LA Black Film Festival screens Manchester Writing School lecturer’s BBC-backed film

An acclaimed short film written and directed by a Manchester Met lecturer has been screened to an audience of influential Black filmmakers at the LA Black Film Festival.

Funded by BBC Films and the British Film Institute Film Hub, Zodwa Nyoni’s The Ancestors follows three Zimbabwean spirits descended to earth on a mission to connect with their descendants.

It was chosen to be screened at the glittering event, with Zodwa also taking part in a panel of UK filmmaking, culture and identity.

The film outlines how the spirits embark on a mission to initiate their descendants into a traditional Ndebele cultural ritual because they’re worried they’re being forgotten. The effect on character Selina is central to the storyline, leaving viewers guessing whether she’ll flee or become closer to who she really is.

Nyoni said: “Being in LA, I got to meet other filmmakers and hear about their processes and inspirations, which was brilliant. The Ancestors was influenced by rituals from my Zimbabwean cultural background. I wanted to explore how I bring forward traditional practices into contemporary conversations on culture and belonging. 

“Having The Ancestors showcase at various festivals this last year has been such a wonderful experience for me. It’s been a long journey getting here. Lockdown happened in between filming and it being released. I have also grown as a filmmaker since I made the film in 2019.”

The Ancestors premiered at Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, last year and has since been screened worldwide at festivals including Poppy Jasper Film Festival, San Francisco, Boden International Film Festival, Sweden, and Sacramento Pan African International Film Festival, where it won Best Short Film.

Nyoni joined Manchester Met last year as a scriptwriting lecturer. In September an episode she wrote of cult anime show Castlevania: Nocturne aired on Netflix, to much acclaim.

Find out more about Zodwa Nyomi’s The Ancestors here.