bfm International Film Festival 2007 by bfm Media

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BR TH ING ING UN E S TO EE LIG N HT

SOUVENIR

GUIDE

£1

AFRICA

VENUE INFORMATION INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS (ICA) The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH ••• www.ica.org.uk (book tickets online) ••• Box Ofﬁce: 020 7930 3647 ••• Tickets: £8/£7 cons/£6 ICA & bfm members ••• Tube: Charing Cross/Embankment/ Piccadilly Circus

STRATFORD CIRCUS

CONTENTS 4

Forward

Introduction

Timetable

Opening Film

13 Africa

Theatre Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX ••• www.stratford-circus.com ••• Box Ofﬁce: 020 8279 1015 ••• Tickets £3.50 (£5 for 2 screenings) ••• Tube: Stratford

17 US

STRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

25 Caribbean

Theatre Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX ••• Box Ofﬁce: 0871 704 2066 ••• www.picturehouses.co.uk ••• Ticket Price: £6.80/5.80 cons ••• Buy 3 tickets and get the 4th screening free ••• Tube: Stratford

ODEON WEST END 40 Leicester Square, West End, London WC2H 7LP ••• www.odeon.co.uk ••• Box Ofﬁce 0871 22 44 007 ••• Ticket Price: £10 ••• Note: Ticket price includes screenings, awards, and live music. ••• Tube: Leicester Square bfm Hotline 020 7540 0550 ••• www.bfmmedia.com/festival

21 Faith 22 Latin

27 Hip-Hop 31 UK Talent 34 Closing Film 41 Short Film Awards 44 Seminars 47 Hype Williams 48 Project Talent 50 bfm Movie Channel 52 Skillset 55 Tribute 58 Feature 61 Festival Credits 62 Sponsors, Supporters, Funders

FORWARD

Diane Abbot

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Adrian Wootton

Janine Marmot

Despite the rise of the internet and the ubiquity of television, film remains one of the most powerful and emotive mass media. It can reach people who would never pick up a book and cannot access the internet. It can shape, not only the way the world sees us, but how we see the world. And it can profoundly shape how we see ourselves. It reflects a changing society, but can also alter our reality. I believe that, for black people around the globe, economic advance is inextricably bound up with cultural self confidence and cultural advance. And movies are a key element in black culture internationally. So the bfm festival is not just in the cultural vanguard, it is in the social and political vanguard also. And I have no doubt that this year’s festival will be the best ever. Diane Abbot MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Film offers a universal and unifying way to promote the capital’s cultural vibrancy, offering insights and new perspectives from across the globe and reflecting the many different versions of London which exist within the city. Film festivals help to showcase the depth of London's film and media talent and celebrate the capital’s many different communities. More importantly, they offer a unique platform for audiences to understand a range of different views, beliefs and perspectives from outside their normal experience. Film London is delighted to support bfm’s 9th International Film Festival and we very much hope that cinema-goers from across the capital will enjoy its stellar programme of events, talks and screenings. Adrian Wootton, CEO Film London I am delighted that Skillset is once again able to support bfm International Film Festival. The festival is going from strength to strength, bringing a fantastic array of new and established talent to a wide ranging audience. It is essential that festivals like bfm continue to inspire and encourage the film making community with stories which really reflect and engage with our diverse culture. Janine Marmot, Director of Film, Skillset

FORWARD - BIFF EAST

It’s

a pleasure to welcome the bfm International Film Festival to Newham and a privilege that such a vast array of talent is being showcased here in Stratford. It’s fitting that the festival is taking place in Newham because we boast a community that is young and hugely diverse. Film is a popular medium with young people and that’s why we have some of the best film and media courses along with state-of-the art facilities at our colleges and university. Newham has also proven to be a popular filming location. Stanley Kubrick filmed his cult movie Full Metal Jacket in the borough and Newham also features in music videos by leading artistes such as Richard Ashcroft and television dramas such as The Bill and EastEnders. Cultural activities are an important part of Newham. We are currently celebrating a month of music, dance and film with a hive of activities, including outdoor film screenings which are taking place in Stratford Park. I’m proud to be supporting the festival and I’m sure it will be a major success.

Sir Robin Wales

BIFF EAST has been made possible through the key cultural partnerships of Newham 2012 Unit for the Olympic Games, Circus Media, Stratford Circus, Stratford Picturehouse and 3 Mills Studios. This is to provide a ﬁlm offering both through production, exhibition and training to enable the residents of Newham and the rest of East London an event that will cater to diversity and opening up new pathways for opportunities in the media industry. From September 7-14, there will be a selection of screenings and seminars plus a special visit to 3 Mills Studios. BIFF EAST should grow into a key event as part of the Cultural Olympiad and bring black world cinema to local people.

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Sir Robin Wales Mayor of Newham

INTRODUCTION

BET

International is one of the key sponsors of the 9th bfm International Film Festival Shorts Film Awards. Part of the Viacom group, BET International has recently secured a license to broadcast in the UK. This partnership with bfm illustrates their early efforts to support and showcase UK talent from the grass roots up.

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Founded in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson, BET was the ﬁrst US television network aimed at an African American audience. Sold to Viacom in 2000, BET programming provides the latest in music, entertainment, and news. The BET Network reaches 85 million households, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It is the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and consumers of Black culture globally. “Our support of the Short Film Awards represents the start of a sustained commitment by BET to engage local creative talent and provide a home for some of the best British ﬁlmmakers,” says Michael D. Armstrong, Senior Vice President & General Manager of BET International. Prior to his position at BET, where he is responsible for developing and executing the international strategy and launch for BET Networks, Armstrong was MTV Networks International’s Sales Director for Global Marketing Partnerships. In this capacity, he

worked with multinational organizations to develop customised multiplatform advertising partnerships across MTV’s global footprint of over 440M households. He was previously the Vice President of Affiliate Marketing-Music Group for the Affiliate Sales and Marketing division of MTV Networks. Armstrong oversaw the affiliate marketing strategy for MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT, and many digital music networks such as VH1 Soul, VH1 Classic and MTV Jams. He led a dedicated team of marketers that created numerous industry award winning campaigns. The intention with BET UK is not only to bring a 24hr branded channel on Sky Digital but to also launch the broadband site www.betonblast. co.uk to satisfy appetite of audiences into black culture. For Michael, bfm was the ‘obvious choice’ to be introduced to black filmmakers in the UK and to develop content that can live across multiple platforms and to that share content, vision and creative with the black community. The BET channel will feature programmes from its top rated Awards shows to it docudramas such as Baldwin Hills that reflect the different sides to black culture. Looking ahead, BET is planning to invest in and acquire local content and working in partnership with bfm, be in the position to commission the work. bfm has a production arm based in 3 Mills Studios where it plans to develop its programmes and support the talent of the future.

INTRODUCTION

Priscilla Igwe

would like to first thank you for picking up this brochure because by simply showing interest in our content, you are supporting our 9th bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) 2007 and thereby supporting the black British industry that we are bringing to mainstream audiences. BET (Black Entertainment Television) coming on board as a sponsor this year has really strengthened the festival. It has pushed the bar higher. The vision for the festival is a grand one, and out of that the Short Film Awards. With BET on board we can look forward to having a stellar event. It is fantastic to have an African American organisation behind us and looking to commission UK product. America in general, has appreciated our British exports especially actors and artists so it is time now for own community to have better access and awareness to the talent we have on our own doorstep. For those that are interested in the black experience and world cinema the festival is brimming with compelling, thought-provoking, innovative, exciting films by talented new and experienced filmmakers. Once again we take you around the world in 8 days with films, documentaries, animation and music videos

So BIFF has stepped it up a notch with the Short Film Awards which is still in Leicester Square but for the first time this gala event will be held at the Odeon West End. Not only will short films be awarded but also feature films as we recognise the work created by all types of filmmakers from here and overseas. We are here to be a springboard for black talent and a platform for black filmmakers to showcase their talent. So, as usual, we have a selection of seminars and workshops hosted by the BBC and Circus Media to open up career pathways into the industry and increase chances of being commissioned. We also have the new ‘Are you the Next Hype Williams?’ competition to discover top directors in the making. It is great to bring our programme to the East, the home of the 2012 Olympics, to tap into the rich culture of film in the area. We are pleased to be building our audiences and reflecting the experiences of the host communities in London. However, we need you to come and support what we are doing if we are to continue to grow - so we will look forward to seeing you at BIFF 07! Menelik Shabazz, Festival Founder Priscilla Igwe, Executive Director

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Menelik Shabazz

from different continents. Our opening ﬁlm is Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, starring Idris Elba who will be attending in person. We close with the world premiere Deadmeat, a groundbreaking new British movie which boasts a cast of the ﬁnest actors in Britain at the moment such as Robbie Gee, Will Johnson and Jo Martin.

