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Chronic Youth Film Festival: Apostles of Cinema + Talking About Trees (PG*)

Against All Odds

,Cinema 2
Talking About Trees

Earnest and spirited, Apostles of Cinema and Talking About Trees put the spotlight on two passionate groups of East African film workers bringing cinema back to the community.

“They’re ready for their close-up, Mr. DeMille!” 

As a brief yet incisive journey into Tanzanian film culture, short film Apostles of Cinema makes for an exciting introduction to the deeper reflections on what community access to cinema means, as presented in feature Talking About Trees. Subtly political and delightfully exuberant, these pieces offer a piercing commentary on the value of cinematic legacies and celebrate humanity’s enduring love of film.

Tagged with: Cinema Chronic Youth Film Festival 2025 New releases

Content Warning: References to violence in Talking About Trees. If you’d like a more nuanced description of what to expect, please get in touch with the programmers by emailing [email protected].

Film information
  • Release year  
  • Country  
  • Director  
  • Runtime   1hr 51min (total)

Programme

Talking about Trees

2019 Sudan/Chad/France/Germany/Qatar dir Suhaib Gasmelbari 94 mins

A tender portrait of four Sudanese filmmakers reuniting to revive Khartoum’s cinema scene after decades of censorship and political unrest.

In this heartfelt documentary, the Sudanese Film Group embarks on a mission to rebuild Khartoum’s ‘Revolution Cinema’. Their long-standing friendships and passion for film stand as a beacon of hope against repression. Amid playful re-enactments and serious detective work to track down their archival footage, the group's enthusiasm infects the whole community, planting the seeds for a flourishing future of Sudanese cinema.

Apostles of Cinema

2023 Tanzania dir Darragh Amelia, Cece Mlay, Jesse Gerard Mpango and Gertrude Malizana 17 mins

Forget the director’s cut, Swahiliwood is all about the DJ in this short showcasing the work of film ‘translators’ and their distributors in Tanzania’s vibrant underground film scene.

Moving from bustling city streets to ‘film libraries’ and informal cinemas, a group of film workers shine a light on a cinema culture that is all about community. Following the dynamic DJ Black, who contextualises films for working-class cinephiles, this short celebrates the importance of cinematic legacy and access, attesting to the Bantu proverb 'Ubuntu', or "I am because we are."
 

Chronic Youth Film Festival 2025

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.