Episode #107 with T A P E Collective

The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

"I think in terms of expectations, we (T A P E Collective) are just very, very honest. What we have found...is that there really is a disconnect between a filmmaker's idea and it reaching audiences. I think people really don't understand how distribution, exhibition and production work...and that is something that I think we're quite good at trying to demystify."
In this episode I chat with Isra Al Kassi and Angela Moneke, co-founders of T A P E. The ladies share how they met and how their love for film brought about the creation of the Collective. We talk about why they believe in supporting grassroots projects, the importance of championing under-served films and reaching a wider audience. We discuss the challenges the Collective faces including erasure, tokenism, microaggressions and being othered, but also their successes as T A P E Collective. Isra and Angela also chat about their heritage, what makes them tick, and of course, they share the quotes and sayings that continually inspire them.
T A P E - co-founded by Isra Al Kassi and Angela Moneke - is a South London-based curatorial film collective working across film production, distribution and exhibition, challenging traditional ways of filmmaking and looking to demystify the industry for marginalised voices. Founded in 2015 as a response to the lack of representation on screen and wanting to platform and champion under-served films, they curate screening events and distribute underrepresented films (both past and contemporary) and titles which have had limited to no theatrical release in the UK, mixed with cross-arts engagement. T A P E aims to provide greater exposure for these films and to offer the public a more diverse and enriched range of cinematic work.
Over the years T A P E has curated a number of well-rounded screenings bringing together film, art, music, talks and more into one space and events with a focus on representation, identity and heritage, often with a focus on women of colour behind and in front of the camera.
T A P E has since expanded to include: commissioning content writing; Q&A and panel hosting; consultation on equity, diversity and inclusion; festival guest curation; production; distribution; venue dressing; developing and producing workshops; and running online streaming platform Good Wickedry. Recent programmes include “But Where Are You Really From?”, “Found in Translation” and “Free to Forage”.
Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [e-mail].
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!