TIMETABLE: ICA DATE

TIME

VENUE (SCREEN NO)

SHORTS FEATURES

Friday 7th September

8.45pm

ICA 1

Daddy’s Little Girls (Opening Film)

6.30pm

ICA 2

Asylum (Short) Lumo

8.30pm

ICA 2

Diaspora Diaries Q&A with Robert ‘Beyonder’ Asare

8.45pm

ICA 1

Hype Williams Music Video Competition Screening with Q&A

4pm

ICA 2

Almost Adult

6pm

ICA 2

I am Through with White Girls

8.30pm

ICA 2

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

8.45pm

ICA 1

The Preacher (Short) Son of Man Q&A with Christina Spier

4pm

ICA 2

The Samba Poet

6.15pm

ICA 2

Daddy’s Little Girls

8.30pm

ICA 2

Zanzibar Soccer Queens Q&A with Florence Aysisi

8.45pm

ICA 1

Goat’s Tail

6.30pm

ICA 2

Sister’s Keeper

8.30pm

ICA 2

Pick Up the Mic

8.45pm

ICA 1

Blackout

6.45pm

ICA 2

761st

8.30pm

ICA 2

Crossing Bridges

8.45pm

ICA 1

Hip Hop Project Q&A with Kazi

6.30pm

ICA 2

Darfur Diaries

8.30pm

ICA 2

Like An Ambassador of his People

8.45pm

ICA 1

Deadmeat (Closing Film)

6.15pm

ICA 2

“Little Boy Blue” – series of shorts that depicted life for young black boys in UK Society Q&A with Chocolate Films

7.45pm

ICA 2

Black Woman Walking (Short) Rape for Who I Am Q&A with Lovinsa Kavuma

9.15pm

ICA 2

Rent-a-Rasta

Saturday 8th September

Sunday 9th September

Monday 10th September

Tuesday 11th September

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Wednesday 12th September

Thursday 13th September

TIMETABLE: BIFF EAST DATE

TIME

VENUE (SCREEN NO)

SHORTS FEATURES

Friday 7th September

5pm

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

Trace

Saturday 8th September

1pm

Circus 1 (Stratford Circus)

I love Hip Hop Morocco

3pm

Afro Samurai

7pm

The Hip Hop Project

1pm 3pm

SEMINARS

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

Underground Shorts Wholetrain Zanzibar Soccer Queens

7pm

Hurricane in a Rose Garden

Tuesday 11th September

Friday 14th September

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus

5pm

Thursday 13th September

Wu: Story of the Wu Tang Clan

5pm

Monday 10th September

Wednesday 12th September

Our Story, Our Voice

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

No Time to Die

6pm

Screen 4 (Stratford Picturehouse)

Black Snake Moan

8.30pm

Screen 4 (Stratford Picturehouse)

Made in Jamaica

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

SEMINARS

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

5pm With or Without Fidel

Screen 4 (Stratford Picturehouse)

6pm Traci Townsend

Screen 4 (Stratford Picturehouse)

8.30pm I am Through With White Girls

Circus 2 (Stratford Circus)

SEMINARS

Circus 1 (Stratford Circus)

5pm Son of Man

7pm

5pm 7pm

Mr. Devious

7pm Bling: Planet Rock

7pm The Amazing Grace

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Sunday 9th September

7pm

GALA NIGHT SCREENING

The

9th bfm International Film Festival opens with the UK premiere of Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls. The romance/drama is an inspirational story of a devoted single father who loses custody of his children, and ﬁghts to get them back. Writer-director-producer-actor Tyler Perry, who began in the theatre, achieved huge success with his previous ﬁlms Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and Madea’s Family Reunion, which respectively opened the festival in 2005 and 2006 make this a tradition. Daddy’s Little Girls stars acclaimed British actor Idris Elba, who plays Monty, a mechanic struggling to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. When the courts award custody of the girls to his corrupt, drug-dealing ex-wife, he enlists the help of a sharp lawyer to try to win them back. Along the way, an unexpected romance blossoms between the successful, Ivy-league educated, attorney (Gabrielle Union). But in order for their relationship to survive, the couple must reconcile their very different worlds – as well as overcome the forces that threaten to tear Monty’s family apart.

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The cast of Daddy’s Little Girls also includes Academy Award winner actor, Louis Gossett Jnr., Tasha Smith, Tracee Ellis Ross, Malinda Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Lauryn Alisa McClain, China Anne McClain, and Sierra Aylina McClain. Dir: Tyler Perry, US, 2007 7 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1 9 Sept, 6.15pm: ICA Cinema 2

IDRIS ELBA In a recent candid interview with bfm, Idris Elba spoke about this career, working in Hollywood and what it takes to become a success. Whilst

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taking a break on the set of the new Guy Ritichie movie, RocknRolla ,where he plays ‘Mumbles’, it seems that the UK is finally taking notice of his talent. “I had a lot of ambition”, claims Idris when commenting on his departure to the US to make his mark, “I had to dive in at the deep end, completely’. Even though it was very tough for the Hackney born actor at the beginning and the competition fierce, he understood that the marketplace was bigger whereas at home there was a small pool of actors all auditioning for the same parts. He has come along way from drama school and appearing in small roles in Absolutely Fabulous and Family Affairs to quite significantly bigger small roles in Hollywood Blockbusters like the upcoming American Gangster with Denzil Washington. In between

GALA NIGHT SCREENING

that he has been quite busy taking the centre stage by starring alongside Hilary Swank in The Reaping and the sequel to Danny Boyle zombie flick, 28 Days Later. However, it is as leading man in the box office hit Daddy’s Little Girls – the third out of the stable of Tyler Perry productions and the opening film for the 9th bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) that he has accomplished the feat that has eluded many other Black British stars. Not only is he practically a household name in the US from his time playing a nefarious character, ‘Stringer’ in HBO’s The Wire (his big break) but has already started receiving nominations such as best actor at the BET Awards 2007. He chuckles, “it was a great feeling – I have lived with my name, Idris Elba, I used to write it in my schoolbooks and to see

it up there against, you know, Forest Whitaker and Will Smith, I was like ‘oh look, there’s my name’ ”. He has certainly not forgotten his roots as he is proud to attend the European premiere of Daddy’s Little Girls at the ICA in support of BIFF, so much so that he will speak at the launch at City Hall, a day before, on his birthday! He encourages the talent emerging from this country and brought with him the American sensibility of making a short ﬁlm no matter the budget or the politics. The same goes for acting as he sees that the dedication to the craft and the hard graft is lacking here and ultimately, it is preparation that counts. He is a man of his word and soon his name will be on all our lips.

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“...as leading man in the box ofﬁce hit Daddy’s Little Girls... he has accomplished the feat that has eluded many other Black British stars”

AFRICA

AFRICA festival’s Africa strand this year is comprised of stories told from countries within the continent – Sierra Leone, Guinea, Tanzania, Sudan, Chad, Senegal and South Africa – as well in the UK. Within this diverse collection, the painful legacies of colonialism and war, and the challenges of trying to build a life in a new country, are explored. Through Robert “Beyonder” Asare’s Diaspora Diaries, and Asylum, a supporting short from Rumbi Kadeza, we see the experiences of Africans who left their homelands in hope of a better life. Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt’s awardwinning film, Lumo, captures the brutality of war, and the courage of a woman who fights to recover from the physical and emotional effects of a vicious rape. Rape for Who I Am is Lovinsa Kavuma’s insightful film about lesbians who

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

are abused because of their sexuality, but are deﬁant that they will not be victims. Groundbreaking documentary Darfur Diaries exposes the injustices suffered by Darfurians, as they are given the opportunity to describe their experiences for the ﬁrst time. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars is the inspiring story of a group of musicians living in a refugee camp, having been physically abused and forced from their homes by the civil war. Struggling with the knowledge that family and friends were murdered, they form a band and through music, attempt to heal their emotional scars. Strong women determined to transform their lives are the focus of Zanizibar Soccer Queens. Living in a country that is pre-dominantly Muslim, football opens up a world of new opportunities.

A C I R F A

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The

AFRICA follows the story of the woman of the same name as she tries to come to terms with, and eventually overcome, the harrowing ordeal of rape, in a country beset by brutal war. A story of human strength, enduring friendship, and the unbreakable human spirit. 7 Sept, 6.30pm: ICA Cinema 2

SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS

DIASPORA DIARIES Dir: Robert “Beyonder” Asare, UK, 2007, 75mins Diaspora Diaries captures the authentic voice of the African Diaspora community in London. In this documentary contributors share their personal experiences; they explain how their country of origin is interconnected with Europe, and how this (and colonialism) has affected their lives.

Dir: Zach Niles Sierrra Leone/Guinea, 2006, 86mins Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars is about an inspiring group of musicians who form a band while living in a West African refugee camp. The ﬁlm details the group's heroic stories of survival and their daily struggle to keep hope and music alive. It is a tribute to the transcendent power of music and a triumphant celebration of the human spirit. 07 Sept, 8.30pm ICA: Screen 1

7 Sept, 8.30pm: ICA Cinema 2 Screening followed by a Q&A Robert Asare

ASYLUM (SUPPORTING SHORT) Dir: Rumbi Kadeza, UK, 2006, 5mins Asylum is an experimental short ﬁlm that explores the psychological effects of war on the Sudanese woman who seeks asylum in the UK, after suffering at the hands of the Militia.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

7 Sept, 6.30pm: ICA Cinema 2

ZANZIBAR SOCCER QUEENS

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LUMO Dir: Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Congo, 2007, 72mins A cinematic masterpiece; Lumo (Fullframe Festival, North Carolina 07, winner of Presidents Award)

Dir: Florence Ayisi, Tanzania, 2007, 83mins Zanzibar Soccer Queens is a provocative and timely portrait of Women Fighters, a team of strong willed women determined to better their lives and deﬁne

AFRICA new identities through playing soccer in a predominantly Muslim society. Their involvement with soccer provides a gateway to new experiences; travelling,

that went unheard for several years behind what was largely a media smokescreen. We hear them speak about their own experience, history, trauma, and hope for the future.

