Global majority is a collective term for people of Indigenous, African, Asian, Latin American descent, who constitute approximately 85 percent of the global population.
Within our programme of screenings the Electric Palace aims to highlight Black and global majority experiences, and develop discussions around inclusion and diverse representation in film. We've been working with local and national partners to deliver screenings within our regular programme that represent Black and global majority experiences in film production, distribution, and exhibition.
Here, we chat with Jasmine Bernard-Brooks, Project Assistant at The New Black Film Collective (TNBFC), an organisation that spotlights and celebrates Black excellence in the screen industries.
Coming up in our current programme, TNBFC presents Bob Marley One Love, plus late bar playing reggae and roots on Saturday 22 June, Windrush Day.
How did The New Black Film Collective come about?
Priscilla Igwe, the Founder and CEO of The New Black Film Collective, created the agency in 2013 after the success of a one-year cultural leadership programme with Film London for Black filmmakers and exhibitions.
Knowing the huge importance of the work the programme had done in showcasing women-led, Nollywood, Caribbean, Hip Hop and faith cinema, Priscilla established TNBFC out of a need for “Black creatives to have a place where they can be autonomous, tell authentic stories and own the images presented of us.”
Thus, TNBFC became an agency that spread across five strands (Production, Exhibition, Education, Distribution and PR) and works to create a support package for all aspects of film that creators can develop and thrive within.
What inspired you to get involved with The New Black Film Collective?
"My drive has been to grow Black British cinema so creators can explore their stories and talents without limitations"
My degree was in Film Studies from Birmingham City University, and my aim was to get into film programming, Film Festivals and events. The New Black Film Collective is my first film job out of university and has been incredible for giving me a breadth and depth of skills and experience in programming, events producing, project coordinating and administration.
My drive has been to grow Black British cinema so creators can explore their stories and talents without limitations. I’ve always been passionate about showing films that are not always presented to the mainstream and that tell stories of people we wouldn’t always think to search for. The New Black Film Collective is actively working to create that ecosystem for Black creatives and it’s amazing to be a part of.
Why should people come to see Bob Marley One Love?
Bob Marley One Love centres on Marley's legacy and music that will reconnect with audiences who grew up hearing his music, and also introduce the legend Bob Marley to a new generation. Plus, at the Electric Palace screening there will also be reggae and roots music to enjoy before and after the film.
What other TNBFC-curated screenings have been popular elsewhere around the country?
We had an incredible screening of Cassius X: Becoming Ali (Muta'Ali Mohammad) in Nottingham, hosting a panel with the founder of the Nottingham School of Boxing and charity who brought their students and team. We also helped TNBFC members screen films in Leeds, Belfast and Edinburgh.
In collaboration with University of Brighton, we curated a sold out screening of Pretty Red Dress for LGBTQ+ History Month, and every year we sell out our Black History Month screenings in London throughout the month of October. As our national reach grows we aim to regularly screen around the UK working with our TNBFC Members and film exhibitors nationally and internationally.
Please share a memorable cinemagoing experience you've had (good or bad!)
When I was a teenager at school, me and my friends would book out this extremely tiny cinema (so small it really was just like a large-ish TV in a basement!), we’d programme our favourite films and watch them together. We only did this a couple of times but it was always so much fun!
(Psst - Fancy hiring the Electric Palace for your own event?)
We hope you can join us for the upcoming TNBFC screenings and beyond.
Would you like to join our programming influencer network? If you're interested in curating screenings that spotlight Black and global majority experiences, please get in touch.
Keep up to date with the Electric Palace screenings and events via our enewsletter: