Roma News and Views: Aspiring Filmmaker, Lena Popikova on social action in Roma communities

In our most recent Roma News and Views installment, Lena Popikiova discusses her film "Amen Sam Roma: We are Roma, this is our home," and reflects on the process of bringing it to life.

International Roma Day in Govanhill

By Lena Popikova | Translation by Rahela Cirpaci| Photos by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Last year, I worked with Social Action Inquiry to make a film that showed what helped and what hindered Roma communities participating in social action. As an aspiring filmmaker, this was a great opportunity to be involved in my first film.

Making this film was my own experience of embracing change and seeing how getting people together makes a difference. I loved filming because I got the chance to share my own story about what it was like growing up in a society that doesn’t accept who you are or where you come from. 

I worked with Meha, a filmmaker from London. On the first day of filming, I felt kind of skittish but also excited. One of my favourite days of filming was the Govanhill Carnival. That day was fun because it was so full of excitement, seeing so many people get together. It was my first time attending, so for me it was very inspiring.

The film is a story of overcoming adversity despite all odds, and the transformative power of community solidarity. The barriers facing Roma when it comes to accessing their rights and meaningfully engaging in wider life are huge. Racism, sexism, housing exploitation and disengagement in school are just a few explored in this film.  

However, hope shines through in the form of the young people and projects such as the Community Catalysts, a programme designed to shift power to Roma youth as they learn all about their rights and how to stand up for them and for their communities.

This is why I loved taking part in this film because it was full of powerful words and people. I am really proud of how this film turned out. It was my biggest accomplishment. From the meetings to planning out the film, from the interviews to the editing – I loved the process. It is something I want to continue doing in the future; teaching more Roma people how to stand up for themselves and their communities. 

The message of the film is to be strong, and see what great things can happen when different people come together  – in solidarity – to make this place a thriving home for all.

Visit: Social Action Enquiry Scotland to watch the film, ‘Amen Sam Roma: We are Roma, this is our home’