09 Sept, 8.30pm ICA: Cinema 2 09 Sept, 5pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2 Screening followed by a Q&A with Florence Ayisi

12 Sept, 6.30pm: ICA Cinema 2 Screening followed by a Q&A session

RAPE FOR WHO I AM HURRICANE IN A ROSE GARDEN Dir: Ime Etuk, Nigeria/USA, 2006, 87mins After ﬁve years of marriage, American lawyer, Sade, never knew that it was a taboo in African culture to still be without a child. This is a fact she will ﬁnd out the hard way when her in-laws come in town to visit and will not leave until she is pregnant.

Dir: Lovinsa Kavuma, South Africa, 2005, 27mins Lovinsa Kavuma’s ﬁlm is an insight into the lives of South African lesbians, who are raped because of their sexuality but refuse to become victims. 13 Sept, 7.45pm: ICA Cinema 2. Screening followed by a Q&A with Lovinsa Kavuma.

09 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

NO TIME TO DIE

10 Sept, 5pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

DARFUR DIARIES: MESSAGE FROM HOME Dirs: Adam Shapiro, Aisha Bain, Jen Marlow, Sudan/Chad/USA, 2005, 57mins This groundbreaking documentary, the ﬁrst made in Darfur since the atrocities began, gives us a chance to hear the voices of Darfurians

Rape For Who I am

THE AMAZING GRACE Dir: Jeta Amata, Nigeria, 98mins John Newton is captain of a slave ship moored off the coast of Nigeria. Stepping ashore, he starts on a journey of redemption that will end in tragedy but prove the catalyst for greater achievements. A local anthem sung in adversity by the slaves he captures punctuates the ﬁlm. It will be the inspiration for John Newton's redemption, and, years later, for his writing of the world's most enduring hymn, Amazing Grace. 14 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1

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Dir: King Ampaw, Ghana/Germany, 2006 It is a comedy about love. Dontoh plays the role of Asante, a hearse driver who ﬁnds it hard winning a woman because of the nature of his work. His luck, however shines when a young woman, Esi, hires him to convey her mother’s corpse to the village. They fall in love but Esi’s father becomes a stumbling block to their romance.

AFRICA

17 US

US has typically brought as an electic mix of genres and subject matter and this year is no different. We have ﬁlms that have a comedic take on dating and the battle of the sexes with I’m Through with White Girls and Traci Townsend whilst Black Woman Walking gives the sobering account of what is like for a woman to be harassed on the street. The unmistakeable presence of Samuel L. Jackson is both seen and heard in the arthouse ﬂick Black Snake Moan and the voice of the lone warrior in Afro Samurai bringing the sumptuous animation alive. History is retold as we learn from 761st about the experiences of black soldiers in World War II and in the Blackout, as we go deeper into what happened when New York suffered a major power cut in 2004. Sister’s Keeper brings home the drama as a hit man is compromised by the target he is sent to kill.

Scene from I’m Through with White Girls

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S U

The

18 US

BLACK WOMAN WALKING (SUPPORTING SHORT) Dir: Tracey Rose, USA, 2006, 9mins This ﬁlm looks at street harassment from a woman of colour's perspective and what happens when stereotypes and women collide. 13 Sept, 6.30pm ICA: Cinema 2

I’M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS Dir: Jennifer Sharp, US, 89mins Jay Brooks is that ‘Black Guy’ who digs Indie Rock, graphic novels and dates white chicks. After a slew of break-ups, Jay goes on a mission: “operation Brown Sugar”. But Jay doesn’t ﬁt the brotha stereotype and he fails miserably with the sistahs. 07 Sept, 6.30pm ICA: Screen 1

AFRO SAMURAI Dir: Takashi Okazaki, USA/ Japan, 125mins A Black samurai goes on a mission to avenge the wrongful death of his father in a futuristic feudal Japan 08 Sept, 5pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1

SISTER’S KEEPER Dir: Kent Faulcon, US, 2007, 101mins An action-drama about a professional killer (Kent Faulcon) sent by his handler (Eric Roberts) to eliminate a seemingly innocent teacher (Denise Boutte), when the teacher mistakes the assassin for her long lost brother, he ﬁnds himself drawn into her colourful southern family.

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10 Sept, 6.30pm ICA: Cinema 2

BLACKOUT Dir: Jerry LaMothe, US, 2007, 81mins During the Blackout of 2004, New York was plunged into the darkness as a major blackout impacted the electrical grid

19 US

of seven states and parts of Canada. Blackout highlights the way that everyday joys and struggles of a neighbourhood are magniﬁed and exaggerated during emergencies. 11 Sept, 8.45pm ICA: Cinema 1

761ST Dir: Pete Chatmon, US, 2007, 72mins The ﬁrst African American armoured unit to enter combat in World War II, facing racism at home and death overseas, and ﬁghting for a freedom that they did not enjoy it in America. They were commonly called “Eleanor Roosevelt’s Niggers”, but proved themselves to be America’s Men in what we now call the “Greatest Generation”.

TRACI TOWNSEND Dir: Craig Ross Jr, USA, 2006, 87mins Advice columnist Traci is still single and wants to know why. She interviews her former lovers to ﬁnd out why they never proposed. Each encounter comically teaches Traci more about herself than she would care to know, causing her to re-evaluate the meaning of love, life, and ultimately, happiness. 13 Sept, 6pm Stratford Picturehouse: Screen 4

11 Sept, 6.45pm ICA: Cinema 2

761st

Dir: Craig Brewer, US, 2006, 116mins A God-fearing bluesman (Jackson) takes to a wild young woman (Ricci) who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite ﬁnding it. 11 Sept, 6pm Stratford Picturehouse: Screen 4

Traci Townsend

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BLACK SNAKE MOAN

COMPETITION

N O I T I T E P M O C

Answer this question to win a copy of a DVD and free tickets to the screening of Afro Samurai. Who is the voice of Afro Samurai?

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Email your answer to competition@bfmmedia.com

21 FAITH

H T I FA

the bfm festival’s Faith strand are three gripping ﬁlms which each incorporate religion or spirituality in their very different stories. The heart-warming drama Daddy’s Little Girls, directed by Tyler Perry and starring Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba, is the festival opener. The Preacher is a thrilling supporting short directed by Peter Blach and produced Derek Laviniere awarded the Tower Hamlets and Hackney Production Fund 2006. Finally, Son of Man is the acclaimed tale of corruption and betrayal, love and redemption from award-winning director Mark Dornford-May.

DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS

THE PREACHER (SUPPORTING SHORT)

Dir: Tyler Perry, USA, 2007, 95mins Monty (Idris Elba) is a mechanic struggling to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. When the courts award custody of the girls to his corrupt, drug-dealing ex-wife, he enlists the help of a sharp lawyer to try to win them back. Along the way, an unexpected romance blossoms between the successful, Ivy-league educated, attorney (Gabrielle Union). But in order for their relationship to survive, the couple must reconcile their very different worlds – as well as overcome the forces that threaten to tear Monty’s family apart.

Dir: Peter Blach, UK, 13mins Behind John's respectable life lurks a dark and terrible secret. A mysterious stranger from the past, who has unﬁnished business, threatens his future.

Daddy’s Little Girls

SON OF MAN Dir: Mark Dornford-May, South Africa, 2006, 86mins The story of the Gospels retold as a tale of corruption and redemption in contemporary Africa. The narrative unveils a portrait of a man of our time whose currency is the politics of compassion. It is a gripping journey of love, deception and betrayal in a conﬂicted society. Directed by the award-winning ﬁlmmaker Mark Dornford-May. 9 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1 14 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1 Screening followed by a Q&A with Christina Spier

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7 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1 9 Sept, 6.15pm: ICA Cinema 2

9 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1

AFRICA

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23 LATIN

The

N I T A L

Latin strand is split between Brazil and Cuba this year. The Samba Poet is Ricardo Van Steen’s biopic of legendary Brazilian composer Noel Rosa, who rose to top of the samba scene in the 1930s and the exclusive documentary on Cuba, With or Without Fidel, with unprecedented access to its people.

THE SAMBA POET

WITH OR WITHOUT FIDEL

Dir: Ricardo Van Steen, BRAZIL, 2006, 99mins, English subtitles The Samba Poet is a biopic of celebrated Brazilian composer Noel Rosa. In 1930s Rio de Janeiro, Noel Rosa writes poems and plays in a local band. He studies medicine but prefers the friendship of black guys from the favelas, factory girls and hookers. His friend Ismael Silva, a composer, introduces him to the world of samba and when challenged to compose he writes “Com que roupa?”, a parody of the Brazilian national anthem which becomes a magniﬁcent success. He ﬂies through the golden age of radio like a comet, changing the direction of Brazilian popular music. Between declarations of love and samba duels, the irreverent composer follows an intense rhythm until an overpowering illness complicates his life.

