Expatica news

Festival celebrates black world cinema for eleventh year

London — Black Filmmaker (bfm) International Film Festival  – which runs from runs from 6-10th November is the UK’s premier film festival dedicated to celebrating black world cinema.

Funded by ACP Films, Film London and the UK Film Council, the bfm International Film Festival, will provide audiences with abundant opportunities to view a diverse range of some of the most innovative films of either black content or directed and written by black filmmakers.

The five day festival will present over 60 films – dramatic and feature length documentaries – which will be screened across four venues in London. BFI Southbank, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Rich Mix and Shortwave Cinema.

The program is divided into five distinct categories; Made in UK, Caribbean Tales, Contemporary, Africa Calling and Political Thought, and includes films from; the UK, USA, South Africa, Ethiopia, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Tanzania, Congo, Canada and Senegal.

The festival opens on the 6th November with the European premiere of Good Hair, directed by Jeff Stilson — the award-winning film co-written and produced by Chris Rock. Something is Killing Tate, directed by Leon Lozano. Good Day to be Black and Sexy by Dennis Dortch and The Story of Lovers Rock directed by Menelik Shabazz, are just a few of the acclaimed films which will also be showcased.

Other festival highlights include; the opportunity to discuss and debate an array of issues addressed in the films in a selection of post-screening Q&A’s with filmmakers, industry seminars and workshops facilitated by the UK Film Council Channel 4 and Skillset (Sector Skills Council for creative media), DJ evenings and the Shorts Awards on closing night.

“This year will see the strongest bfm International Film Festival program to date, says Nadia Denton, festival director. “The line-up is daring, engaging and inclusive and covers a range of subjects. In addition to the ACP Films funded Caribbean strand – which will see all the participating Trinidadian and Jamaican filmmakers in attendance – the festival will also feature world and European premieres of award-winning films. 50 percent of the program represents films made in the UK, and we are thrilled to be offering a US based scholarship on behalf of the Legacy Media Institute. The 11th bfm International film festival has something for everyone”.

Public booking for tickets to the 2009 bfm International Film Festival will commence on Thursday 8th October.

Download the 2009 programme guide here.