North West Film Archive present a recently rediscovered film about the history and legacy of the Nello James Centre in Whalley Range, and the people who fought for its survival.

This 40-minute historical documentary sheds light on an important chapter of Manchester's Caribbean history and the documentation of Black community activism in the city, telling the story of a group of local residents who fought to establish and grow the Nello James Centre throughout the 1970s. Once thought lost, the film was rediscovered last year and has now been digitised by the North West Film Archive (NWFA), and updated by the original filmmakers.

The Nello James Centre was named after the Trinidadian historian, writer and activist Cyril Lionel Robert James, who was prominent in the Pan-African and Marxist movement. The Centre was gifted to the community in 1972 by Vanessa Redgrave and developed into a social centre, a nursery and a legal advice centre - it was a community resource hub.

Between 1976 and the early 80s, two film school graduates, Roy Newton and Martin Lightening, filmed the activities at the Centre and documented the struggles, aspirations and achievements of the people involved.

Julian Sharpe, who features in and narrates the film, said: “Sadly, whilst the Centre is no longer a viable entity, this film chronicles the work and commitment of a group of like-minded people in attempting to address some of the prevailing issues the Black community were experiencing.”

“Reflecting on this period, I think it is fair to say that the issues described and discussed in the film are as relevant today as they were then, over 40 years ago. The film is therefore an important legacy of the Manchester Caribbean diaspora and could be a source of inspiration for today and future generations.”

The rediscovered ‘The Nello James Centre’ film will premiere at the Contact on the 22nd of October, followed by a panel discussion led by award-winning filmmaker, producer and broadcaster Karen Gabay.

The screening will also feature an extended extract of the 1982 documentary ‘Upon Westminster Bridge’ by Anthony Wall, showing an exchange between C. L. R. James and legendary dub poets Michael Smith and Linton Kwesi Johnson. Courtesy of BBC Arena.