Florence Ayisi

Florence Ayisi is a Professor of International Documentary Film at the University of South Wales, U.K., in the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries. With over 28 years of experience teaching film and media studies at various higher education institutions across the U.K., she is a seasoned academic specialising in documentary film theory, production, direction, and research. Her expertise extends to both national and international contexts. She has guided students in understanding the complexities of documentary filmmaking, combining theoretical rigour with practical insights, and equipping students with the critical and creative tools to navigate the evolving landscape of documentary cinema. Through her extensive experience, she has nurtured aspiring filmmakers and scholars, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art and impact of storytelling through documentary film.

In her teaching, Ayisi is committed to cultivating a culture of respect and sensitivity to issues of diversity, equality and inclusion in the design and delivery of courses, which offers students opportunities to engage with western media/cinema practices, discourses and resources. Students are encouraged to be critical and sensitive in the processes of researching, developing and producing their film projects in relation to issues around representation and intersectionality.

Creatiive Practice Research Website – https://www.florenceayisi.com/

Ayisi's research focuses on using film as a method and research tool to explore, construct and disseminate knowledge in diverse contexts. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with extensive experience of producing documentary films nationally and internationally. She has produced several documentary films in Cameroon, Tanzania and in the United Kingdom, including Sisters in Law (co-directed, 2005), Zanzibar Soccer Queens (2007), Zanzibar Soccer Dreams (co-directed with Catalin Brylla, 2016), The Bronze Men of Cameroon (2020), Plant Power (2023), Belonging: Tiger Bay Boxing Club (2024). Sisters in Law, has won over 30 prestigious film awards, screened in over 200 festivals. It was shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination (Oscars) in 2006. 

Her vision for creative practice research in documentary filmmaking aims to expand revisionist dialogues on decolonising perspectives and representations of Africans and the African diaspora. Framed within Pan-African, ecofeminist, transnational, and postcolonial discourses, her work offers rare perspectives and discerning insights into stories where marginalised communities and formerly colonised peoples have agency and voice. Her documentaries align with the broader agenda of decolonised research practices, knowledge production, and exchange, while widely disseminating positive representations of diverse social identities and lived experiences, fostering meaningful impact.

Her films have been showcased at numerous national and international film festivals, receiving wide acclaim for their artistic, cultural and social significance. They have garnered multiple prestigious awards, highlighting her ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate across diverse audiences. These accolades reflect her commitment to excellence and her dedication to creating impactful films that spark meaningful conversations and inspire change.

Ayisi was a Co-Investigator on a multi-disciplinary project, Co-POWeR, exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Families and Communities in the U.K. - February 2021 to January 2023. The Co-POWeR project was led by a team of Black Female professors from nine (9) U.K. universities. The project was funded by the Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Some of the research findings have been evidenced in several documentary films, co-created with participants from diverse BAME communities.

Professor Ayisi has receved several awards for her documentaries and film related activities. Her recent awards include a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition at the 2024 15^th annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival in recognition of her contribution as a panelist to the success of the African Film Summit, ‘Identities and Representation in African Cinema’ held at the San Jose State University.

In 2023, Ayisi was awarded the ‘Black History Wales Community Award 2023’ at the Welsh Parliament during Black History Month celebrations organised by Race Council Wales (October 2023), for her ‘Contributions to Film and the Creative Industries’.

In October 2022, she was awarded certificates and a trophy from the State of California Senate, the Congressional District of California and the Silicon Valley African Film Festival for The Bronze Men of Cameroon in recognition of her “outstanding achievement in using film as a vehicle for Community Engagement and Education” and for “enriching the American Cultural landscape” with her “passion and creativity.”       

Ayisi has written extensively about her practice research, especially on questions and issues around media representation and (in)visibility relating to African Women in book chapters and journal articles. These include ‘The Politics of Representation and Audience Reception: Alternative Visions of Africa’ (Co-written with Catalin Brylla, 2013), ‘How We Live Today…’ Florence Ayisi in dialogue with Mo White’, in Women, the Arts and Globalization: Eccentric Experience (2013), ‘Making Waves on International Women’s Day: Cameroonian Women’s Dynamism’, in Home/Land: Women Citizenship, Photographies (2016) and ‘See Me, Know Me: Cultural Expressions of Cameroonian Women’ (2014).

Professor Ayisi has extensive experience of working with Third sector organisations, and has collaborated with numerous community groups and organisations, and Government departments within the broad context of Social Justice and community development in Cameroon, Tanzania, Germany and the U.K. These include The Palace Museum in the Bamum Kingdom in Cameroon, the Cameroon Ministry of Arts and Culture, The World Bank Group in Cameroon, the National Programme for Participatory Development (PNDP), The Women Fighters Football Club in Zanzibar, Berlin-Brandenburgische Auslandsgesellschaft (BBAG) e.V., Germany, Sheba Soul Ensemble (Bristol/Wales), St. Joseph’s Boxing Gym (Newport), Priory Road Luncheon Club (Southampton), Tiger Bay Amateur Boxing Club (Cardiff), The Bristol Rain Forest, UK.

PhD Supervision: Ayisi welcomes research candidates interested in pursuing PhD studies in Film and Media, including PhD by Portfolio, Audio-Visual PhD, and traditional PhD research. She is particularly keen to support projects that explore innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to filmmaking, film theory, and practice-based research. Whether your focus is on creative practice, critical analysis, or a combination of both, she is committed to providing mentorship and guidance to help candidates in developing and realising their research ambitions.

Creatiive Practice Research Website – https://www.florenceayisi.com/

Florence has worked with a variety of Third Sector organisations and Government Agencies on several projects within the broad context of Communication for Development, Women’s issues, Digitising Cultural Heritage, Film Education and Media Literacy, Film and Governance in a Transnational and Global Media context. Her main agenda is to use film to highlight development issues, expand Knowledge and Visibility, and to give a Voice to People/Communities who are often absent or under-represented in the media.

She has worked with:
International Centre for Research and Documentation on African Traditions and Languages (CERDOTOLA) – Cameroon.
Public Administration International (PAI) – London, U.K.
Limbe City Council – Local Government Authority – Cameroon
_ The World Bank Group, Cameroon _
Women’s Panorama at the Zanzibar International Film Festival
The Women’s Empowerment Centre, Limbe – Cameroon
The Ministry of Arts and culture – Cameroon
Women’s Fighters’ Football Club – Zanzibar

Documentary Film Theory and Practice. Producing and Directing Documentary film. Cultural Heritage. Community Media. Gender and Media. Participatory Filmmaking. Communication for Development (C4D). Film/Media Education. Transnational Cinema. Narrative Identities and Media Representations, Postcolonial Imaginaries.