Featured image: Yas Lucia Mascarenhas

Sitting with filmmaker Baka Bah after the premiere of his film, The Success of Moss Side at Factory International, he reflects on the film’s growing legacy, the challenges that have emerged since its release, and the diverse reactions it has sparked.

Baka’s goal when creating the film was to portray a more nuanced portrait of Moss Side –  highlighting the stories and livelihoods of residents. “I was a bit naive,” he admits. “I expected everyone to love and embrace the film as I did.”

Baka explains that while there was a lot of love and support surrounding the film and his perspective of Moss Side, the older generations that came before him questioned whether the film presented an overly romanticised version of the community.

He acknowledges that making a film about Moss Side meant opening the door to a wide range of reactions: “With such a sensitive topic, you’re always going to get different opinions. People’s experiences of the area vary so much.” However, with the feedback he received, it became a lesson in understanding how perspective shapes storytelling and how future projects might bridge those generational gaps.

For Baka, some of the film’s deeper themes were lost in translation. He explains that the film was rooted not only in his love for the community, but also in his faith. “I think people didn’t always see how deeply connected my story was to my religion, to Islam, and how that shaped the way we told it,” he explains.

“For me, it’s about seeing life through a lens of faith – recognising that things can be bad but still believing they’ll be alright. It’s about how you respond and move forward. That perspective of optimism and acceptance runs quietly through the film, though not everyone picked up on it.”

Baka hopes the documentary continues to spark conversation, empowering audiences to question the systems and narratives around them, and to challenge what doesn’t sit right. “Even one person can spark the fire for change,” he says. “I just hope the film leaves that kind of lasting energy behind.”

SNE Studios

Away from the spotlight of the film itself, Baka has been navigating new challenges behind the scenes at SNE (See No Evil) Studios – the community-focused production company he co-founded to spotlight untold local stories.

“The most challenging thing since the release has been dealing with the criticism from all sides and figuring out how we’re going to be sustainable as a production company,” he says.

“We want to keep creating this kind of work, but we also need to find ways to generate income and make the studio sustainable in the long run.” Balancing artistic integrity with the realities of running and growing a business has become one of his biggest lessons post-premiere.

Despite the challenges, the film has also opened a wave of new opportunities for Baka and SNE Studios, strengthening their ties to the community the film set out to represent. “The Success of Moss Side has given me loads of opportunities,” Baka says with a smile. “From commercial projects like organisations such as Manchester United Zone reaching out for video work to help share their stories, to collaborations with charities and educational institutions, it’s been amazing.”

The project has caught the attention of not only Manchester Metropolitan University, who provided initial funding through the Rise programme as part of the university’s 200-year celebrations, but also the University of Manchester, who are now exploring ways to work with SNE Studios on community engagement initiatives. For Baka, these opportunities are proof that authentic storytelling can build bridges and inspire real connections between creatives, institutions, and the people of Moss Side.

When asked about the role of film in driving change in communities like Moss Side, Baka doesn’t hesitate: “Media is the biggest superpower right now, and people don’t always realise how impactful it is. With that power comes responsibility for anyone or any organisation that wants to tell real stories, especially in communities like Moss Side.”

Working with people’s lived experiences and truths requires trust, empathy and care. “When someone lets you into their life and gives you permission to share their story, that’s something sacred. You have to trust justice.

Baka’s future projects aim to focus on connecting institutions, creatives, and communities in ways that create meaningful, lasting impact. “We want to open doors for artists who find it hard to break into the industry,” he says. “We were lucky, but not everyone has that access or support. If we can create a platform that helps others get seen and heard, then that’s real success.”

Bah’s documentary project was initially funded through the Rise programme at Manchester Met through our 200 year celebrations. If you’re interested in running community-facing projects, check out Rise at rise.mmu.ac.uk

Follow @baka_bah on Instagram.