Black History Month 2024 at Showroom Cinema

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

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Black History Month 2024

5 October-2 November 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Grace Osbourne
Milisuthando Bongela
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To mark Black History Month this October, Sheffield’s Showroom Cinema present a selection of film and events based around the theme, ‘Intergenerational Fusion: Empowering Black Minds’. The idea is to highlight the ways in which Black and diaspora communities build on the work and wisdom of previous generations, and how best to go about constructing a foundation for future generations to thrive.

With that in mind, the opening day events on Saturday 5 October include a family friendly showing of the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid led by rising star Halle Bailey, alongside a screening of Sarah Gavron’s electric 2020 coming-of-age comedy Rocks, which focuses on a group of teenage girls growing up in a multi-ethnic community in East London. The latter film will be accompanied by a an opportunity to grab drinks and chat with members of the community who have contributed to the Black History Month programme, as well as an introduction from Showroom’s Communities Co-ordinator, Chim’Di Ugada and a performance by local poet SHALdo.

On Saturday 12 October, a British Classics Double Bill takes in Horace Ové’s 1986 comedy of manners Playing Away, about a West Indian cricket team from Brixton who are invited to play a charity match in a rural English village. That’s joined by Amma Asante’s 2013 period drama Belle, which fills in unknown history by fictionalising the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the subject of a famous 18th century oil painting, and illegitimate mixed-race daughter of Sir John Lindsay.

on Friday 11 October, there’s a Behind the Lens: POC Networking Event which aims to provide an “environment where people of colour (POC) in production can connect, collaborate, and uplift each other.”

There’s an opportunity to revisit the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland on Saturday 19 October. Starring Forest Whittaker as Idi Amin, alongside James McAvoy as the dictator’s personal physician and confidant, the film screens in partnership with Alpha and Omega CIC in celebration of Ugandan Independence Day, with an introduction contextualising the film and its presentation here.

From South Africa, artist-turned-filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela’s personal, poetic essay documentary Milisuthando is concerned with what it means to be human in the context of race. The doc screens on Tuesday 22 October in a presentation by T A P E Collective, with a Q&A from the director herself. While there’s more documentary from South Africa on Monday 28 October with Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert new film Mother City, a David and Goliath story about how activists and domestic workers take on property power and politics in Cape Town.

As mentioned, the Black History Month programming at Showroom is concerned with helping build a platform for the next generation. With that in mind, on Friday 11 October, there’s a Behind the Lens: POC Networking Event which aims to provide an “environment where people of colour (POC) in production can connect, collaborate, and uplift each other.” Then, to close the season, Utopia Theatre and Showroom Cinema present a special screening from the Nu-Roots Young Black Film Curators — a group undertaking an 8-week film curation programme — on Saturday 2 November.

Where to go near Black History Month 2024 at Showroom Cinema

Manchester
Food hall
Kargo MKT

Mighty food hall in Salford Quays, with around twenty street food vendors, serving a huge range of cuisines.

Asap Coffee Interior/ Counter
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
ASAP Coffee

If you’re looking for quality coffee and a decadent brunch in a setting that nails the Northern Quarter brief, you’d struggle to do better than ASAP Coffee.

Interior of George St Chapel
Manchester
Event venue
George Street Chapel

This beautifully restored former Independent Methodist Chapel in the heart of Oldham is as much a creative hub as a heritage landmark.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Pho Cue

Family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. Prepare to queue for Pho Cue.

Come to Swithens Farm for a great family day out in Leeds. Our farm has plenty to offer whatever age you are!Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around. We now have a farm shop, café, playbarn and petting farm. When we first opened we only had the usual farm animals – cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and it was free entry. We now have llamas, alpacas, meerkats, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys and a pony.On the working farm, we breed our own cows, pigs and sheep and we sell the meat through the farm shop and the café. If you buy a sausage sandwich from the café the sausage will be from the butcher who has made the sausage by hand using our own pork. We also produce our own free-range eggs.
Leeds
Swithens Farm

Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around.

Peak District
Restaurant
The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is a 16th century, family-run, traditional country inn with an impressive dining space. The Peak District at its best.

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

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