Access Cinema at Watergate
Souleymane's Story
Refugee Week
Wed 17 Jun 2026
7.30pm
Free Admission
Souleymane is an asylum seeker from Guinea living in Paris, forced to join the daily rush for a bed in a homeless shelter. Unable to work legally, he earns some money by ‘renting’ someone else’s work profile on a food delivery app. He also pays a fellow Guinean to coach him in a false story seen as more likely to pass an imminent asylum review. But it’s clear Souleymane’s true home situation is taking a constant emotional toll as he navigates the streets of Paris alone.
Anchored by an extraordinary lead performance from Abou Sangaré, Souleymane's Story is a raw, compassionate and quietly devastating story about one man forced to live precariously on the fringes of society.
Festivals: Cannes Film Festival, 2024
Awards:
Winner - Un Certain Regard - Best Performance (Abou Sangare) - Cannes Film Festival, 2024
Winner - Best European Actor (Abou Sangare) - European Film Awards, 2024
Abou Sangare takes a gold medal for standout lead performance of the year… He is mesmerising as the titular refugee.