CIROF Closing: On Black Cinepoetics
Dear Friends, fam, homies, lovers and haters come vibe, think and dream with us on Saturday 25 May at Metro54. Together, we conclude the exhibition and public program project “Chorus in Rememory of Flight” by poet, artist and filmmaker Julianknxx. Metro54 was a home to the cinematographic installations and the stories they carry, and for that we give thanks.
Black diasporic artists and communities historically have a complex, violent, beautiful and poetic history with film. With Black Cinepoetics we would like to zoom into this relationship between the diasporic histories/ futures of black cinematography and/or (music) video culture as an art of storytelling and community making.
Together with artist and filmmaker Julianknxx will speak about his cinematographic dreams and artistic practice.
Filmmaker Ebeneza Blanche, explores the space that videography holds for merging music videos and fashion editorials within the context of diasporic life, storytelling, grief and senses of belonging.
With film curator Lyse Ishimwe we speak together about archiving, visibility and presence of black and African film in contemporary landscapes.
There will also be a final screening moment, to watch the work “Chorus in ReMemory of Flight” together before the conversation.
This will take place at 18:00 at our Metro54 space, in which we welcome you all to stay for the conversation afterwards.
RSVP via rsvp@metro54.nl
🔥Date: 01 June 2024
🔥Tijd: 19:00
🔥Location: Westerdoksdijk 597
🔥Entrance: Free
Lyse Ishimwe
Lyse Ishimwe is a film curator and photographer. Lyse is currently based in Belgium where she founded Recognition in 2016. Recognition is a Brussels-based initiative with the aim of increasing the visibility of African and African diaspora art, literature and culture via community-based film screenings. In her work for this project, Lyse curates a film program that takes place at art and cultural spaces in various cities across Europe. Lyse currently works at IFFR as a programmer for Features & Short films. Previously, she was a film consultant for the Berlinale Forum.
Ebeneza Blanche
Ebeneza Blanche is a multidisciplinary filmmaker who is quickly becoming a household name in the world of music videos, fashion, advertising, and film. Ebeneza is most known for his music video for Little Simz “Point & Kill.” Ebeneza’s intuitive feel with where to place the camera and how to tell a story makes every one of the characters in his films lovable. He thrives in the specificity of the filmmaking details from the casting, location, styling, and performance. He brings his tacit knowledge of his lived experiences, creating a singular body of work that will stand the test of time.
Julianknxx
Julianknxx is a poet, artist and filmmaker. The polyphonic nature of Julianknxx’s work is indicative of his expansive practice, which is rooted in poetry but extends into performance, film, music and sculpture. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Julianknxx draws on his personal experiences to broaden perspectives on the history and culture of Africa and its diasporas. Inspired by oral history traditions and working with a distinctive aesthetic approach, his films invite us to consider how we construct both local and global narratives, while reflecting on how it feels to exist in liminal spaces.