Dir: Ishmahil Blagrove Jr, Cuba/UK, 2006, 59mins A ground breaking documentary that features Cuba’s leading politicians, intellectuals and dissidents, who debate the future direction of the island’s 48 year old revolution. For the ﬁrst time, the people of Cuba question the values that western democracy holds sacred and the price Cubans have paid for their independence. 12 Sept, 5pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2 With or Without Fidel

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9 Sept, 4pm: ICA Cinema 2

AFRICA

CARIBBEAN

Two

major documentaries dominate the Caribbean Strand in the festival, one investigating the phenomenon of Rastafarian gigolos being preyed upon by western women in Renta-Rasta. The other, Made in Jamaica celebrates the artists and musicians that have taken part in the rich tapestry of music that is reggae and dancehall. The cherry on the top is the middle is Vegetarian Super Machine, funded by the Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Board, this cheeky little animation is a sign of a burgeoning ﬁlm industry coming to the islands.

VEGETARIAN SUPERMACHINE (SUPPORTING SHORT) Dir: Camile Selvon Abrahams, Trinidad & Tobago The search that led him to the depth of his being... 11 Sept, 8.30pm Stratford Picturehouse: Screen 4

MADE IN JAMAICA Dir: Jérôme Laperrousaz, France/US 2006, 120mins Music documentary on the greats of Dancehall and Reggae music in Jamaica featuring exclusive interviews and concert footage.

RENT-A- RASTA Dir: J. Michael Seyfert, Jamaica, 2006, 45mins When white women ﬂock to Jamaica, the R&R they're often looking for is not ‘Rest and Relaxation’ but to ‘Rent-aRasta’, according to director J. Michael Seyfert. His ﬁlm sheds light on a barely acknowledged form of sex tourism – white women who visit the Caribbean to get their groove back with the help of black locals. 13 Sept, 9.15pm ICA: Cinema 2

N A E B B I R CA

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11 Sept, 6pm Stratford Picturehouse: Screen 4

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HIP-HOP

Greetings,

We at the HipHop Association are honoured to partner again this year with the bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) to provide a diverse segment of global Hip-Hop film programming from throughout the Diaspora. Once again, we are proud to present a myriad of stories celebrating the rich diversity within our Hip-Hop community, globally. The voice of the Hip-Hop filmmaker echoes loudly, resonating throughout the world. We have been blessed to provide a forum of exhibition for these films not only at our own festival, but also at other festivals such as BIFF, conferences, museums, and educational forums worldwide, facilitating the proliferation of that echo.

Through our H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] media initiative, we produce the largest Hip-Hop ﬁlm festival in the world. With programming like the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival, the Freshest Youth Program, the Odyssey Awards, and the Defuse Media Lab, its mission is to create cultural sustainability & industry longevity by supporting the use of Hip-Hop culture as a tool for social awareness

P I H HOP

Mona Ibrahim

& youth empowerment. We work with aspiring and experienced ﬁlmmakers, encouraging them to develop and create new work that showcases positive images of Hip-Hop culture. Recently celebrating our 5th anniversary, we are proud to have successfully reached a wide audience worldwide with programming in over 7 countries and with a library containing over 200 Hip-Hop ﬁlms from more than 14 different countries. For more information on the Hip-Hop Association and its initiatives, visit www.hiphopassociation. org. May we continue to grow together. In Solidarity, Mona Ibrahim Director of Community Building and Program Development The Hip-Hop Association

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The Hip-Hop Association is a non-proﬁt organisation, founded in 2002 in Harlem, New York to Foster, Facilitate, and Preserve Hip-Hop Culture! Our mission is to utilize the culture as a tool to encourage critical thinking, social change and unity, while empowering communities through media, education, preservation, and leadership initiatives.

HIP-HOP WHEN THE GUN DRAWS (PHAROAHE MONCH MUSIC VIDEO) Dirs: Mr. Complex and Pharoahe Monch, US, 2007, 5mins Music Video of Pharoahe Monch's song "When the Gun Draws" that examines the rash of gun violence sweeping the US. I Love Hip Hop Morocco

08 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1

THE HIP HOP PROJECT ••• UK PREMIERE I LOVE HIP HOP MOROCCO Dir: Josh Asen and Jennifer Needleman USA// Morocco, 80mins A group of Moroccan Hip-Hop artists dream of creating their own festival but resistance is strong. They appeal to the American Embassy for funding and begin the journey of realizing their dreams. 08 Sept, 1pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1

••• UK PREMIERE WU: THE STORY OF THE WU TANG CLAN Dir: Gerald Barclay, USA, 2007, 90mins In the summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the slums of Staten Island and took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanned over a decade, garnering fans worldwide and generating sales in excess of $50 million. This is their story.

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08 Sept, 3pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1 Wu: The Story of the Wu Tang Clan

Dir: Matt Ruskin, USA, 2006, 88mins Produced by Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah, The Hip Hop Project is a compelling documentary about Kazi, formerly a homeless teenager, and the group of New York teens he inspired to transform their lives. Hip Hop is used as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery after Kazi challenges the teens to write music about their issues. Screening followed by Q&A with Kazi 08 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 1 12 Sept, 8.45pm ICA: Cinema 2

WHOLETRAIN Dir: Florian Gaag, Germany, 82mins An exciting and emotionally gripping drama that explores the secret universe of the graffiti scene. The film tells the story of a crew of four grafitti "writers" who enter a creative battle with another crew that pushes them to the edge. 09 Sept, 3pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

HIP-HOP ••• UK PREMIERE BLING: A PLANET ROCK

••• UK PREMIERE MR. DEVIOUS: MY LIFE Dir: John Fredericks, South Africa, 72mins The uplifting story of a talented son of Mitchell's Plain, South Africa, Mario van Rooy aka "Mr. Devious," who used his gift for music to inspire young people to rise above the stigma of poverty. 10 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

PICK UP THE MIC Dir: Alex Hinton, USA, 2005, 95mins Queer Hip Hop: it’s a lot more than a stylish oxymoron in this startling, fast-paced documentary on the world of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered rappers 10 Sept, 8.30pm ICA: Cinema 2

LIKE AN AMBASSADOR OF HIS PEOPLE Dir: Hans-Jorg Heinrich, Senegal/Germany, 2005, 86mins “Like the ﬂy of a boomerang… rap music left Africa during slavery, grew somewhere in the ﬁelds until it became today’s rap music in the United States, crossed Europe again and is now coming back to Africa.” Fresh and innovative, Heinrich creates an infectious picture of the rap scene at its root, its best, and probably it’s most raw. 12 Sept, 8.30pm ICA: Cinema 2

12 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

LIKE AN AMBASSADOR OF HIS PEOPLE Dir: Hans-Jorg Heinrich, Senegal/ Germany, 2005, 86mins “Like the ﬂy of a boomerang… rap music left Africa during slavery, grew somewhere in the ﬁelds until it became today’s rap music in the United States, crossed Europe again and is now coming back to Africa.” Fresh and innovative, Heinrich creates an infectious picture of the rap scene at its root, its best, and probably it’s most raw. 12 Sept, 8.30pm: ICA Cinema 2

Screenings presented in association with the Hip Hop Association

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Mr Devious: My Life

Dir: Raquel Cepeda USA, 90mins This documentary film focuses on the complex relationship between "blood" diamonds, conflict, the influence of Hip-Hop music and culture, and community development. It examines American Hip-Hop culture’s obsession with diamonds— “blinging”—and all its social trappings, and how this infatuation correlated with the ten-year conflict in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The film follows three rappers—Paul Wall, Tego Calderon, and Raekwon—as they trek to the country to meet the survivors, perpetrators and diamond miners in the country.

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UK TALENT

A Goat’s Tail

K U

T N E TAL

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are proud that six British full length feature films have made it into the festival this year which is indicative of the independent spirit and the resourcefulness of those filmmakers. Our UK strand includes Little Boy Blue shorts; films that depict the experiences of young Black boys living in the UK. Almost Adult, is the story of two young girls from different countries, both seeking asylum, who become each other’s family. In A Goat’s Tail, a Ghanaian taxi driver comes to Britain eager to succeed as a poet, and gets a rude awakening. Crossing Bridges, is the gripping tale of a man who is struck by tragedy and decides to commit suicide, but is met by an angel who takes him on a challenging emotional journey. The festival’s closing film is the World Premiere of Deadmeat, is a suspenseful thriller involving terrorism and gang war.

U LENT AK F RTI A CA

LITTLE BOY BLUE SHORTS

TRACE

Dirs: Mark Currie and Rachael Wang, UK, 2007

Dir: Rita Gayle, UK, 2007, 67mins Keith’s life is turned upside down when after leaving behind a three year relationship; his new girlfriend cheats on him. Over a period of several days, his life becomes complicated by a tangled web of unrequited love as he gets pulled into the games being played in his friend’s lover.

