Black Pyramid Retrospective Screening

Thompson’s Role: Film Programmer
Venue: The Cube Microplex, Dove Street South, Bristol, BS2 8JD
Date: 15.03.2018

The project centered on the Black Pyramid Film and Video Project, an organisation established in 1993 that was crucial in providing training, production support, and exhibition opportunities for Black and ethnic minority filmmakers in the South West of England. Thompson’s personal involvement with Black Pyramid Film began in the late 1990s as a volunteer, where he gained initial experience in the film industry and exposure to film festivals.

Motivated by this formative experience and a recognized need for dedicated screenings of Caribbean and African diaspora cinema in Bristol, Thompson showcase Black Pyramid Film’s archives. A key goal is to acknowledge the significant contributions of the founders, Rob Mitchell, Shawn Sober, and Mindell Bowen, and re-engage the Bristol filmmaking community with this diverse cinematic heritage.

Spokesperson for Black Pyramid, Shawn Sobers, says, “This year marks 25 years since Black Pyramid was established, so it's great to have this screening at The Cube. We have a deep love of Bristol and have built many close friendships and working partnerships. We existed to provide training and support for filmmakers from the local community. And we're proud to see that many people we worked with have now gone on to form careers in film and media. There's still more to do to broaden the diversity of the media and filmmaking industries, so we know the work continues. We hope this screening will generate a conversation about what work has been done, and what is needed for the next generation of filmmakers in the South West."
A quarter of a century on, Cables&Cameras aims to continue in a similar vein by offering today's BAME filmmakers a forum in which to show and discuss their work.