History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. - James Baldwin

To mark the occasion of the exhibition The Struggle of Memory, the PalaisPopulaire is proud to present the film series "History is not the Past", curated by author and filmmaker Oliver Hardt. This series showcases films created by artists and filmmakers from Africa and the African diaspora, exploring themes of memory, loss, and restitution in diverse and thought-provoking ways, accompanied by film talks with invited guests.

"History is not the Past" spans five screenings and features a total of thirteen short and feature-length films from nine countries, including Senegal, Nigeria, Haiti, Brazil, Germany, and France. Some of these works will be making their German debut. What unites these films is a profound awareness of how colonial history lingers and lives on in our landscapes, bodies, and objects, shaping our present realities. While some films explicitly and urgently address this colonial legacy, others do so indirectly, employing visual symbolism and coded narratives. Collectively, these films convey a shared hope: that through deep acts of remembrance, we can contribute to the healing of our wounded present.

Friday 13.10., 6:30 pm, cinema 1: Screening 1 – Opening Film:
Touki Bouki by Djibril Diop Mambéty (Senegal 1973) introduced by Oliver Hardt

Saturday 14.10., 2:30 pm, Studio: Screening 2 – History inscribed in Bodies, Spaces, and Landscapes:
short film programme; guests: Karimah Ashadu, artist and filmmaker, Eric Otieno Sumba, writer and political scientist

Saturday 14.10., 5 pm, Studio: Screening 3 – In the Presence of Ghosts
Atlantique by Mati Diop; guest: Diara Sow, filmmaker and DoP (Director of Photography)

Sunday 15.10., 2:30 pm, Studio: Screening 4 – Living Objects, Collective Memories
short film programme; guests: Prof. Dr. Bénédicte Savoy, art historian and writer, Dr. Mahret Ifeoma Kupka, art historian, curator and writer

Sunday 15.10., 5 pm, Studio: Screening 5 – Looking for Clues
short film programme; closing