Shades of Yellow: dir Sergio Pontier (2024)

Sergio Pontier reshapes the portrayal of black childhood, reflecting on the innocence of his youth and how it defined him; voyaging into mundane moments from his childhood, made nostalgic and meaningful on reflection, the Afro-Dominican-Spanish photographer and filmmaker has created a visual poem that touches on identity, blackness, community, brotherhood and friendship and seeks to return to a time when the desire to grow up overruled all. Pontier rejects the common portrayal of black childhood as dark and dangerous, questioning the often violent depictions he found himself unable to relate to.

Shades of Yellow shows in a programme of Friday-evening films selected by Ose Ekore to support Efie Gallery’s current group exhibition time heals, just not quick enough (runs to 30 July).