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BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions

Perspectives 2025
© Participant
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is designed as a cinematic experience to mirror the sonic textures of a music album. Adapted from Kahlil Joseph’s highly acclaimed video art installation, which was shown at the Venice Biennale in 2019, the film interweaves fictional and historical characters in an immersive story that spans 247 years across land and sea. The ocean reveals its mysteries to those passengers aboard the transatlantic liner “The Nautica” who are willing to pause and listen. The film can be viewed as a form of inventory as the collective memories of Black people and the history of the diaspora are brought together in a multi-layered narrative. In its mix of fictional and documentary forms, the film is inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Saidiya Hartman and others, juxtaposing their ideas with archive material and samples from YouTube, social media, film, television and journalism.
The film’s unique stereo sound was mastered by a music engineer. The artists involved, including Arthur Jafa and Garrett Bradley, deliver their distinct perspectives across the 21 tracks.
by Kahlil Joseph (Director, Screenplay), Saidiya Hartman (Screenplay), Irvin Hunt (Screenplay), Madebo Fatunde (Screenplay), Kristen Adele Calhoun (Screenplay), Christina Sharpe (Screenplay), Kaneza Schaal (Screenplay), Onye Anyanwu (Screenplay)
with Kaneza Schaal, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Hope Giselle, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Funmilayo Akechukwu, Peter Jay Fernandez, Anthony Okungbowa, Zora Casebere, Penny Johnson Jerald, John Tijani USA / Ghana 2025 English 113' Colour & Black/White International premiere | Debut film

With

  • Kaneza Schaal
  • Anas Aremeyaw Anas
  • Hope Giselle
  • Shaunette Renée Wilson
  • Funmilayo Akechukwu
  • Peter Jay Fernandez
  • Anthony Okungbowa
  • Zora Casebere
  • Penny Johnson Jerald
  • John Tijani

Crew

Director Kahlil Joseph
Screenplay Kahlil Joseph, Saidiya Hartman, Irvin Hunt, Madebo Fatunde, Kristen Adele Calhoun, Christina Sharpe, Kaneza Schaal, Onye Anyanwu
Cinematography Bradford Young
Editing Luke Lynch, Paul Rogers, Kahlil Joseph, Parallax
Music KLEIN
Casting Aisha Coley
Animation Gyimah Gariba
Producers Onye Anyanwu, Kahlil Joseph, Amy Greenleaf, Nic Gonda
Executive Producers James Shani, Anikah McLaren, David Linde, Steven Soderbergh

Produced by

Rich Spirit Studios

Just Films/Ford Foundtion

BLKNWS

Boat Films

Photos

Kahlil Joseph

© Jake Michaels

The films and video installations of the filmmaker and artist challenge conventional linear narratives, using sound and music as materials to evoke lyricism and complexity. He first gained widespread recognition with his short film Until the Quiet Comes which won a Short Film Special Jury Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is a conceptual artwork that redefines how Black culture is experienced and communicated.

Filmography

2025 BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025