Babar Suleman

Babar Suleman is a Senior Lecturer in Filmmaking at Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Digital Arts, where they create practice-led research exploring intersections of queer theory, postcolonial critique, and emotional landscapes through film and new media.

They hold a practice-led Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art from the University of Oxford and a Master of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design (New York) as a Fulbright scholar.

Research focuses on queer experiences within digital landscapes and decolonial critiques of imperial narratives, exemplified by works like 'HOW PERFECT IS THIS HOW BLESSED ARE WE' (2021) which inserts marginalized bodies into Capability Brown landscapes. Their methodology blends autobiographical filmmaking with critical theory to examine love, loss, and historical erasure.

Recent publications demonstrate an evolving trajectory from transmedia storytelling (2014) toward intimate examinations of grief and queerness (2024), consistently bridging artistic practice with scholarly discourse in film studies and gender theory.

Award-winning projects include:

• Compton Verney Art Gallery’s Inclusive Histories Research Fellowship
• British Council International Collaboration Grant via b-side festival
• Art Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice

They actively supervise doctoral candidates in art and film while developing new works through grants from The Elephant Trust and Platform Art Projects. Creative practice involves collaborations with institutions like Compton Verney Art Gallery and b-side festival.

Current projects explore mobile app-mediated romance in 'Bir Zevk / A Pleasure' (2023), indicating continued investigation of technology's role in queer intimacy.