FREEDOM AIN’T FREE Four true stories about injustice. They All meet in a chicken shop. 9mins

GONE2SOON On St. Valentines Day 2007, Billy Cox was shot dead inside his home on Fenwick Estate in South west London. Gone 2 Soon delves beneath the sensational newspaper headlines and explores the enormous impact that Billy’s murder had on his friends, neighbours, and the local community.

07 Sept, 5pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

OUR STORY, OUR VOICE Dir: Owen ‘Alik Shahadah, UK, 2007, 77mins In an age where multinational companies, states sponsor terrorism, democracy is imposed, and monoculturalism functions as unwritten law, Our Story, Our Voice is an essential ﬁlm of resistance. From the multi-award-winning producers of 500 Years Later, this documentary transforms what were once isolated whispers into uniﬁed, worldwide screams. 07 Sept, 7pm Stratford Circus: Circus 2

17mins

GROWING A study of three teenage boys, whose idle lifestyle of smoking, joking around and chasing girls, results in tragedy. 11mins

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CHARGED Charged is a short ﬁlm about a gang of three inner city youths who murder a boy at a bus stop. The assault starts off as a 'happy slapping' joke and then erupts into a violent attack. 7mins 13 Sept, 6.15pm: ICA Cinema 2. Screenings followed by a Q&A with Chocolate Films

Almost Adult

ALMOST ADULT Dir: Yousaf Ali Khan, UK/Germany, 2007, 89mins The story of two teenage girls who come from different countries, but still become each other’s family. They meet at a bus station after arriving in the UK as unaccompanied minors in search of asylum. Mamie, the elder of the two, takes Shiku under her wing resolving to be the younger girl’s big sister. 8 Sept, 4pm: ICA Cinema 2

UK TALENT A GOAT’S TAIL

DEADMEAT (CLOSING FILM)

Dir: Julius Amedume, UK, 2006, 94mins Kojo, a taxi driver living in Ghana picks up Cynthia, a British tourist. Cynthia promises to invite Kojo to England. 4 months later Kojo arrives on her doorstep. Filled with ambitions of fulﬁlling his dreams of succeeding as a poet, it soon begins to dawn on him that the grass might not be greener on the other side.

Dir: Q, UK, 2007, 85mins If you knew where you were going to die, would you go there? This gripping, white-knuckle ride through gang-land killings, terrorism, suspense, intrigue, and personal triumph will leave you guessing till the end! Deadmeat features the cream-of-thecrop of Black British talent in front of the camera – including Robbie Gee, Will Johnson and Jo Martin – and also behind the camera, with hot new director ‘Q’.

10 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1 A Goat’s Tail

13 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1

Dir: Mark Norfolk, UK, 2006, 95mins Julius Beauregard has lost his job, his wife and his only child. But just as he decides to end it all he meets an angel and takes her on a journey through the entrails of his own mind. With nothing to lose, Julius’ unfulﬁlled dreams become a battleground that leads him to face his demons. 11 Sept, 8.30pm: ICA Cinema 2

Crossing Bridges

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CROSSING BRIDGES

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UK TALENT - CLOSING FILM

re: e i em r P ld Wor

t a e m d a De

UK TALENT - CLOSING FILM is a big deal, not just because it is made by black crew and headed by a black illustrious cast but that it pushing the envelope in merging different mediums. The concept of the film and it’s subject matter is so personal and relevant in today’s climate of fear and freedom of expression that it is best to hear from the filmmaker himself – Q. “There's been a lot in the British news about gun crime, and if you watch the trailer to Deadmeat the movie you will see that we have guns and also a character in the movie (Oscar James) speaking out against guns. I have had so many emails and phone calls from various people including journalists talking about the gun crime issue. In the press this week there has also been headlines such as "BLACK PROFESSIONALS MUST REPLACE THE RAPPERS AS ROLE MODELS TO TEENAGERS" or "THE WEALTH GAP TO BLAME FOR GANG KILLINGS." The people that are going on about guns in my movie are going to get a big shock! Yes we have guns and gangs, but we also have two black cops, (Martina Laird & Geff Francis) tracking down the gangs and a group of hybrid terrorists. We have a black female gangster, (Clare Perkins) and a black Prime Minister (Cyril Nri). (In the trailer we decided to play down the Prime Minister and not give the game away, but we might have to reconsider now that this whole role model debate is kicking off). As filmmakers the way we decided to deal with the gun crime issue, was to take a look at black culture as a whole, so we portray the lowest of the low, the female gangster and the highest moral ground, namely the Prime Minister. Which is what the British

Press have now picked up on, yes we have gangs but we also have great role models, let’s focus on them as well, and also not all my role models are black. I sometimes find the gun crime debate a bit too, limiting, what I mean by that is in London, we have Eastern Europeans who have come from war torn countries who are highly skilled and trained by the army in their countries to carrying gun and these guys are now on London streets. No one talks about that. YOB culture has been here for years. The Russian mafia, control a lot of London clubs and they carry guns. White east end gangsters, carry guns. Guy Ritchie is making another gangster movie; Nick Love is making a remake of The Sweeney. But when these movies come out no one is going to shout gun crime. Lock stock and Two Smoking Barrels has guns going off all over the place, but no one said gun crime. I suppose people just associate guns with black people. The gangster genre is one I like, so does Martin Scorsese. When people watch our movie as a whole they are going to be surprised, because we have tried to push the boundaries. The fact that we got the film made, with no money from the British Funding bodies, and we have such a diverse cast is an achievement. I think everyone involved in front and the behind the scenes in this production are great role models. To read more of this blog, look out for Deadmeat in Facebook. Deadmeat (Closing Film)

Dir: Q, UK, 2007, 85mins 13 Sept, 8.45pm: ICA Cinema 1 www.deadmeat.com

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Deadmeat

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UK TALENT: PROFILE

e v o r g a l B Jr

Born

in Harlesden, North West London, Ishmahil Blagrove moved with his mother and brother to the US as a child. But he disliked living there so much that he stopped attending school, and ‘after creating enough hell’ the 15-year old Blagrove was allowed to return to the UK. He began his journalism career in the late 80s with a one-page newsletter called Frontline News, which he produced and sent anonymously from Notting Hill’s Mangrove Community Centre. The newsletter’s main purpose was to expose discrimination, and police brutality, against people in the black community. Unsurprisingly, as readership of the newsletter grew so did the local authorities’ interest in ﬁnding the publisher. Blagrove believes their intention was to silence him: ‘…no doubt they wished to serve me with an injunction of some sort or to prosecute me. To me the newsletter gave a voice to the community. The hyperactivity on the part of the authorities to identify the source of the newsletter made me realise the power of the media.’ Two decades later Blagrove is now a reporter, director and producer at Rice N Peas, which

was founded in 1999, and is still resolved to uncover misdeeds and provide oft-ignored groups with an opportunity to be heard. The film company, based in Notting Hill, has produced insightful and compelling documentaries on several controversial topics, including Sierra Leone’s diamond trade and civil war, and gang violence and gun crime in the UK. BANG! BANG! In Da Manor won Best Street Documentary at the Screen Nation Awards in 2005, and Roaring Lion, about the rise of Jamaica’s Rastafarian Movement, won Best Documentary at the Portobello Film Festival in 2004. In their latest film With or Without Fidel, which Blagrove directed, the social and political future of Cuba is debated. bfm: Why did you decide to become a documentary filmmaker? IB: Documentary is a natural extension of the written word. It has the power to visually represent injustice and abuse in a way that the written word cannot. Advancements in digital technology made video-filmmaking affordable

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il h a m a h Is

AFRICA and accessible to a broader audience and opened up the playing fields. Formerly it was very expensive to produce films and this gave the mainstream broadcasters virtually total control over the industry. It was this control over the industry that allowed the mainstream media to have the monopoly on how foreign cultures are viewed and how the black experience in Britain is explained. Entering documentary filmmaking has allowed me to correct some of the racist and class-oriented propaganda that has dominated the arena thus far.

