What is left of family ties when our elders have passed? Michael Jenkins explores loss and new beginnings in this touching short. Leon wakes from an unsettling dream, calling him to go straight to his grandmother’s house where he discovers that she has passed on. Turned away by his estranged extended family during the Nine Night proceedings, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by a mysterious figure. Filmed against the backdrop of Bristol’s hills, Pickney (2021), written and directed by Michael Jenkins, traces a young mixed-race boy’s grief and yearning for connection to a family he feels only partially related to. Does the loss of his nan sever the last remaining ties to his Caribbean family, or present an opportunity to reflect and act on the aspects of his life and identity that he feels has been missing?

In this episode, Michael discusses the inspirations and influences behind the film and more. 

Fringe of Colour Films is a hybrid arts festival for Black people and People of Colour. Find out more at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠fringeofcolour.co.uk⁠⁠⁠