Meet our Zealous Amplify: Future Winners

Hannah Allchurch

Coming in first place is Hannah Allchurch with her film ‘This Earth We Walk’. Emerging filmmaker and storyteller, Hannah is motivated by community, education and nature where her work aims to empower those who are creating sustainable social change and fostering deeper connections with nature to fight for a better future. In her own words: ‘My practice is centered on what bell hooks calls ‘beloved community’—spaces formed ‘not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation.’ I am interested in opening up dialogues around environmental justice, decolonisation and sustainability.’.

Her piece is an experimental documentary about a Ugandan designer who reimagines his ancestral textile, fusing it with hip-hop aesthetics to create revolutionary Afro-futuristic fashion.

This is an intimate story of a young man, Blak Katende Godfery, and his community taking the initiative and transforming their present day by reclaiming their original identity. It illuminates the importance of going towards what an oppressed society has clearly been taught to fear but the oppressors and the impact that a sincere and dedicated grassroots initiative can have in championing a brighter future.

Blak’s brave and humbling journey underscores the importance of challenging the prevailing narratives that have distanced humanity from nature. It is a story that urges us all to question certain truths that distort our daily perceptions. This film stands as a testament to the transformative power of art and serves as a call for a deeper connection with our inner nature, heritage, and the environment.

It is a tribute to the resilience and creativity of Blak and the other artists involved.

Sadman Sakib

Coming second place is Bangladesh-based photographer Sadman Sakib with his project ‘Hope Never Dies’. This project captures the resilience of amputee footballers in Bangladesh. Beyond their sport, they battle societal neglect, discrimination, and systemic corruption. Through portraits and narratives, this project amplifies their voices, challenges biases, and advocates for change.

Beyond the field, these individuals face immense personal challenges. They are denied employment opportunities based on unfounded fears and prejudices. Relationships are strained and broken by societal disapproval. Stories like Nabi Alam’s, driven to the brink of suicide by relentless bullying after losing a limb, are heartbreakingly common. These are not isolated incidents; they are the lived experiences of a community too often ignored.

‘Hope Never Dies’ is a multimedia project designed to challenge these perceptions. It is a testament to the unwavering spirit of these athletes, a celebration of their strength, and a call for societal change. Through intimate portraits and compelling narratives, Sadman aims to show the world that losing a limb does not mean the end of one’s life, dreams, or potential.

Katie Surridge

Coming in third place with her work ‘Modern Mining’ is Essex-based artist Katie Surridge.

Katie’s idea was to design and build this interactive sculptural installation in which members of the public could dismantle broken electrical objects and sort them in to the different metals and components. The 16 bespoke workstations were arranged in a ring to promote discussions and conversation whilst dismantling broken electrical devices. The public were taught how to identify and separate various elements within electrical waste, making the recycling process more efficient and ultimately dealing with the growing environmental issue.

You can find more of Katie’s work on her website and Instagram. 

Hana Walker-Brown

Finally, with her sound piece ‘In Pieces’, is multi-award-winning storyteller, sound artist, and speaker Hana Walker-Brown.

Part public service journalism, part tender sound meditation, ‘In Pieces’ examines shame, fear, hope and the idea that sometimes in order to move forward, what’s required isn’t the ability to keep everything together, but the courage to surrender and come apart.

In her own words: ‘The intention was to try and alchemise the pain and trauma of the psychological impact of burnout into something useful, beautiful, and ultimately human and to do that, bravely confront the shame that so often tells us to hide so that other people who might feel this way could feel seen and heard and hopefully cultivate the courage to speak out.’

You can find more of Hana’s work on her website and Instagram.