African philosophies and Pan-African history are informing a new approach to independent filmmaking and cultural expression in Manchester, United Kingdom. The See My World film festival, scheduled for November 21 at Contact Theatre, will showcase independent creators from the African diaspora in northern England. Organized as part of a year-round cultural program, the event draws inspiration from the 1945 Pan-African Congress held in Manchester and the ideas of influential African thinkers John Mbiti and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. In their respective works, Mbiti and wa Thiong’o rejected the idea that African thought was inferior and emphasized reclaiming African knowledge systems, cultural identity, and community. Mbiti’s concept of Sasa na Zamani, where the past shapes what follows, guides the theme. Filmmakers can submit works up to 30 minutes with no screening fees. The program includes See My World’s documentaries Homage, which explores dance through contemporary portraits and archival material, and Poetic Justice, which examines the connections between Pan-African thought and Manchester’s poetry scene. It will also feature exhibitions, discussions, Q&As, and workshops geared toward making film more accessible.