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
Gallery
Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

RJC Dance Xmas Show
Leeds
RJC Dance

RJC Dance, based in Chapeltown, Leeds, champions youth and education, leading inclusive Black dance in the North through national partnerships.

texture logo
Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park
Bradford
Park
Cliffe Castle Park

Cliffe Castle Park hosts the Beacon, a stunning performance space that will be touring the district throughout Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
Leeds
Shop
Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency.  Our other long running programming incl
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

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