Five short films created with refugee women photographers in Bradford that share their experience of taking part in the project Putting Ourselves in the Picture, can now be viewed online.

Putting Ourselves in the Picture is a national project designed to empower women to use photography to tell stories about their own lives. As part of the project Impressions Gallery worked with eight refugee women in Bradford to develop their skills in photography.

Featuring photographers Ana, Elham, Manar, Taraneh and Vicky, the films tell us what the project has meant to them, and the stories behind some of their images. Watch as they share old family photographs and show us how light has become a symbol of hope for their future.

Receiving their public premiere in December 2022 on the Bradford Big Screen, the films were first screened to celebrate the launch of the new publication Putting Ourselves in the Picture. Published by Trolley Books (www.trolleybooks.com) this new book brings together photographs and creative writing produced by our group, alongside work created by fourteen other women working with our project partners across the UK.

The films were produced by Fast Forward in partnership with the filmmakers Laura Sims and Sarah Jeans are now available to view on our website and YouTube channel. Read more about the project here.

Putting Ourselves in the Picture is funded by the University for the Creative Arts through an ED&I (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Engagement Fellowship awarded to Anna Fox at Fast Forward by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UKRI. The partners are: Fast Forward at the University of Creative Arts, Impressions Gallery, Autograph ABP, Work Show Grow, Women for Refugee Women, The National Galleries of Scotland.

With thanks to MPB (https://www.mpb.com/en-uk) global online platform for used photography equipment, who gifted cameras to the participating women. The Rotary Club of Bradford Brontë for their Brontë Youth Award, and financial support for one of the participants. Bradford Community SOUP for their support. Solidaritech for loaning laptops to the women.