Jabu Newman

Jabu Nadia Newman is an award-winning artist and filmmaker who works through the mediums of photography and videography. 2020 Newman was commissioned by NOWNESS, British Film Institute and the British Council to write and direct a short film exploring diaspora aesthetics and issues of afro-futurism, _The Dream That Refused Me (2021) _which won two awards at the Ciclope Africa Awards Festival 2021 as well as a Silver Cannes Young Director Award. Her newest short film _Inside Out _premiered at the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival 2021. Most recently Newman won Bronze for the Shots EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) 2021 New Director of the Year Award. Newman has directed commercials for brands Adidas, Nandos, Standard Bank and more. ​ Jabu Nadia Newman’s work is as diverse as her constantly shifting pool of inspirations. This young filmmaker and photographer deftly explores a range of subject matter with sensitivity and humour, from the provocative to the pop culture-esque. Through her bold and colorful visuals, Jabu captures ‘alternative’ stories unique to South African youth culture, that are relevant to the here and now. Inspired by the Rhodes and Fees Must Fall movements, Jabu independently wrote and directed Foxy Five, a web series that celebrates intersectional feminism through the antics of an empowered fictional girl gang. This creative hustle developed not only her career as a director, but also brought to light debates around sexism, feminism, racism, and inequality. Her honest narratives are engaging and relatable, encouraging her subjects to tell their own stories, in their own way. Each project - whether it is an exhibition, branded content, music video, or commercial - is an exciting opportunity for disruptive creative collaboration. Jabu is inspired to bring her conscious aesthetic to commercial filmmaking, championing equal representation both in front of and behind the camera. ​ In 2017 she spoke at the Design Indaba Simulcast Conference 2017 and has screened her work at The Black Filmmakers Festival, The Labia, 12th XPOSED International Queer Film Festival Berlin, Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, Shnit International Short Film Festival, NBO Film Festival, The Aesthetica Short International Film Festival and more. In 2018 Newman exhibited her first solo exhibition titled _Mokwena, Macquene, _Mac quene after being awarded the recipient of the Orms Cape Town School of Photography Artist in Residency program. This exhibition looked at issues of Coloured identity in Retreat, Cape Town, the history of forced removals and the result of her family having to change their surname. Newman won the 2nd edition Video Art Awards by the Arp Art Residency program Centro Luigi Di Sarro for her film titled _untitled:friends _which screened at the Corte Lovere Short Film Festival in September 2019. In 2019 the Museo Meà and the Associazione ‘Asilo dei Creativi di Meano’  presented ‘Jabu Nadia Newman: It Takes A Village’ the artist's first Museum Solo Exhibition. Museum’s main exhibition space from September 7, 2019. This exhibition was curated by Alec Von Bargen, Artistc Director/ Chief Curator. ​