Plaza Community Cinema and Mandela8 are joining forces this Black History Month for a special programme celebrating culture, education and the power of young people through film and storytelling.
The Waterloo-based community cinema will host a screening of Mandela8: Journey to South Africa, a documentary produced by the Mandela8 Young Media Group following their experiences in South Africa.
The film is part of the wider Mandela8 initiative, which empowers young people through culture, education and storytelling, exploring how international experiences can inspire positive change, build confidence and strengthen community identity back home.
By giving young people the opportunity to document and share their own experiences, Mandela8: Journey to South Africa provides a platform for youth voices while demonstrating the impact cultural exchange and education can have on communities.
Stephen Nze from Mandela8 said:
“Our dream of taking young people away and to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and for them to experience South Africa for all it has to offer. We are deeply grateful to the Plaza Community Cinema for its generosity and for recognising the importance of providing a platform. Sharing the film during Black History Month is a powerful way to honour Black history not only as something of the past, but as something that continues to inspire, educate and shape.”
The documentary will be screened at Plaza Community Cinema on Wednesday 7 October at 7.30pm, followed by a special Black History Month event celebrating the achievements of the young people involved in the project.
Tickets for the screening are free and can be booked through the Plaza Community Cinema website.
As part of the wider Black History Month programme, members of the Mandela8 Young Media Group have also selected two additional films to be shown at the Plaza.
The first is Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The film follows newly elected South African President Nelson Mandela as he uses the 1995 Rugby World Cup as an opportunity to unite a racially and economically divided post-apartheid nation.
Also selected is Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role. The film follows twin brothers who return to their hometown hoping to make a fresh start, only to find their newly opened juke joint facing a supernatural threat.
Together, the three films offer different perspectives on Black history, identity, resilience, community and storytelling, while highlighting the importance of giving young people opportunities to shape and share their own narratives.
Matt Owen, Director of Development and Education at Plaza Community Cinema, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Mandela8 for Black History Month. The opportunity to showcase a film created by young people is particularly exciting and reflects the Plaza’s commitment to providing a platform for aspiring filmmakers, creativity and storytelling. We look forward to welcoming Mandela8 Young Media Group and the community to the Plaza for what promises to be a very special evening.”
The collaboration forms part of Plaza Community Cinema’s ongoing commitment to using film and cultural activity to bring people together, create opportunities for young people and celebrate the diverse stories that make up local communities.
Mandela8: Journey to South Africa will be screened on Wednesday 7 October at 7.30pm at Plaza Community Cinema, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 0LD.
Free tickets are available to book via the cinema’s website.
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