THE BRITISH Urban Film Festival has set a programme of 79 shorts and 17 feature films for its 2021 edition, which will run from December 4 to December 10 as a hybrid festival of in-person London screenings, live script readings, an award ceremony and online films via new digital partner Bohemia Euphoria.
For its in-person screenings, Justin Chinyere, the newly-appointed festival director, has brokered a new partnership with Renaissance Studios in Brixton, marking BUFF’s return to South London for the first time in six years. The venue will
programme all 96 films along with this year’s three live script readings.
Previous script winners have included Isis Davis (Killing Eve), Jo Southwell (Killing Eve) and Adriel Leff (Moving On).
This year’s BUFF Awards will be staged at Peckhamplex cinema on 10 December. Actor, writer and director Femi Oyenrian (The Intent) returns as host.
This year’s recipient of the honorary award has been announced as Menelik Shabazz, acclaimed film director (Burning an Illusion) and one of the pioneers of Black Filmmaker Magazine. Shabazz passed away earlier this year and his award will be presented posthumously.
Awards will be given in several categories across the full official selection, including best actor, best actress (The Blessing Anyiam-Osigwe award), best feature (The Victor Adebodun award), best short and best documentary. For the first time ever, cash prizes will also be awarded in all film categories.
BUFF has also partnered with Bohemia Euphoria, a new diversity film streaming platform from Bohemia Media, founded by Phil Hunt (Co-founder and CEO of Bohemia Club, MD of Head Gear Films and Bankside Films) and Lucy Fenton (CCO
and Co-Founder Bohemia Club).
The platform will be home to UK-wide online screenings, with selected titles from the official selection available on a subscription basis. The majority of revenues will be split 50/50 between the filmmakers and Bohemia.
The 2020 British Urban Film Festival ran as a predominantly online event thanks to its landmark partnership with Apple TV; With most of its official selections available all year round, the significant exposure of BUFF films online has motivated the continuation of a significant digital presence for this year.
Speaking on the new partnership, co-founder and CEO of Bohemia Club, MD of Head Gear Films and Bankside Films, Phil Hunt said: “Bohemia Euphoria aims to transform the way content which centres marginalised communities is viewed.
“Whether that be through Bohemia Media’s movies; streaming from our venue, the Apple Tree; or our communities directly connecting with one another online.
“One of our first partners is BUFF, who have always led the way in embracing diverse storytelling. Bohemia feels honoured to be working alongside them and we think that our combined output will be transformative in reaching wider audiences.”
Speaking on his new role as festival director (succeeding Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe), Justin Chinyere said: “I’m so thrilled and delighted at this fantastic opportunity of becoming the festival director for BUFF 2021.
“Emmanuel’s work ethic is second to none and I am very much still learning the role as we go on.
“However I am committed to carrying on the wonderful work that the BUFF team has been doing for over 15 years. Emmanuel & Clare [Anyiam-Osigwe] have been mentors to me throughout this process and then some. Understanding their daily process, love, passion and attention to detail shows why this is a truly magnificent festival loved by many.”
Festival highlights include Abby Ginzberg’s Truth to Power: Barbara Lee Speaks for Me – a star-studded non-fiction biopic about the title character, a US congresswoman who speaks up on human rights, peace and economic and racial justice; Navy, a romantic drama from Birmingham-based director Duaine Carma Roberts and Black Mail from acclaimed Nollywood director Obi Emelonye.
Selected shorts include Honeymoon directed by Amy Aniobi, head writer and co- executive producer of Insecure; The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be directed by Adeyemi Michael who curated Black British Stories on Netflix last year and No Comprendo directed by Bukola Bakinson which has been nominated for an African Movie Academy award.
BUFF 2021 programme:
Navy (UK) dir. Duaine Carma Roberts – opening night
Black Mail (Nigeria/UK) dir. Obi Emelonye – opening night
False Paradise (UK) dir. Sylvia Amanquah
I Want Out (UK) dir. Samuel Adigun
In the Heart of the Machine (Bulgaria) dir. Martin Makariev
When the Music Changes (USA) dir. Lakshmi Devy
A Moderate Folly (USA) dir. Wilson Mbiavanga
The Underground (UK) dir. Shantelle Rochester
Unintentionhell (UK) dir. Balbeer Bahi – closing night
Black Creative (UK) dir. Meena Ayittey
Ain’t Your Mama’s Heat Wave (USA) dir. Elijah Karriem
Everything That Could Have Been (Norway) dir. Trond Kvig Andreassen
Love is in the Legend (USA) dir. Myra Lewis
Truth to Power: Barbara Lee Speaks for Me (USA) dir. Abby Ginzberg
Subjects of Desire (Canada) dir. Jennifer Holness
Ultraviolence (UK) dir. Ken Fero – closing night
Women in Church Leadership (UK) dir. Jason Young – closing night
Comments Form