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Asmaa Jama is a Somali artist, poet and filmmaker based in Bristol. As a poet and writer, Jama has been commended for the Brunel African Poetry Prize, shortlisted for the Wasafiri Writing Prize, the New Poets Prize and James Berry Poetry prize, and longlisted in the National Poetry Competition. Their work has been published widely in magazines and journals and commissioned by Arnolfini, Hayward Gallery and Ifa gallery. As a filmmaker, Jama was commissioned by BBC Arts to make Before We Disappear (2021), and by Bristol Old Vic to make The Season of Burning Things (2021). Jama is a Film London FLAMIN Fellow (2022) and a resident artist at Somerset House Studios.
Except this time nothing returns from the ashes (2024), Before We Disappear (2021), The Season of Burning Things (2022)
Past and present infuse each other with strange energy across films that capture people and places at the borders of transformation. As the sun sets on ancient ruins a shutter opens and closes, and a light in the distance reflects on the glass of a soldier’s lonely watchtower.
