events of May 13 through interviews with people who were there, and using footage shot throughout the day. Told from multiple viewpoints, the film captures the chaos and confusion — but also a sense of joy, celebration, and the power of community. The mosque opens its doors for people who need a washroom. Supporters turn up, passing around pizzas, water, and snacks. Parents and children are out in the street together.
Thompson herself appears in the film, re-creating the role of the so-called Van Man, and Bustos Sierra places the events of the day in the broader context of centuries of labor activism and direct action by the people of Glasgow.
EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET tells a remarkable story of resistance, community care, and the power of everyday people coming together to fight injustice.
“A film telling the story of “one of Scotland’s most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory” deserves a title full of urgency. And documentary maker Felipe Bustos Sierra found one: Everybody to Kenmure Street.” —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter
“A vital and inspiring portrait of spontaneous collective action.” —IndieWire
“A spirited and imperative portrait… a crucial documentary.” —RogerEbert.com
“In the age of ICE and MAGA, and the Trump-inspired nationalist movements in the UK, it’s an amazing story of a community triumph... a morale-boosting film.” —Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A vivid portrait of a neighbourhood that refused to remain passive.” —Keith McEvoy, ComicBuzz.com
Select Accolades
This creative documentary shows real-life characters recreating protest movements from Hong Kong's modern history.
Chan Tze Woon | 2022 | 98 minutes | Color | Yue Chinese (Cantonese); Mandarin; English | English subtitles
A galvanizing examination of the fight for free college education that burst onto the South African political landscape and quickly escalated into a violent national movement.
Rehad Desai | 2019 | 85 minutes | Color | English | Closed Captioned
A riveting story about the student strike that changed the face of higher education forever. 74-minute version.
Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss | 2023 | 74 minutes | Color | English | Closed Captioned
A sweeping look at the big political events of recent years that signify the end of an era in South Africa.
Rehad Desai and Jabulani Mzozo | 2017 | 77 minutes | Color | English | English subtitles | Closed Captioned
An explosive social revolution brought 1.5 million Chileans to their feet. It was the event Patricio Guzmán had been waiting for.
Patricio Guzmán | 2022 | 83 minutes | Color | Spanish | English subtitles
Shot in Paris in 1973, this feminist film on the fight for abortion rights is both a fascinating historical document, and a reminder of the critical importance of civil disobedience.
Charles Belmont and Marielle Issartel | 2024 | 89 minutes | French | English subtitles
