The 2021 film joins a programme of screenings and cultural events marking 40 years of The Independent

The Independent has announced the addition of Ali & Ava (2021), written and directed by Clio Barnard, to Celebrating Free Thinkers, a festival presented by The Independent at ICA London from 20–25 October 2026.

The festival marks the 40th anniversary of The Independent and brings together a specially curated programme of film screenings, conversations and cultural events celebrating independent thought, creative expression and ideas that challenge convention.

Starring Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, Ali & Ava is a tender, uplifting and unconventional love story set in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Ali, a warm-hearted landlord, meets Ava, a teaching assistant and devoted mother, through a chance encounter involving a young child they both care about. Bonding over their shared love of music, humour and lively conversation, the pair discover an unexpected connection. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate the complexities of family, past relationships, grief and the expectations of those around them.

Refusing to conform to conventional ideas about romance, age, race, class or family, Barnard’s film explores how human connection can bridge cultural and personal differences. Music becomes a shared language between two people whose lives have brought them together unexpectedly, while themes of prejudice, mental health, loneliness and new beginnings lend the story emotional depth.

Praised for its naturalistic performances and humane portrayal of working-class life, Ali & Ava offers a hopeful, free-thinking perspective on love and belonging. Its addition complements the festival’s wider exploration of distinctive voices, unconventional perspectives and stories that challenge assumptions.

The film joins a programme featuring documentary, international cinema, literary adaptations and conversations with filmmakers, writers and cultural figures.

• 19 October: An exclusive private event for Independent Members. Featuring a screening of Bridget Jones’s Diary, including a drinks reception and Q&A with Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding, hosted by The Independent’s Editor-in-Chief, Geordie Greig.
• 20 October: Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, followed by a Q&A with Geordie Greig and Kim Aris; and the premiere of Wombs of Debt, a new 25-minute documentary exploring the experiences of female sugarcane cutters in southern India.
• 21 October: Arrows of Desire: Peter Wollen, featuring a screening of Peter Wollen’s Friendship’s Death (1987), followed by a conversation with anthology editors Kodwo Eshun, Oliver Fuke and Nicolas Helm-Grovas.
• 22 October: Ali & Ava. Plus Stolen Desire, the debut feature by Japanese filmmaker Shōhei Imamura, opening the ICA’s Long Takes retrospective dedicated to his work.
• 23 October: The off-circuit premiere of The Night Is Fading Away, accompanied by a special Q&A.
• 24 October: Under The Skin, with a special Q&A
• 25 October: Orlando, accompanied by a special Q&A.

Tickets and further programme information are available at ica.art/the-independent.

Members of The Independent are eligible for a 20% discount on the festival programme.

Credit: Ali & Ava, dir. Clio Barnard, UK 2021, 95 min. Courtesy Altitude Films.