T A P E Collective’s Angela Moneke & Isra Al Kassi On The Launch Of ‘But Where Are You Really From?’

Established in 2015 as a response to the lack of representation on screen, T A P E is a curatorial collective founded by Angela Moneke and Isra Al Kassi. T A P E are set to launch a UK tour of their programme, But Where Are You Really From?, a three-part series of short film screenings and workshops by mixed heritage filmmakers, celebrating films and generating conversation on identity, heritage labels, language, the significance of names, and the “good immigrant” trope. But Where Are You Really From? offers an invigorating selection of works, inviting audiences to redefine, reject and re-establish notions of belonging. Filmmakers featured are of Zimbabwean, British, Bolivian, Algerian, Venezuelan, Trinidadian, and Canadian heritage, to name a few. Following several successful screenings at BFI Southbank and online throughout July 2021, T A P E launches this new series at Barbican Cinema today, 20 October 2021. To learn more, Something Curated spoke with T A P E’s cofounders.

Something Curated: How was T A P E Collective born?

Angela Moneke + Isra Al Kassi: We met during the Barbican Young Progammer’s first cohort around 6 years ago. We had both been attending LFF together as volunteer film critics for different outlets, and it just so happened that we were both based in Streatham/Norbury and on our weekly commute home talked about our love of cinema and the changes we’d like to see. Starting with envisioning running a cinema one day and while appreciative of everything Barbican had to offer as part of the BYP scheme we wanted to start our own collective screening films in alternative spaces, and so T A P E was born. Our first screening was in Lerryn’s cafe in Peckham in 2016 with every piece of tech equipment borrowed and a popcorn machine brought from home; we set the tone for the future of T A P E with a cross-arts and social event. 

SC: What is the thinking behind the selection of films included in But Where Are You Really From?

AM + IAK: But Where Are You Really From? was an idea that sparked long before we launched it. It was rooted in our personal experiences, our film taste, and also in long-standing conversations that had been happening in our communities and beyond. Through it we’re championing the stories of mixed heritage filmmakers – diaspora, immigrants and children of immigrants, third culture kids, multi-/biracial peoples and a whole host of further experiences. And we’ve found that within this, there are so many stories to explore and a universality to that shared experience that runs almost contrary to the actuality of being or feeling “othered.” So our programme features films that hit a variety of notes: the good immigrant trope, language and mother tongues, the significance of names, belonging and not belonging. And we’re also proud to make space in our programme for the work of emerging filmmakers who may have access to fewer resources when creating their work, whose films may otherwise not have been afforded as wide a reach.

SC: What do you hope to achieve with this programme?

AM + IAK: Just the act of showing these films – and not only centred on the capital, but in cities across the UK – meets our greatest goal of being able to champion films that we love; films which explore ideas that are important to us and our communities. And when it comes to talking about mixed heritage specifically, we’re happy to be adding to that conversation in nuanced, exciting and engaging ways and to make sure the conversation continues. Maybe it will spark other events with common motivations. Also, considering the way in which the work of BIPOC communities have historically been sidelined, it’s great to continue to challenge who gets to be part of the cinematic canon. Collectives have been a huge part of doing that work and we’re hoping to show that this is here to stay.



Feature image: Still from Golden Jubilee, 2021. Directed by Suneil Sanzgiri