Surviving Earth

Thea Gajic’s feature debut follows Yugoslavian refugee Vlad as he embraces a new life in Bristol and battles addiction and past traumas.

Vlad (Slavko Sobin) is a refugee who fled the 1990s Yugoslavia conflict and rebuilt his life in Bristol. By day, he works as a drugs counsellor. By night, he plays the harmonica in a Balkan band that reconnects him to his roots. As the band seeks success, unresolved trauma resurfaces, straining the fragile peace he’s built, and threatening his relationship with his daughter Maria (Olive Gray).

Thea Gajić’s powerful feature debut is based on her father's life - a talented harmonica player, he fled Serbia for the UK to build a new life.