Filmed over the course of seven years, the photographer Abdulhamid Kircher evolves as his subjects shift from strangers he meets on the streets in New York, to Californian nature, to self and his family in Berlin. His diaristic work becomes a reckoning of masculinity, heritage, and sense of belonging when he addresses his fractured relationship with his father; the film follows the years building to the release of his first monograph, 'Rotting From Within’ in 2024.
I AM A DARKROOM showcases the work of artists in the Sustainable Darkroom, a grassroots organisation at the forefront of working toward an ecological future for photography. From kitchen tables to at-home darkrooms, and even the dirt outdoors - these artists are challenging toxic legacies to build a new ecology of photography. An ecology not just of sustainable materials, but the political and social entanglements that arise each time you press the shutter. Developed in a blend of coffee and home-grown herbs, the film is cut with experimental vignettes showcasing Sustainable Darkroom research. From images developed in household waste to footage printed on waste coffee cups, and pelargonium leaves as a new photographic paper - I AM A DARKROOM welcomes the rough, handmade hands-dirty approach of an ecologically aware future.
