BLACK to the FUTURE is an Afro-Futurist celebration of outstanding Black artists, a space for visionary imaginings to thrive.

BttF begins as British Black History month ends; launching late October and running until US Black History Month in February 2024, to accompany the British Library’s upcoming major exhibition: Fantasy: Realms of Imagination. Curated, founded and directed by Irenosen Okojie MBE, in collaboration with the Royal Society of Literature and the British Library. The first iteration of BttF is themed ‘Black Phantasmagoria’, with a focus on invigorating dialogues and genres within which Black literature and art is flourishing, featuring storytellers working in books, video games, comics, theatre, film and music. The festival offers live-streamed talks, readings, performances, films and workshops by local and international creators, combined with a technological strand featuring thought leaders, entrepreneurs and cross-disciplinary innovators.

BttF’s line-up of screenings + events at the Garden Cinema are as follows:

24 October: Neptune Frost + Introduction

19 November: Mami Wata + Q&A

14 December: Hidden Figures + Introduction

More to be confirmed!

For the full BttF programme including events at the British Library and the Standard Hotel, visit the BttF website.