Commissioned by XTRAX, Manchester City of Literature will be screening a series of poetry films from some of the city’s most talented spoken word artists and filmmakers at La Mercè, Barcelona’s biggest annual outdoor festival.

This continues an ongoing artistic exchange with our sister UNESCO City of Literature after writers from Manchester have featured at Barcelona literary festivals throughout 2025.

A captivating curated selection of short films featuring some of the city’s current leading poetry performers working with Catalan poetic translators will take viewers on a journey through poetry that talks about identity, unity, resistance, and resilience.

Featuring work by:

• Nasima Bee
• Anjum Malik
• Jova Bagioli Reyes
• Ali Al Jamri
• Schoolchildren of Manchester