UK’s first Romani-language animated film set to be released

‘Gelem, Gelem’ a Romani-language animated short film presents a moving collage of real-life stories shared by a group of women based in Oldham, Greater Manchester – and offers an authentic insight into their journeys from Eastern Europe, heritage and lives in the UK.

 

The project is cross university, with involvement from SEE, SHS and SAMCT and was funded by The Ideas Fund in partnership with Kaskosan Roma Charity.

 

Adelina Court, lecturer in 3D Design, illustrated and directed the film. It is the result of extensive community research and workshops conducted in partnership with Kaskosan, a Roma Charity, and the University. Across 6 workshops, the Roma women were guided to narrate stories from their own lives and those of their families, including their journeys to the UK.

 

Adelina said: “The Romani women have been very brave to open up and share their stories, and were really proactive in participating in the workshops.

 

“It just shows that if you give Romani women a safe space to share their stories, they are happier to open up and let you in."

 

Throughout 6 separate workshops, Adelina Court guided the women through storytelling and drawing ,while also conversing with them in Romanian and Hungarian. “Being able to converse with the group in their native language has been a huge advantage, not to mention the shared links we have to Eastern Europe.”

 

At the forefront of this community research was Maria Palmai, Head of Roma Women’s Programmes at Kaskosan, who played a pivotal role in managing a weekly women’s group which was delivered in collaboration with the University.

 

Maria Palmai said: “These are real stories of traditional women whose stories are usually not heard or shared - this has been their first ever occasion to share their own realities in their home language, which is completely invisible to the outside world.”

“It means a lot to them as they have been extremely isolated in their life to date - we are all very proud that we had an opportunity to share our voice.”

 

Kaskosan is a Roma charity that produces films, dramas, art performances and Romani language cultural workshops to inspire critical thinking in terms of Roma inclusion – they have spent the last nine years working with the Ursari Roma community in attempts to challenge stereotypes.

 

The film is narrated in Romani by young community members, Florin B and Estera B, with English subtitles. It includes a vocal rendition of Gelem Gelem, the Romani anthem written by Zarko Jovanovic and performed by community member Cristina B.

 

The rendition features live instruments – including violin, oral bass and guitar – performed by Juice Vamosi and Istvan Kate. Sound design was created by Paul Robinson, lecturer in Popular Music and Recording, with music graduate Josh James a ssisting with sound engineering for the score and vocals recorded at the New Adelphi studios. The animation also features contributions from current MA Animation students, Leslie Kara and Gajalakshmi (Sofi) Ganapathi.

 

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in the UK are the least liked community every year, as measured by YouGov.

Juice Vamosi said: “We are chasing the wolves of anti-gypsyism with our charity, and we are trying to make the invisible visible. We are representing the traditional Gypsy communities, as some Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations do not actually depict the reality of the communities we work with.”

 

Adelina Court said: “Working with Kaskosan Roma charity has been great as they have really helped me access the community. The best bit was drawing some of Eastern European landscapes which I recall from my own experience in the region. The animation is really universally appealing because it is a medium people can relate to, regardless of age or background. Everyone loves stories, you don’t need to have any prior knowledge.”

 

Professor Mike Hardman, also of Salford, led the initial phase of the project. He said: “Having worked alongside Kaskosan since 2021, the work in Oldham has connected communities to sustainability projects, local services and wider opportunities. A highlight has been the work with Northern Roots, another one of our partners, who has worked with the group on green activities. It has been great to see collaboration across the university community as this project has developed and grown.”

 

‘Gelem Gelem’ will premiere in Oldham, in the presence of Kaskosan Roma Charity and the women whose stories feature in the film on December 18.

 

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