ASSEMBLY

Assembly by visionary artist Rashaad Newsome is a genre-bending journey into Black and queer futures that refuses to be boxed in. Part documentary, part multi-sensory performance piece, the film dives behind the scenes of Newsome’s groundbreaking installation at New York’s Park Avenue Armory – transforming a bastion of white military power into a vibrant celebration of queer joy and resistance.

Blending music, dance, projections, sculpture, holograms and African fractal patterns, the film channels the energy of the queer underground while serving sharp political commentary. It’s led by Being (the Digital Griot), a voguing, storytelling, non-binary AI informed by the writings of Black feminist thinkers. Through the film, Being underscores the importance of decolonisation, embodying a future where machines amplify diverse voices.

Dip into a world where Black queer futures take centre stage and pleasure and power collide – a dance on the graves of oppressive structures. Through breath-taking visuals and visceral moments including a tribute to Black trans women and a journey to Ghana to commune with enslaved ancestors, the film is both a vision of intergenerational resilience and a love letter to queer Black excellence.

The Sunday screening includes a live video Q&A with Newsome and filmmaker Johnny Symons, moderated by Jenna Rain Warwick (First Nations Curator, ACMI).