ESSEX CULTURE
‘Essex Girls’ movie shortlisted for award
Ashlee (Corinna Brown) and Bisola (Busayo Ige)
A new film challenging the Essex girl stereotype, and proudly supported by the ECC Arts and Cultural Fund, has been shortlisted for this year’s BFI Film Festival in London.
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ominated for the Best Short Film award, ‘Essex Girls’ is a coming-of-age drama based on the experiences of writer and actor Busayo Ige’s teenage years growing up as a young Black woman in Benfleet. Directed by Yero Timi-Biu and filmed in Southend-on-Sea, ‘Essex Girls’ is a comedy-drama which explores Black British girlhood and female friendships in 2009 Essex and follows the lead character ‘Bisola’, played by Busayo Ige. Angela Moneke, ‘Essex Girls’ producer commented: “We’re thrilled that ‘Essex Girls’ has been recognised by the London Film Festival. With this film we were keen to playfully challenge notions of who could fit into the ‘Essex Girl’ trope. We rarely dissect Blackness outside London onscreen and
there’s an intimacy to stories about identity that we find in these regional spaces. “The film is vital as a light-hearted, nostalgic ode to noughties Black British girlhood which explores female friendships with wit and warmth. It’s been fantastic to see the film resonate with audiences and we look forward to bringing it to an even bigger platform through the London Film Festival.”
The production was financed by BFI Network, Surgent Studios, Screen South and Fully Focused and received funding from the Arts and Cultural Fund and the National Lottery. Images courtesy of TAPE COLLECTIVE LTD 2022.
Saffron (Maisie Smith) and Charlie (Adrianna Bertola)
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