FILM SCREENING: SOMETHING FAMILIAR

Join us for a special homecoming screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary Something Familiar, followed by an intimate Q&A with director Rachel Taparjan and Dr. Lisa Cherry.

Fresh from its premiere at CPH:DOX 2026and currently touring the international festival circuit , Something Familiar is a "deeply moving and personal film" that explores the complex intersections of adoption, nature vs. nurture, and "intergenerational trauma".

The film follows director Rachel Taparjan from Northern England to Romania on a "soul-baring exploration of what it means to call a place—or a person—home". Described by critics as "piercingly intimate" and "remarkably brave" , the documentary blends observational footage with hybrid storytelling to "transform inherited trauma into something constructive and deeply human".

After its global debut, it was incredibly important to bring the film "home" to Teesside to share it with a local audience. We invite you to a free screening at Teesside University, followed by an in-depth discussion on the film’s themes of identity, belonging, and resilience.

• When: Saturday, 23rd May | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Where: DLB0.01, Digital Life Building, Teesside University
• Feature: Film Screening followed by a Q&A with Dr. Lisa Cherry and Director Rachel Taparjan
• Cost: Free (Registration Required)

"A gentle, humane, and quietly inventive documentary." — The Film Stage

"Remarkably brave in its vulnerability and demonstrates creativity." — Little White Lies

"Taparjan's reticent voiceover carries a quiet power." — Sight & Sound

"A film that brims with heart... a nuanced meditation on trauma, shared fates, loss, and self-authorship." — Modern Times Review

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Host or Publisher Teesside University