Fringe of Colour Films 2023 - We’re back!
After taking an intermission through 2022, we are delighted to announce that Fringe of Colour is back for 2023 – and so is our arts festival, Fringe of Colour Films!
2022 gave us the time and space we needed to think about what creatives could use in this uncertain but inspiration-filled climate, and what we as a team could deliver. In Scotland, we have witnessed the very real impact of austerity with what feels like relentless cuts to artistic resources, the loss of important creative and community spaces and a general feeling of going backwards rather than forwards. Since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and the country opened back up again, we have seen the return of in-person events and activities. Although this has been a welcomed change for many, others still feel – justly – uncomfortable being in large groups while the threat of a serious virus is still very much present.
The return of in-person events should not come at the cost of progress. Online events remain important to numerous communities for a host of different issues, many of which existed long before the COVID-19 pandemic. We are in a privileged position, in that our festival began online and so we have never really considered what Fringe of Colour Films would look like without this crucial element.
In 2023, we aim to continue thinking about how best to connect the artists we work with to new and responsive audiences. We will continue to form links with online audiences throughout Scotland and around the world. We will once again commission new work. We want to loudly make ourselves known to film fans who rely on accessible tools such as audio descriptions, captions, and British Sign Language, to make it clear that our programme will always include these communities.
We maintain that understanding and appreciation is at the core of our programme, enriched through our Responses project. For many of our filmmakers, the Responses, written by our talented team of writers, is the first occasion that someone will have sat down to deeply reflect on their work, and to take the time to write about it. The Responses are meaningful for the artists, the writers and our audiences, who get to appreciate the films through a lens they may not have otherwise considered. This important work, expertly led by Paula Akpan, will now be led by Tomiwa Folorunso as our new Editorial Director. We wish Paula all the best with her extremely exciting upcoming projects! Tomiwa, previously sub-editor and a skilled writer in her own right, will continue supporting and assisting our writers with her astute editorial eye.
We are continuing to build on the work we have already started and 2023 brings one major, and exciting change to Fringe of Colour Films. After a year of deliberation, we have decided to make the festival hybrid, operating both online right here on our website, and in-person with locations around the city of Edinburgh. This is made possible by the addition of Carmen Thompson to the Fringe of Colour team, who is joining us as In-Person Director. Carmen brings numerous years of film festival experience, knowledge and passion with her to Fringe of Colour Films. Both co-directors have provided a short statement:
“It’s very exciting that Fringe of Colour Films is returning in 2023 as a hybrid festival maintaining its long-standing commitment to accessibility. It feels both special and necessary for audiences and communities in Edinburgh and Scotland to engage with the work of Black and People of Colour artists from the country and beyond.”
Tomiwa Folorunso (Editorial Director)
“As both an audience member and new member of the team, I am absolutely thrilled that Fringe of Colour Films will be returning in 2023. The organisation has really set the bar in its commitment to and nurturing of Black artists and Artists of Colour, and the online festival has been a balm for so many during an incredibly difficult few years for our industry and beyond. I’m so excited for this new hybrid edition and to be part of developing an access-led and integrated in-person offering for audiences in Edinburgh.”
Carmen Thompson (In-Person Director)
For now, we have a lot of planning, strategising and fundraising to do (donations are still very much appreciated!), but we are all immensely excited to be bringing our festival back as we look forward to another summer of art, ideas and collaboration.
Fringe of Colour Films returns this year from Friday 23rd to Thursday 29th June for its third arts festival. We invite Black artists and Artists of Colour, both in Scotland and internationally, to submit their work for consideration until the deadline of 12th February.
In solidarity,
Jess Brough (Founder and Technical Director) and The Fringe of Colour Team
