Participant and A24 announced they have set a feature film adaption ofBLKNWS, a groundbreaking art installation by video artist and filmmakerKahlil Joseph. While there’s little information about the project so far, Joseph will be making his directorial debut withBLKNWS. Kahlil Joseph is known for creating short films that center on the experience of African Americans in the U.S., with a body of work that’s internationally recognized. His main work withBLKNWSis focused on showing how everything can be news under the appropriate optics, and how a constant stream of images can help redefine how Black culture is experienced, viewed, and communicated.
The originalBLKNWSinstallation was created by Joseph in 2019 and consists of a two-channel exposition that mimics a newsfeed. In the two screens of the installations, Joseph projects a collage of archive footage, interviews, music videos, social media posts, and filmed news desk segments to create a stream of sounds and images that reinterprets Black people’s exposition on media, while also celebrating African American figures. Besides that, the installation explores the struggle of Black people throughout history, underlining their continuous fight for protecting their identity and claiming their place in the world.
While theBLKNWSinstallation is thought-provoking and deeply moving, it’s hard to imagine how it can be transformed into a feature film. The collage of images is a powerful tool Joseph uses to spread his message, but feature films usually demand a more linear narrative that’s not present in the original exposition. However, the idea of a feature adaptation is no doubt curious, especially since Joseph will be helming a feature for the first time.
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After the initial art installations,BLKNWSbecame an ongoing work operated through a network of editors and journalists who constantly update the stream. So, the upcoming feature film could also tell the story of this network, exposing the amazing ongoing work that remains alive thanks to Joseph’s support.
TheBLKNWSfeature film is produced by Joseph,Onye Anyanwu,Amy Greenleaf,Nicolas Gonda.Jeff SkollandAnikah McLarenact as executive producers. Participant is set to lead the project’s production and will co-finance the film alongside A24. A24, which is known for indie gems such asA Ghost StoryandLady Bird, will take care of worldwide distribution.
There’s no release window for theBLKNWSfeature film. As more details of the project emerge, you can expect to read all about it here at Collider.
