SNE Studios will hold a red carpet premiere for “The Success of Moss Side,” a documentary that challenges years of stereotypes about one of Manchester’s most misunderstood neighbourhoods.
The premiere will take place on 6 September 2025 at Factory International, Aviva Studios (Water Street, Manchester M3 4 JQ). Doors open at 6 p.m., with guests invited to walk the red carpet, meet the filmmakers, and join a celebration of the neighbourhood with food, and enjoy live performances by DJ Abnormal Sleeps and So Solid Crew Member.
Tickets are £10 plus a £1.30 booking fee. A trailer can be viewed here.
Directed by Elmi Ali and produced by SNE Studios co-founder Baka Bah, the film captures Moss Side’s resilience and creative energy through a series of intimate portraits — a football coach shaping futures, a mother turning grief into activism, and a music producer capturing the neighbourhood’s spirit.
The project began when Bah, then a first year university student, created the first version of “The Success of Moss Side” to counter negative media portrayals. By focusing on positive stories, local leaders and community pride, the documentary drew attention across Manchester and sparked debate about how communities are portrayed.
“When I first made ‘The Success of Moss Side’ as a student, my goal was to show the side of my community the headlines never do,” Bah said. “We started a conversation in Manchester about representation. To see that idea now return as a feature-length documentary on this stage is a powerful moment for me and Moss Side.”
For decades, Moss Side has been reduced to headlines about crime, violence and poverty. But in this feature-length documentary, those narratives are dismantled and reveal a Moss Side full of resilience and creativity.
“This film was born out of conversations on street corners, in community halls, and living rooms,” Ali said. “It’s about listening to people whose voices are rarely amplified and creating a space for them to define Moss Side on their own terms.”