Meet Lilah Benetti | Artist and Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lilah Benetti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lilah, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
My name is Lilah Benetti and I am an Artist and Director based in Naarm/Melb (AUS). My experimental and narrative films explore stories of otherness, intersectionality and nuances that shape cross-cultural and non-binary identities. Of Zambian-Italian heritage, my understanding of Blackness began to develop through the lens of my adoptive father’s Aboriginal Australian (Djabugay) family. Brought up in a culture that locates heritage in land, whilst being a member of thenAfrican diaspora, I acquired a unique perspective on place and race. Understanding the call-and-response relationship between people and their environment motivates my work’s social ambition.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Popular imaginings of contemporary Afrofuturism often invest in distant utopian worlds as a mode to create alternative models of society. Whilst this optimistic speculation of a far future is useful in motivating larger political narratives of liberation, what of the proximate future? What of next year, next week, tomorrow? My work is attentive to the possibilities of our immediate future.

A short film I produced – Tinashé, a tender story of brotherhood in Black Australia, was awarded the 2022 Honorable Mention Award at the Berlinale, Berlin International Film Festival. The international jury commented: “The film reveals something fresh about young people. It is complex and deep – and taps into a side of Australia we don’t usually see on screen.”

My piece ‘More Like a River’ a short film that reflects my perspective on the current global queer black renaissance and was awarded the Wyndham Art Prize in June 2022

I am just coming off the back of a 5 week residency in Tuscany Italy, courtesy of MQBMBQ (My Queer Blackness My Black Queerness) x Villa Lena Residency where I was working on my upcoming film still we move which where I am deep diving into sound a bit more in collaboration with the Australian Arts Orchestra.

I think the biggest struggle for me in Australia is the lack of representation in mainstream media of Black Queer people in this country. I don’t want to just see a caricature on a screen – I want to hear, feel and see our voices and presence eminating through the screen.
I am really trying to change this by using my platform to create space and visibility for the people that connect with it. I try to do this not just on a personal level, but a professional one too by building my community and bringing my team with me on set. It is important that we have representation not just in front of the camera, but behind the lens also.

Across the next 12 months I’m really looking forward sharing my work more internationally.
It is exciting that I get to explore the possibilities of international collaborations and that’s really what I am looking towards.
With every project I am growing, maturing and I know my journey is to continue to build and share these stories.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

The best time for this is November to December when we are moving in to Summer. One thing about Melbourne is it gets so cold in the winter and our weather can be so sporadic so when the weather is good – you better believe WE STAY OUTSIDE.

The beach is always a vibe any time of the day if you ask me. I live in South Melbourne so it’s a 10 minute walk there but I’m also not far from the city. I’m a huge people watcher. Whether I’m on holiday or in my own city, I’m always walking around, eating, drinking somewhere (usually working alone) with my laptop and my headphones.
I live of the Southside but a lot of my Naarm clients and collaborators are Northside so I spend a lot of my time cruising cafe’s, bars and restaurants in Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Brunswick area. If I was to compare the Northside to anywhere it sits somewhere between Williamsburg Brooklyn and Kreuzberg Berlin.

For my morning coffee it’s gotta be Tanaka in Carlton. Tanaka is centred around community, produce and accessibility – from sourcing food to cooking with locals, volunteering at local schools to cooking community meals for local community housing.
My friendship with Nesbert goes back over a decade and I’m always keen to get involved in any community building activities he’s got going on. It’s been incredibly inspiring to watch him build.

For brunch I’d check out Napier Quarter – the anchovies on toast is a must – very very Melbourne vibe – If you know you know. They also have a lovely natural wine selection.

Check out the Centre for Contemporary Photography @ccp_australia, there is always some incredible local creatives on show and you are bound to meet someone there who will tip you off to the next spot. It’s always good to check out the NGV.

Of a night I would hit Fenton Food and Wine for their Harvest Dinner, where they do a farm to table style seasonal veggies and sustainable meat and poultry. They try to use locally sourced native ingredients where possible with an African twist – it’s so delicious always and the cocktails are really special.

My two favourite Dj’s from Naarm at the moment are Tinika @tinikapas and Charlotte @c.frim who are both Black and Queer so anywhere they are playing always brings great energy. Also if it lines up, check out a night Charlotte runs called Dutty @duttyworldwide they run sporadically but if you do catch one you will be blessed!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
During 2020 Melbourne lockdown my good friends Nesbert Kagonda and Ruby Clark opened a cafe on Rathdowne Street in Carlton. Slowly Tanaka transformed beyond a neighbourhood grocer to a community hub in which during this time, I would go there to cook community meals for the local community housing. It was not only a way to show kindness and care, it was a way for us to connect too – something that Nes and Ruby hold close to their heart.

I also want to shout out to my good friend Rei – my right hand, who is always there to support and inspire me. We have a unique personal and professional bond. We work together on community mentorship programs with ex-incarcerated youth and I am constantly inspired by her radiant energy. I am privileged enough not only to experience that first hand, but to witness the effect that has on these young people.

All of these people reinforce the role and impact of community care and the power and impact that can have on each others lives.

Website: www.lilahbenetti.com

Instagram: @easylilah

Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/lilah-benetti-4b281180

Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJswKu6_RFrgIcHOPs8b_g

Other: Vimeo https://vimeo.com/lilahbenetti

Image Credits
Jesse Lane Sam Biddle Nynno Bel-Air Juan Farrell