Amon Warmann, a critic, writer and broadcaster, will write a new column called ‘Black In Focus’. Warmann has been writing for Empire magazine and contributing to the weekly Empire podcast since 2018, and now also takes up the title of Contributing Editor.
His column, which will be published in the magazine every month, will explore the main talking points around Black film and cinema — from celebrating filmmakers to discussing diversity challenges within the industry. He’ll also choose one essential pick from the Black film archives every month, that no cinephile should be without, say the publishers.
Amon Warmann commented: "Empire’s cultural impact is massive, so to have a monthly column on Black cinema in each forthcoming issue is really exciting. In these troubling times, now more than ever it’s important not just to shine a light on the Black art of the present but also to illuminate its past and look forward to the future. I’ll be using the column to do just that, and I’m looking forward to getting to work."
Empire has also announced the appointment of five new Contributing Editors, including, for the first time in its history, visual contributors. They are:
- Beth Webb: a critic, broadcaster and writer who co-runs The Bechdel Test Fest that celebrates films that pass The Bechdel.
- Boyd Hilton: the broadcaster, Entertainment Director for heat magazine and co-host of the Pilot TV podcast, who becomes Contributing Editor (TV) as Empire continues to drive its coverage of cinematic television.
- Paul Shipper: an illustrator who produces key art for film and entertainment brands such as Lucasfilm, Marvel, Star Wars, Warner Bros., Netflix and has created several of Empire’s subscriber covers.
- Bill McConkey: a pop-culture illustrator who has produced illustrations in collaboration with Empire for several years
Empire’s Editor-in-Chief Terri White commented: “I can’t wait for Amon to get stuck in: his column is sure to be an absolute must-read every single issue. And the other new appointments speak to Empire’s constant evolution and specifically, to the major changes over the last few years. From championing female filmmakers to shining a spotlight on Black cinema and celebrating the rise of cinematic TV, our world has never been more urgent, bold or dynamic.”
