The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement since the Second World War. But who are the people behind the numbers, and what drives the decision to flee your home?

Refugee Nights is a virtual festival exploring refugees' stories in talks, music, history and food. The series is hosted by Syrian refugee & filmmaker HASSAN AKKAD. Created by the IWM Institute.

#RefugeeNights

EPISODE 1: THE DECISION TO FLEE

Why do refugees make the life-changing decision to leave their home and seek shelter in a new country? What do most of us get wrong about the refugee crisis? And how can art and culture be used to break down barriers and humanise those living in conflict zones? Explore with graphic novelist ASIA ALFASI, comedian OMID DJALILI and filmmaker WAAD AL-KATEAB.

EPISODE 2: THE JOURNEY

How have refugee journeys changed or stayed the same over the past 100 years? And how can the arts play a role in building empathy around the global refugee crisis? Explore answers with Kindertransport refugee LORD ALF DUBS, actor JUDE LAW and many more.

EPISODE 3: A NEW LIFE?

How have refugees throughout history built new lives in new countries? How can the world best help refugees? Explore with Syrian chef IMAD ALARNAB, CNN'S CLARISSA WARD & author MAYA GOODFELLOW in the final episode. Featuring a very special performance by SHINGAI SHONIWA, former lead-singer of The Noisettes.

Refugee Nights was developed in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council, and in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration (IOM, the UN Migration Agency), Disasters Emergency Committee and English PEN.

Our media partner on the festival is CNN, a news and information services available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 475 million households around the globe.

Refugee Nights is sponsored by Macfarlanes LLP.

EXTENDED PEFORMANCE: SHINGAI

Originally featured in Episode 3: A New Life of Refugee Nights. Shingai, former lead singer of The Noisettes, performs three of her latest songs - War Drums, Ghost Town and Afterglow.