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bfm: Were you interested in social/political issues as a young person? IB: For as long as I can remember the TV programmes that interested me the most were the news, political shows and nature programmes. I remember the hunger strike of the IRA prisoner Bobby Sands; that had a profound impact on my life. No one explained the politics to me at the time, but I knew an injustice was being committed against a people. I suppose I’ve always been hypersensitive to injustice and had an acute understanding of politics and social issues. bfm: Were you involved with any social action groups? IB: In the 80s I sat as a youth leader on the committee of the National Black Caucus. Back then it had noble initiatives, such as creating social awareness amongst the black community and raising the profile of race crime. One of the first race hate murder campaigns we started was the Roland Adams campaign. Roland Adams was a black “Entering documentary filmyouth who had making has allowed me to been murdered by correct some of the racist and white racists. The class-oriented propaganda campaign wasn’t that has dominated the arena that successful, thus far. ” but there was

success much later on when the NBC took on the Stephen Lawrence campaign. The irony of this was that Stephen Lawrence actually knew Roland Adams so perhaps that just highlights the extent to which black people were being attacked. I was very active as a youth and participated in many of the grassroots organizations of the time. I ran a publishing company called House of Knowledge and we stocked books and audio archive lectures, at one stage we had the largest collection of black audio and video archive lectures in the country. When the Nation of Islam began their meetings in Britain we used to supply them with videos of Minister Louis Farrakhan. bfm: How did the members of Rice N Peas come together? IB: At RNP we look for people who share the same values, people who are interested in politics, international and current affairs and people who are sensitive to injustice. The ethos of RNP tends to attract these types of people, but it also attracts those who wish to be in media for the sake of it, or solely wishing to further their career. Those types of people are easily identiﬁed and certainly won’t fulﬁll their ambitions with us. bfm: What are the professional backgrounds of the other members? IB: Our Senior Editor Catherine Arend has been an editor for about sixteen years. I met her at the BBC seven years ago, she was the editor of a programme I produced called Blood Diamonds. Other members of the team bring together a collection of academic and intellectual

UK TALENT- PROFILE

bfm: How do you decide which films to make? IB: There are so many documentaries that need to be made that there is no shortage of ideas. The accessibility of new technologies makes it essential that filmmakers begin to document their community’s experiences both old and new. We need to see history documentaries on Marcus Garvey, Yaa Asantewaa and all the heroes and heroines of our past. These legacies should no longer be left to the interpretations of the prevailing powers. We can no longer complain that we don’t like the way the BBC or Channel 4 made this or that programme, because the technology is now available for us to make it ourselves. I have a passion for social justice and documenting the stories of voiceless people. There is no shortage of these types of stories. bfm: What inspired you/the company to make With or Without Fidel? IB: We made a documentary in Cuba in 2005 called Hasta Siempre and it was very successful. The story looked at the experiences of ordinary Cubans and questioned them as to whether they believed the Cuban Revolution would survive post-Castro. Given the recent health scares of Fidel, we decided to return to Cuba to question the people in power, the politicians, the intellectuals and the artists and to discover their visions of a post-Fidel Cuba. bfm: Which of your films have had the greatest impact on you? IB: All of them. I’m not really sentimental about my films in that way. Each one serves a purpose

and each one is unique in its own way. bfm: What other productions are in the pipeline? IB: I’m off to Sierra Leone in August to cover the elections. Around October I will be in Darfur to discover if what is happening is really a genocide, and in December or the New Year we depart for Australia on our most ambitious project. We shall be traveling with a group of nomadic Aboriginals in the outback, one of the last hunting “We can no longer complain and foraging that we don’t like the way the communities left. BBC or Channel 4 made this or Then we shall that programme, because the contrast their technology is now available for experiences with us to make it ourselves.” those of many urban Aboriginals who have become afﬂicted with alcohol addiction, substance abuse and other general dysfunctionalities. This programme is to show how the loss of ones language, culture, history and dignity can have serious and long lasting implications and also to raise awareness to the plight of the Aboriginals. The western media are quick to tell the world about the land grabs of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, but for reasons of which most people of colour are aware, refuse to even mention the treatment of Aborigines. If the Western media does mention Aborigines it is in the context of child abuse. The mainstream media have mastered the art of manipulation and skillfully distract peoples’ attention away from the real issues. It is this unbridled power of the media that we wish to challenge and that is why we make documentaries. With or Without Fidel is being screened at Stratford Circus on September 12th. www.ricenpeas.com

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professionalism that enables us to tell the stories that we do.

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SHORT FILM AWARDS BIFF Short Film Awards 2007 has had a complete facelift thanks to BET International coming on board as one of the key sponsors. Their belief and commitment to the black talent in the UK has meant that the future is bright for the exhibition and distribution of the work of minority filmmakers. Furthermore, the winning short film in the ‘Best Director’ of a short film will be screened on the BET network.

bfm is also proud to have the support of the other sponsors and together these associations will be good news for the ﬁlm industry as a whole and for diversity on screen. 9th bfm International Film Festival Short Film Awards Odeon West End Tuesday 11th September 2007 7pm -10pm

M L I F S D R A W

T R O H S

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The

SHORT FILM AWARDS

TRIPPY

SHORT FILM AWARD CATEGORIES

Dir: Gillian Salmon, UK, 2007, 6mins A Dynamic and moving portrayal of a young life lost to mental illness.

••• BEST FEMALE ACTOR ••• BEST MALE ACTOR

BIRTHDAY TREAT Dir: Dean Charles, UK, 2007, 13mins When Darren reluctantly agrees to take his girlfriend, Annette to a local clairvoyant as her birthday treat, his scepticism is shattered when the mystic tells Annette more than Darren wanted her to know.

••• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY ••• BEST SCREENPLAY ••• BEST DIRECTOR (BET) ••• BEST SHORT FILM*

SHANTELL TOWN Dir: Paulette James, UK, 2006, 10mins Shantell must step up and ﬁnd her feet on the street, in the battle of who's "Super Bad".

OTHER AWARDS CATEGORIES ••• BEST MUSIC VIDEO

GONE2SOON Dir: Dewi Bruce – Konuah, UK, 2007, 17mins On St Valentines day 2007 Billy Cox was shot dead inside his home on Fenwick Estate in South west London. "Gone 2 Soon" delves beneath the sensational newspaper headlines, and explores the enormous impact that Billy’s murder had on his friends, neighbours and the local community.

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BOOT POLISH Dir: Aneel Ahmad, UK, 15mins, 2007, 10mins A shoeshine boy on the dusty streets of Lahore dreams of rescuing a beautiful courtesan

••• BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE ••• BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (UK TRADE & INVESTMENT) ••• BEST BRITISH FEATURE

Judging will be conducted by industry professionals and members of bfm. *live audience vote UK Trade & Investment is the lead government organisation than provides support for UK companies looking to develop international business. It also provides support for overseas companies wishing to invest in the UK. UK Trade & Investment has a wide range of services, backed-up by a network of trade advisors worldwide. We provide companies with knowledge, advice and practical support.

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SEMINARS / WORKSHOPS

BIFF

has worked in partnership with the BBC and Circus Media to bring together a series of workshops and seminars to meet the needs of new entrants and emerging filmmakers. Find out about how to fund your film or pitch your script. Get to know what the opportunities are for filmmakers and the progress that is being made to ensure that there are increased equal opportunities in the workplace. Most of all, make contacts and network as this could lead to your lucky break.

BIFF EAST - CIRCUS MEDIA ••• HANDHELD TO BIG SCREEN From PSP/I-Pod/Mobile Phone hand-held through to online free and pay-per-view, DVD, terrestrial and satellite TV: 8th Sept, 3:30pm – 5pm

••• PITCHING WORKSHOP Learn from a professional how to get your pitch right and your work commissioned. 11th Sept, 5:15pm – 6:45pm

BIFF - BBC ••• HOW TO BREAK INTO THE MEDIA INDUSTRY?

••• ‘PUBLIC V PRIVATE’ - HOW TO BEAT THE FUNDING GAME

Hosted by Skillset, a panel discussion will tackle the subject of maintaining a career in the media industry today.

An informative discussion on the Public (Film Council/Film London/Skillset) vs Private (Private Investors/Self-ﬁnanced/Shareholding) ways of getting ﬁlms made.

10th Sept, 12pm – 1.30pm

11th Sept, 7:30pm – 9pm

••• THE WRITER'S JOURNEY AT THE BBC

••• ‘HOW TO GET ON IN THE MUSIC VIDEO INDUSTRY’

The BBC's Creative Director of New Writing, Kate Rowland, takes you through the writer's journey at the BBC, from foot in the door to lasting relationship, across radio, TV and ﬁlm, drama, comedy and children's.

A look at the music video genre, from budgets to commissions, from distribution to the future of the music video. 13th Sept, 7:30pm-9pm

10th Sept, 2pm – 3.30pm

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••• THE PERFECT TEN – HOW TO GET THOSE FIRST PAGES TO HOOK A READER’S ATTENTION The ﬁrst ten pages are as crucial to a script reader as the ﬁrst ten minutes are to the audience. BBC writersroom Development Manager Paul Ashton, who oversees the assessment of 10,000 scripts a year, offers his tips on how to make sure your opener is working for you. 10th Sept, 4pm – 5.30pm

BBC, Council Chamber, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA

C2, Circus Media, Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX

PLACES ARE LIMITED! All seminars are free. Book now to reserve your place and avoid disappointment. Email seminars@bfmmedia.com

3 MILLS STUDIOS and more producers of screen and stage entertainment are discovering 3 Mills Studios is the ideal base for their productions. Within a short space of time, this unique niche studio has been discovered by some of the industry's most successful independent filmmakers, including Danny Boyle, Tim Burton, David Cronenberg, Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Michael Winterbottom. Situated conveniently close to central London, they deliver first-class service, provide extensive resources and are dedicated to helping each client fulfil their creative vision - whether it's a feature film, TV programme, commercial, music video or West End show.

s o i d u t S Mills

3 Mills Studios provides myriad shooting opportunities - both on and off site. Their exteriors and interiors often double as police stations, hospitals, nightclubs, airport lounges and even New York or Victorian streetscapes. Additional cost-effective and convincing on-site locations include period buildings, cobbled streets, car parks, roads, walkways, rivers and canals all within the Studios’ secure and controlled environment. The whole of metropolitan London is on our doorstep, including the diversity of the East End, Canary Wharf, Docklands, Greenwich and Soho. What's more, they work with screen agency Film London, giving you access to the foremost ﬁlmmaking locations and world-class resources across the South East of England and beyond.

ofﬁce buildings, docklands and waterways, gardens and parks and more.

