BSFF: The Great North

Tracing Black histories through the spaces, sounds and memories of a city. In The Great North, filmmaker Jenn Nkiru explores the connections between people, places and histories, moving through the industrial landscapes of Manchester and beyond. Combining archival material with contemporary footage, she uncovers the Black histories and communities woven into the cultural fabric of Northern England. Nkiru describes her approach as “cosmic archaeology”, a cinematic practice rooted in Afro-surrealism, experimental film and the Black Arts Movement. Through rhythm, movement and striking visual associations, The Great North challenges linear storytelling, transforming the city into a living archive of memory, resistance and cultural expression.