Through A Different Lens - Celebrating Black History Month

Through A Different Lens is coming to the Reading Biscuit Factory on Sunday 1 November, a film screening celebrating Black History Month. It's a selection of films celebrating Black creatives, paired with the stories behind and in front of the lens. The session brings together short films and a Q&A discussion with the filmmakers, with time to mingle in the foyer afterwards.

Black History Month first came to England in October 1987, during the African Jubilee Year, when it was launched in London to promote racial harmony. Since then it's spread across the country, embracing the contributions and traditions of diverse Black communities. Here in Reading, that heritage is rich and multifaceted, from the early African and Caribbean settlers who helped build the town's cultural and economic life to contemporary achievements in business, academia and the arts.

The organisers behind the screening focus on underrepresented stories and talent, and they've staged film festivals and worked on film sets in the past. That background comes through in the format: the films are the starting point, and the Q&A gives you a chance to hear from the people who actually made them. The foyer time afterwards is for chatting with the filmmakers and other people there, so it's more of a social afternoon than just sitting in the dark.

It starts at 13:30 at the Reading Biscuit Factory, 1 Queens Walk, RG1 7QE. Tickets are £5.00 via Eventbrite.