3 Mills Studios is also situated close to a wide variety of additional LDA owned sites that are suitable for location ﬁlming. Examples include historic buildings, ex-military locations, dirttracks, dilapidated buildings, roadways that can be closed for stunt work and pyrotechnics,

"3 MILLS STUDIOS HAS MORE ATMOSPHERE THAN MOST MOVIES! SHOOTING THERE WAS A LOVELY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE."

As part of BIFF EAST, 3 Mills in conjunction with Skillset is offering an exclusive visit and tour of the facilities to a select group of filmmakers where they will also have a private screening of short films and Q&A with an established film production team onsite. Email festival@bfmmedia.com for more information on booking a place.

"3 MILLS STUDIOS IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET FILM STUDIO IN LONDON." Danny Boyle, Director, Sunshine, Millions and 28 Days Later

David Cronenberg, Director, Eastern Promises

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PROJECT TALENT

‘Are You The Next Hype Williams?’

Music

Hype Williams is an award-winning, much sought after, music video director whose vibrant, imaginative, videos has earned him widespread acclaim. His work includes Kanye West's Gold Digger, Missy Elliot’s The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), Busta Rhymes' Woo Hah!!, 2Pac’s California Love (featuring Dr. Dre), Jay-Z’s Can’t Knock the Hustle, and TLC’s No Scrubs. The BIFF challenge to submit an original, creative, music video was set to individuals across the UK, and two winners will gain a

place on Project Talent UK. They will have the opportunity to work with established directors, music producers, singers, make-up artists, stylists and photographers in a Fame Academy style programme, which will be broadcast in November 2007. The contest is a bold element of BIFF ’07, which elevates music video production as a credible platform of acquiring skills as a filmmaker. “Through this competition BIFF is creating an interface between these music video directors and the film industry,” says Menelik Shabazz, founder of bfm and the festival. The winners will be selected, by public vote, from eight finalists whose music video submissions will be screened at a live showcase on 8th September 2007 in London. So, make sure you check out all the innovative entries, and cast your vote for your favourite.

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video production has become the key route through which Black British film talent can proactively develop their skills. The bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) is championing this movement with an exciting and unique competition, which seeks to uncover the UK’s freshest, most talented, music video directors: ‘Are you the next Hype Williams?’ Many aspiring Black filmmakers are eschewing traditional and exclusive training routes, such as film colleges and universities, and the motivation behind this new festival element is the belief that the next generation of leading Black British film directors will come from the music video production scene.

PROJECT TALENT

Project

Talent UK offers you the opportunity to make a music video for a winning urban vocal artist. Get down to the ﬁnal 12 and have access to top industry mentors and training. Start you career in ﬁlm or music video right here!

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As part of the bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) in September ‘07, we’re scouring the whole of the UK to seek out fresh and inventive music video directors. Project Talent UK offers you the platform to progress. We want to celebrate the directorial side of music video production and to showcase your innovation, creativity, imagination and skill. Music videos aren’t just respected and enjoyed for the music alone. We get just as excited and sometimes more excited by the visuals, the clever camera work, the use of animation or the funny storyline. Project Talent UK is your opportunity to work with established directors, music producers, singers, make-up artists, stylists and photographers. ••• You’ll take part in an eight day Project Talent UK Lab, offering critical business advice

and networks, access to some of the worlds leading ﬁlmmakers and a unique showcasing opportunity. ••• Project Talent UK will be broadcast on My Space as a “Fame Academy” style programme, with a highlights package to be aired online and on TV in 2008. You’ll compete in a premiership team league to feature as the leading production team. ••• Plus your work will be screened during the live perform of Project Talent UK on Thursday 22nd November 2007 at Ocean, London. ••• Premier teams will be entered into a lottery to win tickets for two to this year’s BT Digital Music Awards. Visit www.projecttalentuk.com and www.bfmmedia.com for more information

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SEMO I NVAI ER SC H A N N E L bfm

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you’re passionate about black world cinema, like we are, then you deserve to know the team at the bfm international film festival are offering all festival supporters and film club members a sneak preview of the bfm movie channel - an exciting new on-demand film service offering the best of black world cinema at your fingertips. For one month you can enjoy a free trail before we launch this exciting new service later in the year.

The bfm movie channel is the first film service that offers the very best independent films by the best filmmakers from over 3 continents. It finally represents a world of black film that is as diverse as we are. Truly revolutionising the way filmmakers reach their audiences and broadening the limited supply of black film available worldwide. Now you can enjoy a wealth of black entertainment anytime anywhere. With just one click, you can access our growing library that’s currently over 100 films – including black cinema classics, the latest independent movies from Europe, the USA as well as home grown UK talent, compelling african cinema & the best nollywood titles. The channel features all genres from romantic comedies to hip hop documentaries and much, much more.

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With a wide range of titles that will be added to every month, there’s never been a better time for lovers of world cinema to register for your free trail. bfm Movie Channel Executive Director Menelik Shabazz said ’ we always knew there was a overwhelming amount of independent black films available worldwide, and that there is healthy global demand. At last we are in a position to serve this niche directly and deliver and respond immediately to what filmmakers are producing and what our subscribers want. It takes less than five minutes to register, minutes that will change ones perception of film entertainment forever.’ To register online for your free trail and for more information hit www.bfmmedia.com.

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Entertainment

your

ďŹ ngertips www.bfmmedia.com

SKILLSET

Carol

Jacobs, formerly the Skillset Open Door Awards Project Manager, spent six years of that time overseeing the work of a new wave of minority media practitioners some of whom she brought to Cannes earlier this year to take part in the Short Film Corner. bfm catches up with this dynamic woman as she reflects on the achievements of the project. bfm: What attracted you to film in the first place? My love affair with film began as a child. My mother would take me to the cinema to watch films such as Westside Story and other Hollywood musicals and biblical films. My family were all film buffs; I was the child who did not miss the weekend Hollywood classic matinees on telly.

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bfm: How did Open Door Awards Scheme begin? The Open Door Awards Scheme was developed after the Millennium Awards Scheme for Skillset came to a close. That scheme provided 120 people from across the UK’s diverse communities to produce a project that would be of beneﬁt to their community. Working in partnership with the BBC we felt that scheme had been successful in that it provided people with the opportunity to develop their skills and talent in their chosen careers as well as enabling a number of them to secure employment. We trained people across the following platforms: radio journalism, digital video production, website design & construction and print journalism. Through gaining access to industry training; networking opportunities and the mentoring support the scheme opened

SKILLSET

bfm: What part did you play in leading this project? I designed a programme that would give each beneﬁciary the chance to (1) gain knowledge about the industry and engage in a work experience placement (2) access professional industry skills training and networking opportunities (3) produce a project to showcase their skills. The scheme would also provide professional mentoring, support and careers guidance. We were successful in our application to the LDA’s Employment and Skills Department. Skillset’s Open Door Awards are funded by the European Social Fund, the London Development Agency and the BBC. This scheme is delivered under clause 37 of the Race Relations Act which allows training organisations to run programmes for people from black and ethnic origin groups which have been demonstrated to be under represented in a particular industry. Skillset's research has found that 7% of the workforce of London’s audio visual industries is from black and ethnic minorities, compared to 35% of the overall population of inner London. It is imperative that developing ﬁlmmakers look to

Skillet for advice and recommendations about careers progression. I recommend they check the website regularly to investigate the latest initiatives that are available to them. Right now we are offering 80% discount for London freelancers. We secured £900,000 funding for freelancers in London to access animation, broadcast and interactive media training courses. 700 freelancers will be able to access up to 80% off training costs.

bfm: What has happened to the participants after they finished with you? Open Door Award success stories are reported every week to us. One notable success story is Ramaa Sharma, who prior to entering the scheme had been a freelance journalist for numerous London RSL's, ending up at BBC Asian Network. Ramaa was convinced that the Open Door scheme would help build her confidence, increase her skillsbase and ultimately open up networks to progress her career into mainstream journalism. She was right; Ramaa has just successfully secured employment as a mainstream news journalist, and is now BBC London's East London Reporter. Look and listen out for her on screen, online and on the radio. Paul Akintunde’s short film Natty on the Run has been selected to be screened in festivals up and down the country including BIFF 06l. Paul is currently developing projects for broadcast and the community. This year two films have made it through – Wasted and Trippy - the latter making it into the Short Film Awards. Other people have gone on to secure employment in the mainstream industry.

