Manchester Film Festival Inspired by African Philosophies

A new approach to staging film festivals is coming to Manchester, inspired by African philosophies that explore how lessons from the past can shape the present and future. See My World, a day dedicated to independent creators from across the African diaspora in the north of England, will take place at the Contact theatre on 21 November from 2pm to 11pm on Oxford Road. The event highlights pan-African thought via film, poetry, and dance, building on momentum sparked by local activists and creatives.

The festival forms part of See My World’s year-round programme showcasing pan-African arts, culture, and events. It reflects the determination among creatives and activists in Manchester to build on the legacy of the 1945 Pan-African Congress in Manchester, which connected luminaries of postwar independence movements with a shared vision of liberation, following last year’s 80th anniversary commemorations.

Tunde Adekoya, CEO and artistic director of See My World, explained that the festival takes inspiration from pan-African thought, including the works of Kenyan writers John Mbiti and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Both writers rejected the colonial conceit that African thought was inferior, stressed the importance of community, and saw reclaiming African ways of knowing as essential to self-understanding. Mbiti sought common ground between African religions and Christianity, while Ngũgĩ, a Marxist, argued colonialism was motivated by cultural and economic conquest and famously abandoned English to write in Gikuyu.

Adekoya noted that the event acts as a playground in search of strategies of liberation using the festival to explore different philosophies. Filmmakers were invited to submit films lasting up to 30 minutes across genres with no screening fees charged.

African philosophies and heritage shape a unique film festival experience in Manchester.

In addition to submissions, the festival features documentaries produced by See My World, such as Homage, a cinematic love letter to dance tracing culture through present-day portraits and archival material, and Poetic Justice, which explores how pan-African thought and Manchester’s poetry scene speak across decades.

Adekoya stated the intention to go against the norm of how film festivals operate, noting that decolonization involves rethinking structures created to alienate and exclude communities. Activities throughout the day will include exhibitions, performance explorations, discussions, Q&As, insights into directors’ processes, and workshops.

Why it matters

This event transforms traditional film festival structures by prioritizing accessibility and showcasing independent creators from the African diaspora. It impacts local communities, artists, and audiences in the north of England by fostering cultural dialogue and celebrating pan-African heritage.