Kinoteka 7, 6:30 PM, May 8
Opening of the 22nd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity with Filmweb. Screening of “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found” and a discussion
The life of a remarkable photographer through the lens of an outstanding director. A fascinating cinematic story about the pursuit of freedom, art, a mysterious discovery, and the fight for equality will open the 22nd edition of the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival. Together with our special guests, we will follow the turbulent life of Ernest Cole, one of the first Black independent photographers in South Africa. After fleeing the country in 1966, Cole settled in the United States, where he extensively photographed New York and the American South. He was captivated by how the U.S. could be so radically different, yet disturbingly similar to the culture of racial segregation in his homeland.
After his death, over 60,000 35mm negatives—long believed lost—were discovered in a Swedish bank. Among them were thousands of previously unseen photographs taken by Cole in the United States. This incredible story forms the basis of the latest film by Oscar®-nominated director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro).
From May 8 to August 31, the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw will host an exhibition of Cole’s work titled “Ernest Cole: Lens in Exile.” The exhibition is a collaboration between the museum, Magnum Photos, Autograph gallery, and the Ernest Cole Family Trust.
After the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to meet two extraordinary guests. Leslie Matlaisane is the nephew of the legendary South African photographer Ernest Cole and serves as the Chairperson of the Ernest Cole Family Trust. By championing Cole's work, he not only honours his family's legacy but also continues the fight for truth and social justice through the power of photography. Irene Lombardo is Cultural Manager at Magnum Photos. She is in charge of developing institutional cultural partnerships, in the field of exhibitions, commissions and cultural projects including Magnum photographers. Together, they will provide deeper insight into the remarkable life story and artistic context of the film's protagonist.
The discussion will be moderated by Łukasz Muszyński, editor-in-chief of Filmweb.
