The Restitution Study Group and the Benin Kingdom Museum are pleased to announce a Cannes preview screening of 3X Freedom 2 at Pavillon Afronova opening ceremony during the Marché du Film, May 12, 2026, 4:30 CEST, N°201, Village International Pantiero, 27 minutes.
The short film series explores restitution, cultural survival, ancestral memory, and the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade through three interconnected films:
– They Belong to All of Us — An award-winning documentary examining the hidden transatlantic human trafficking origins of the Benin bronzes and the global struggle for inclusive restitution. Directed by Tylon Washington.
– Mudfish Legacy — A poetic reflection on survival, transformation, and cultural memory inspired by the symbolic mudfish of the Benin Kingdom. Directed by Krash Williams and featuring Jirah Joshua.
– The New Bronze Makers — A film following descendants of the transatlantic slave trade as they reconnect with ancestral traditions through bronze casting, digital replication, and cultural education. Directed by Tylon Washington.
“This Cannes preview comes at a breakthrough moment,” said Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, Executive Producer of each film and leader of the Restitution Study Group. “3X Freedom 2 speaks directly to the future of restitution — narrative change, Afrodescendant access, and creative repatriation through 3D scans, replication, and cultural stewardship.”
The preview will include a Q&A with filmmaker Tylon Washington, filmmaker and animator Krash Williams, and Jirah Joshua, furniture maker, Benin Kingdom Museum Bronze-Making Fellow, and featured artist in Mudfish Legacy.
Restitution Study Group 