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Amber Akaunu
Photo by Megan Jepson
Amber Akaunu (b.1996) is a Liverpool born Nigerian-German filmmaker working in cinema and art to document and imagine Black regional stories. Her latest film titled '0151: Liverpool, Rap & Politics', explores Liverpool's political past through the city's best storytellers; its rappers.
Her creative practice extends to her role as co-founder and editor of ROOT-ed Zine where she works to support Black, Asian and PoC artists in the North West of England through publishing, workshops, guest lectures, curating, and producing.
Amber sees zines as a way to disrupt the hierarchy of the production of history.
Amber is also a BAFTA scholar and recent MA film graduate who is currently based between Liverpool and South London where she works for the National Gallery as an in-house Video Producer.
Education
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Creative Leadership - The School for Social Entrepreneurs - 2020-22
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MA Filmmaking: Screen Documentary - Goldsmiths, UoL - 2020-21 (Distinction)
BA (Hons) Fine Art - Liverpool Hope University - 2015-18 (First Class)
Selected Exhibitions & Screenings
2024
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Conversations (Group show) - Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
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2023
Can publications be porous? (Group show) - INIVA, London
2022
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Homerton 2 Homerton at British Urban Film Festival - Rich Mix, London
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Afro Hair Rituals screening - Wash Day - V&A, London
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0151: Liverpool, Rap & Politics at LIVIFF - Odeon, Liverpool
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Queer/in/g Nature (Group Show) - SEAS, Brighton
Celebrating Beryl Gilroy (Solo Show) - British Library, London
2021
MA Film Screening - Goldsmiths Curzon Cinema, Londo
Agudas Screening - Fringe of Colour - (Online)
Filmed Up - HOME, Manchester
5 Elements Screening - Bluecoat, Liverpool
IFE NKILI Festival - (Online)
2020
Screening 12 - NOW-INSTANT, Los Angeles
Without Walls Exhibition - Liverpool
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PUSH Festival - HOME, Manchester
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The Screen Group Exhibition - Winchester School of Art
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2019
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39 (Solo Show) - OUTPUT Gallery, Liverpool
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ROOT-ed Zine Group Show (Curator) - OUTPUT Gallery, Liverpool
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2018
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Black History, Movement & Hair - Tate Exchange, Liverpool
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The World Transformed Festival - Baltic Cinema, Liverpool
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We Got The Sauce - Drummer Boy Studios, London
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Fine Art Degree Show - Liverpool Hope University
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Commissions
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2022
Jerwood x Tetley Commissioned Curator - Leeds
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Artist/Curator Commission - Treasurers of the British Library Display, London
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Community Globe Artist - The World Reimagined
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2021
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15k for 15 years - Shoot The Company, London
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Welcome to England (BHM) - Manchester Museum
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2020
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Agudas (Film) - 20 Stories High
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100 years of Justice - Magistrates Association
Talks & Workshops
2022
Artists Exploring Collections Discussion - British Library, London
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BHM Screening & Discussion - Liverpool Hope University
2021
Lubaina Himid In Conversation with Amber Akaunu and Sadé Mica - Starr Cinema, Tate Modern
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HerStories // Shelf Life - INIVA, London
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Film Workshops - WOW Fest, Liverpool
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2020
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Making Zines & Community Talk - SEAS Brighton
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'Should the North take the knee?' Panel - People's Powerhouse
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ROOT-ed Zine Lecture - Kingston University
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BFI Film Academy Q&A - Instagram Live
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Act 1: Ira, Curiosity & Creative Language - INIVA/Manchester Art Gallery
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Zine Not Heard Workshops - Blaze Arts x ROOT-ed Zine
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Panel Discussion with Lubaina Himid: Black Women Artists Symposium - UcLan
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2019
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In Conversation with Travis Alabanza for Homotopia - International Slavery Museum, Liverpool
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Black History Art Tour - Lady Lever Art Gallery & Walker Art Gallery
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Glossary Review Workshop with Jade Montserrat - Humber Street Gallery, Hull
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In Conversation with Michelle Williams Gamaker - Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
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The Watermelon Woman Screening & Discussion - Spirit of Liverpool, Toxteth TV
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Press Room with Ciara Phillips - The Human Library, Crosby
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2018
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Graduate Artists in Conversation - Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool
Features/Publications
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2023
My Journey Connecting With My Nigerian and Brazilian Heritage - Black Ballad
2021
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Black History Month: 5 Black Artists you should know about by Contact Mcr
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Magistrates Association Interview with Amber Akaunu
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From Nigeria to Brazil: Responding to Agudas by Amber Akaunu
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A reimagining of Relations, a publication by INIVA and Jade Montserrat
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2020
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A Q&A with Amber Akaunu by a-n
Afro Hair Rituals by Bido Lito
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My lips belong to no one by BBC Arts
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ROOT-ed Zinte Interrview by Made In Bed
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Interview with New Creative, Amber Akaunu bu Voice Mag
Present Tense, a publication by The Double Negative - Chapter 3: Zine Scene meets Art Scene
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2019
In Other Words, a publication by METAL and The Live Art Development Agency
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Awards
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2022
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Best Documentary Short at Liverpool International Film Festival
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2021
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Arts Council Develop Your Creative Practice
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2020
BAFTA Kirsch Scholarship
LCR Culture and Creativity Student Inspiration Award
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David Lewis Grant Award
2019
Steve Biko Young Achievers Award
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