Courtesy of the artist.
£10/£5 members & concessions
Join us for a screening of two films by Jessica Beshir, programmed by A Month of Single Frames.
PROGRAMME
Hairat, 2016, (7min) is a meditation on the uniquely symbiotic relationship between man and wild beast. Each night, Yussuf Mume Saleh journeys into the outskirts of the walled city of Harar to bond with his beloved hyenas, a ritual he has practised for over thirty-five years.
Faya Dayi, 2021, (1h59min) is a lyrical spiritual journey into the rituals and trade practices of Khat, a stimulant green leaf that – according to Ethiopian legend – was founded by Sufi Imams in search of eternity. A hypnotic blend of documentary and drama, this immersive experience weaves a tapestry of intimate stories of people for whom chewing the lucrative crop has become both a radical escape and a space of socialization and revolt against oppressive forces. For the unemployed, oppressed youth and elders alike, the high achieved from Khat (the state of Merkhana) is the only place where their hopes, dreams and aspirations can live.
Please note: This film contains depictions of drug use and addiction, as well as themes of violence and political repression.
ARTIST BIO
Mexican-Ethiopian filmmaker, Jessica Beshir was born in Mexico City and raised in Ethiopia. She made her directorial debut with the short film, Hairat, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Her second short film He who dances on wood premiered at the 2017 Hot Docs Film Festival. She recently directed the short film Heroin, which made its world premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. She is currently producing her first feature film set in Ethiopia.
ABOUT A MONTH OF SINGLE FRAMES
A Month of Single Frames is a film collective dedicated to bringing artists’ moving image into conversation through film programming, an annual journal and artist moving image production.
Taking its name from Lynne Sachs and Barbara Hammer’s collaborative film, the nature of our programming reflects their ethos as filmmakers by screening artists’ works together for double-bill screenings, exploring a range of contemporary social, political, and environmental themes. We aim to introduce artists’ moving image and experimental cinema to audiences who may not have encountered work of this kind before. By pairing films, one short with one midlength/feature, we aim to draw out connections between the works and bring the artists into dialogue with one another, highlighting the and inherently collective nature of artist filmmaking.
A Month of Single Frames is committed to expanding access to artists’ moving image and experimental cinema, introducing this work to audiences who may not yet have encountered it.
The collective is led by Ufuoma Essi, Sam Williams, and Tendai Mutambu. South by South will be curated by Ufuoma Essi.
ABOUT UFUOMA ESSI
Ufuoma Essi is an artist and filmmaker born and based in South East London.
ACCESS
- Wheelchair Access and Accessible Toilets are available at this site.
- Seating will be available
- This space will be low lit and noisy during the screenings.
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Please contact leila@southlondongallery.org with any further access requirements.