MIF23: Jenn Nkiru

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

29 June 2023 Entrance is free — Visit now

Visionary filmmaker Jenn Nkiru has described her process as “cosmic archeology”. Drawing from the history of Black music, Afro-surrealism, experimental film and the Black arts movement, the artist has directed music videos for the likes of Neneh Cherry, Beyonce and Kamasi Washington and developed her own distinctive style through films Rebirth is Necessary and Black to Techno.

Now she is turning her attention to Manchester and the ways in which its industrial history and sleek modern architecture intertwine. In a new, as yet untitled short film for Manchester International Festival’s Virtual Factory, Nkiru weaves together new footage and archive material to “explore parallels between architecture and the human body – and how they both shapeshift through time and space.”

The film marks the final commission in MIF’s Virtual Factory series, which invited artists to create online works inspired by the architecture and site of Factory International’s new space. Previous artists to have worked on the series include, LaTurbo Avedon, Tai Shani and videogame designer Robert Yang.

29 June 2023 Entrance is free Visit now

Where to go near MIF23: Jenn Nkiru

Manchester
Restaurant
Fairfield Social Club

Launching in spring 2024, Fairfield Social Club is a multi-purpose site next to Angel Meadows Park in the Green Quarter.

Cumbria
Theatre
The Coro

Nestled in the heart of Ulverston, a rural market town on the fringes of the Lake District, stands The Coro —an esteemed historic hub for arts, culture, and entertainment

Cumbria
Shop
Sam Read Bookseller

Award-winning small bookshop in the Lake District. Est. by Sam Read in 1887. Run by Will Smith and Polly Atkin.

Restaurant
Capri

Capri serves up homely, family-style Italian food in North Yorkshire.

Manchester
Restaurant
Manchester Wine Tours

Manchester Wine Tours is a relaxed, fun wine tour, taking in four or five venues across three hours, plus six high-quality glasses of wine.

Sheffield
Shop
Juno Books

Friendly local queer and intersectional feminist bookshop in Sheffield. Visit for interesting fiction and non fiction books.

Restaurant
The Dusty Miller

Family friendly pub situated in the beautiful village of Mytholmroyd.

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