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up real pathways into the mainstream industry for people who were serious about forging ahead in the industry. Graduates have secured employment in the BBC, BBC1 Extra, MTV as directors, news journalists and producers; beneficiaries have also had programmes commissioned by the major broadcasters and have set up their own production companies. After graduating from the scheme some beneficiaries decided to continue their education by studying for their Masters or doctorates in Media and Communications. Some of the educational institutions that beneficiaries have secured place at are the University of Miami, Goldsmith College, University of London and SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies – University of London)

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TRIBUTE

E N : A E M N S E U B O SEM of er ma

death of Ousmane Sembene on 10th June, 2007, marked the end of an era for African cinema. He was known as the ‘father of African cinema’ as he brought it to the attention of the world. Sembene gave us a face to an Africa that was stereotyped as the land of Tarzan. His early work provoked criticism from some Africans, as he held up a mirror for people to see themselves, and the reality of the corruption and violence that existed in their daily lives; having to juggle tradition and the realities of post colonialism now that it was a reality rather than a distant dream. Born into a fisherman’s family in the southern region of Casamance, Senegal, in 1923, Sembene began his filmmaking career in 1963 with Borom Sarret a short film about a poor cartdriver. His first full-length feature, La Noire de (Black Girl) was based on his own short story. The film centres on a young maid who suffers racism and harassment after she moves with her employers from Dakar to France, and eventually commits suicide. Produced by Films Domirev, his Dakar-based production company, it was the first African film directed by an African. He won two prizes at the Venice Film Festival, in 1968 for Mandabi (The Money Order) and 1988 for Camp de Thiaroye. He was also a prolific novelist, and co-founder of the Festival of Pan African Cinema (FESPACO) held in Burkina Faso every two years. Sembene sought to find a true African voice, which subsequently he did with Mandabi, his first colour film. Based on his novel Le Mandat, two versions of the

Fathn Cine a c i r f A

film were made, one in French and the other in Wolof, the main language of Senegal. Considered by many to be African cinema’s first masterpiece, Mandabi is the story of a man living on the outskirts of Dakar who receives a money order from his nephew in Paris, and has to deal with greed and bureaucracy as he attempts to cash it. The man ends up in debt, poorer than he had been before. The film is a witty satire about the effects of post-colonial Africa on its people, and their way of life. His next feature film, Emitai, is an account of resistance to colonial exploitation during the Second World War. A village’s opposition to a regime of crippling taxes, forced labour, and French military conscription, becomes an armed struggle as repression intensifies, and ends with a massacre as the resistance is defeated by better equipped forces. Xala, which Sembene made in 1975, was produced within the Senegalese Ministry of Culture by the Societe de Cinema, but several passages were cut before the censorship allowed it to be shown to Senegalese audiences. The film was released the year following the temporary end of the Sahelian drought. It is the story of a man who squanders his money on his third marriage instead of paying his debts, and is cursed with impotence

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The

AFRICA when he attempts to consummate the marriage. There is a struggle over language throughout the film. Initially, the protagonist refuses to speak Wolof to his daughter from his first marriage, whose strong opinions reflect Sembene’s own beliefs: opposition to polygamy, belief in education, and support for the Wolof language. But when his debts land him in trouble and he addresses the Chamber of Commerce – whose members have been established in the film’s opening sequence as paid puppets of the former colonialists – he insists on speaking Wolof. He tells them he has done nothing they have not done. He is thrown out, and replaced by a man whose fortune is based on money stolen from hungry peasants. Sembene’s 1976 film Ceddo was initially banned in Senegal. The film depicts indigenous resistance to the imposition of Islam in historical Senegal. However, according to the government, the reason for the ban was that the title should have been spelled with one ‘d’.

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Sembene tackled female circumcision – also called genital mutilation – in his final film Moolaade, made in 2004. It was the second in what he had intended to be a trilogy of films, which began with Faat Kine in 2000. The trilogy was to be about, Ousmane said, “the heroism of daily life”. In a 2005 interview for the Guardian/National Film Theatre, he

Moolaade

told playwright and critic Bonnie Greer: “We are talking here about the African continent, and it is a continent going through a crisis. Nobody can deny that we have a lot of wars going on; brothers killing brothers; we have a lot of diseases and catastrophes. But on the other hand, we have a majority of individuals, both men and women, who are struggling on a daily basis in a heroic way and the outcome of whose struggle leaves no doubt. This is a struggle whose purpose is not to seize power, and I think the strength of our entire society rests on that struggle. And it is because of this struggle that the entire continent is still standing up. So I've tried in my own way to sing the praises of those heroes, because I am also a witness to that daily struggle.” Through Sembene’s films we learn much about the society in which he was immersed and better understand his views – his criticisms of religion, oppression, and polygamy; the place of women, and the selfishness of men. He produced 10 films which have left an imprint on all and, most importantly, revolutionised African cinema. He will forever be referred to as a ‘pioneer’. He would have been proud of the offerings from African cinema that have been entered into the festival – it is his legacy. Deborah Kong

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DANIELLE HUMPHREY GRAPHIC DESIGNER

DANIELLE@LEAPERS.CO.UK 07944 564 805 WWW.LEAPERS.CO.UK

F H EI PS -THI V OA P LD CE R B EA DT IET S

There

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have always been those who objected to the lyrical content of some rap records, but earlier this year the hip hop community came under ﬁre from certain factions of the US media for its use of sexist and misogynistic lyrics. Rappers were accused of double standards after the furore surrounding radio shock jock Don Imus’ comments about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. Imus was ﬁred in April after calling the players ‘nappy-headed hos’, a term which he argued originated in the black community and has been used by rappers for decades.

In response to the criticisms, music mogul Russell Simmons – co-chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) – called a private meeting to discuss issues challenging the industry. The gathering, which was attended by more than 20 high-powered industry executives, took place in the Manhattan home of Lyor Cohen, chairman and chief executive of U.S. music at Warner Music Group. Attendees included Kevin Liles, executive vice president, Warner Music; L.A. Reid, chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group; Sylvia Rhone, president of Motown Records and executive vice president of Universal Music Group; Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America; and Damon Dash,

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HIP-HOP DEBATE

Simmons declined to comment on the gathering but appeared with others at a two day town hall meeting on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the issue. Oprah has been criticised in the past by Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Ice Cube, as being anti-hip hop, an accusation which the chat show host and media mogul denied. “I am a woman who has worked very hard for my status in the world and as a human being,” she reportedly

told MTV. “I don't want to be marginalized by music or any form of art. ... I feel rap is a form of expression, as is jazz. I'm not opposed to rap. I'm opposed to being marginalized as a woman.” During the town hall discussion, the four-man hip hop panel of Simmons; Kevin Liles; rapper Common; and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-chairman of HSAN, agreed that ‘there is a problem’ but cautioned against trying to limit rappers’ freespeech rights. However, Simmons emphasized that the issue was bigger than rap lyrics. “The hip-hop community is a mirror, a reﬂection of the dirt we overlook – the violence, the misogyny, the sexism. They need to be discussed,” he said. Simmons and Dr. Chavis later called on record companies and broadcasters to remove, bleep, or delete the words ‘n*gger’, ‘ho’ and ‘bitch’ from songs, in a statement released on behalf of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. “It is important to re-emphasize that our internal discussions with industry leaders are not about censorship. Our discussions are about the corporate social responsibility of the industry to voluntarily show respect to African Americans and other people of color, African American women and to all women in lyrics and images”. Due to the “growing public outrage” over the use of the offensive terms in rap music, the statement said, the three words should be viewed as “extreme curse words”. The HSAN heads also recommended that a music industry Coalition on Broadcast Standards be formed, to “recommend guidelines for lyrical and visual standards within the industries”.

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Jay-Z's former Roc-A-Fella Records partner. Top-selling rapper T.I. also attended, organizers said. The meeting went on for several hours and a press conference scheduled for when it was ﬁnished had to be cancelled as the meeting ran over time.

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CREDITS

Festival Founder Menelik Shabazz Executive Director Priscilla Igwe Event Management Hatch Events Brochure Editor Deborah Kong Website Design Eregeneration Festival Design Concept and Art Direction Danielle Humphrey PR Unrestriked PR Richard Adershiyan RP Management Greyology Management Volunteers Estella Daniels Ruth James Marie Ehuy Lyonelle Ngami Jane Forsythe Sophie White Advertising & Sponsorship ICR Consultants Funders Film London Newham Council

Sponsors BET International US Embassy Paramount Home Entertainment BBC Film Network Skillset In Kind Sponsors Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OfďŹ ce UK Trade & Investment Shooting People Film Academy Media Production Anointed Productions Media Partners Choice FM South African Times New Nation Newham Magazine Printers Bovince Pensord Urban Design and Print BIFF Partners Newham 2012 Unit for the Olympic Games Circus Media Stratford Circus Stratford Picturehouse 3 Mills Studios Special thanks to: Nathalie Stewart and the rest of the board of bfm Xcel bfm Magazine bfm Media Also the dedicated members of bfm

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Patron Earl Cameron

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S A PF O RN I CSAO R S , S U P P O R T E R S A N D F U N D E R S

COMPETITION

N O I T I T E P M O C

Answer this question to win a copy of a DVD and free tickets to the screening of Black Snake Moan.

Email your answer to competition@bfmmedia.com

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Name the film that Samuel L. Jackson plays the character nicknamed ‘Mr. Glass’