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Season Preview: Wealth of a Nation and From These Roots + Conversation with David Greaves, Liani Greaves and Kodwo Eshun (15*)

I Am Furious Black

,Cinema 2
three people sitting in an editing suite

This programme brings together two films by William Greaves that explore his enduring interest in the Harlem Renaissance and his advocacy for racial justice.

Shot in 1964, Wealth of a Nation explores freedom of speech, highlighting the importance of freedom in all its forms, and its essential role in a functioning democracy.

From These Roots traces the history of the Harlem Renaissance through photographs from the period. Footage filmed during its production went on to shape the 2026 documentary, Once Upon a Time in Harlem.

Seen together, the films speak to Greaves’ belief in cinema’s capacity to intervene in the world and shift public consciousness, as well as to the deep sense of humanity that runs through his work.

After the screening, we welcome David Greaves and Liani Greaves to discuss the legacy of William Greaves' wide-ranging career, in conversation with Kodwo Eshun.

Tagged with: Cinema I Am Furious Black

Ticket prices

Standard
£15.50 (£14 + £1.50 transaction fee)
* Excludes £1.50 booking fee

Booking fees

£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Programme

Wealth of a Nation, 1964, USA, dir. William Greaves, 21 min 

From These Roots, 1974, USA, dir. William Greaves, 28 min 

David Greaves is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist. He worked as Assistant Editor on Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One, as camera person on Once Upon a Time in Harlem, and as editor and camera person on several other films by William Greaves.

Liani Greaves is an independent producer, strategy consultant and professional coach, and Vice-President of William Greaves Productions. She began her film career in the 1990s, working in production and music video, before developing an independent producing practice. In 2005, she worked alongside her grandfather William Greaves and actor Steve Buscemi on Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2.

Kodwo Eshun is a filmmaker, theorist and artist based in London. He is Lecturer in Contemporary Art Theory at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Professor of Visual Arts at HEAD–Genève. In 2002, he co-founded The Otolith Group with Anjalika Sagar, whose research-based practice explores documentary, archives, history and contemporary forms of cultural production. The Otolith Group were nominated for the Turner Prize in 2010 and have exhibited internationally.

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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.