Nov 9, 20222 min read

HumaniTree

Updated: May 30

'We are all one, let’s look towards the future and make a brighter day’

-Pierre

Urban Circle - HumaniTree

Over the last year, Newport-based youth arts organisation, Urban Circle, have been developing an insightful documentary called Humanitree, which premiered on 28th October at Cineworld, Newport. Urban Circle curates several events and projects centred around giving young people from Newport creative opportunities. Most recently, HumaniTree, a documentary made by young people focussing on ancestry and genealogy of humans through interviews with various scholars across the country; put best by Pierre Gashagaza ‘Humanitree is about humanity and the human family tree’. Pierre is one of many young people involved in the development of HumaniTree with the roles of pre/post-production, interviewing, editing, and creating footage. Pierre is a filmmaker and photographer and explained the power of being involved in the creation of the documentary.

‘If I didn’t have an opportunity like this I may still be in a deprived area thinking there is no opportunities but this gives me the belief that it’s possible.’

‘today is a bit mad, it shows the projection of what my career will be if I stick to this route and be serious about my craft’.

‘Ignorance is not bliss'

-Patrick

The young participants were given time at the end of the premiere to speak about their experience and to get asked questions from the audience. One being, Jordan Wilson-Alexander, 20 - filmmaker/editor/graphic designer. Jordan said he ‘enjoyed how much he learnt… having the opportunity to cover such a broad aspect of history that we share together’.

This was seconded by Patrick Bilongo, 19, (also involved in all aspects of the production).

‘The history I studied for 5 years in school doesn’t come close to what I learnt in 6 months with this documentary’.

These young people were deeply embedded in the birth of this project and exemplify the power of this work; ‘I was now able to connect with a team who also want to push themselves…it helped me develop what I want to do’ - Jordan.