A still from the film Still We Thrive, shows the lower part of a Black femme's face, lips purses, superimposed over the image of a ship at sea.

All Films / Seeds / Still We Thrive

Still We Thrive

England / 2021 / 6m / English

In-Person: Tues 27 June / 20:15 BST

Online: 23 - 29 June

Using archival footage and poetry, Campbell X showcases the unstoppable force of Black people united across time and water.

Still We Thrive (2021) was filmed at a time of renewed faith in protesting and screened during a global push-back against public disobedience. The film contains an invigorating blend of music and poetry, including A Negro Speaks of Rivers (Langston Hughes) and Yemoja: Mother of Waters (Olive Senior). Campbell X (Stud Life, DES!RE) presents a celebration of Black togetherness using archival footage and powerful performances by Martina Laird, Michelle Tiwo, Kim Tatum and Don Warrington. They, the oppressive forces operating throughout the world, may be an unrelenting force but the same remains true; together we will find ways to flourish, emboldened by ancestry, mythology and an enduring relationship to the waters.

  • A Smoking Dogs Films Production

    Written and Directed by Campbell X

    Produced by Ashitey Akomfrah

    Edited by Qasim Arshad

    Director of Photography - Tom Swindell

    Sound Recordist - Trevor Mathison

    Make Up - Kira Amin

    Camera Assistant and B Camera Operator - Kelly Smith

    Covid Supervisor - Thomas Petford

    Floor Runner - Kairon Edwards

    Sound Mix - Rich Simpson

    Colourist - Yoomin Lee

    Post Production Services By Hijack

    Equipment Supplied By VMI

    Catering Supplied By - Jones & Son

  • In order of appearance:

    Martina Laird

    Don Warrington

    Michelle Tiwo

    Kim Tatum

  • Courtesy of

    198 Contemporary Arts & LearningArchive.org

    BFI National Archives

    Breathe. A SOLO Experience

    Campbell X

    Library of Congress

    Mater

    Pond5

    QTIPOC Family

    Shutterstock

    Smoking Dogs Films

    Tom Swindell Pictures

    Triune Productions Limited

    USC Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archive

  • Awen by The Mind Orchestra

    ˜Yemoja: Mother Of Waters” used with the kind permission of Olive Senior

    ˜The Negro Speaks Of Rivers” used with the permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc.

  • Dino Everett

    Tariqh Akoni and Lisa Conn-Akoni

    Maria Nunes

    Dale John Allen

    Kathryn Perry

    Mia Bays

  • Captions by Sarya Wu

    British Sign Language by Grace Buckle

    BSL Editing by Tao-Anas Le Thanh

    Audio Descriptions provided by the International Digital Centre

Listen to…

Writer and Director Campbell X talk about Still We Thrive in our Audio Programme, Before the Applause - available wherever you get your podcasts.

Read Response

The power of orating our histories

A Response to Still We Thrive, written by Georgina Quach