Nance to headline phase two of Black to the Future arts festival

Avant-garde filmmaker, writer and musician Terence Nance will be headlining "Phase Two" of the Black to the Future (BttF) arts festival.

BttF is a "celebration of outstanding Black artists" across games, books, music and film. On Saturday 17th February 2024, following a a screening of his debut film, "An Oversimplification of Her Beauty", Nance will be in conversation with writer and editor Hannah Hutchings-Georgiou at The Garden Cinema.

Continuing its partnership with the British Library and the Royal Society of Literature, BttF will also be hosting an online panel called "Imaginary Cities" on Tuesday 6th February, featuring science fiction and fantasy writer N K Jemisin, author Victor LaValle and Irenosen Okojie MBE, the founder and director of the festival.

The discussion will explore cities and the links between urban settings in fiction and activism in the real world. 

The British Library will also host "The Other in Fantasy" on Thursday 8th February — a conversation between writer, editor and gaming creative consultant Corey Brotherson, sci-fi author Esmie Jikiemi Pearson and performance artist and video game developer Symone. The event will explore the importance of representation in fantasy across books, comics, films and games.

Okojie said: "We’re thrilled by the response to Black to the Future and the events we’ve hosted so far, as well as the different audiences we’ve reached. In 2024 we’re delighted to continue showcasing a range of exciting voices including our terrific headliner, Terence Nance, who presents tapestries of Black life that are by turns radical and experimental."

At The Standard Hotel, Elliott Jack will be hosting music events and the "Kinetic Discourses" series will continue with collaborations with the Royal Society of Literature and UK video games diversity initiative, #RaisetheGame. Further details on these and other events will be announced in 2024.