Black Film Across London

From November 2008 to April 2009 Londoners can take advantage of an exciting programme of festivals and events that will showcase and celebrate Black film talent. It will include screenings, exhibitions, masterclasses, glittering awards ceremonies and education programmes together with DJ nights delivered by organisations whom have benefited from invaluable financial support from Film London, UK Film Council and Skillset.


Previous events include:

East End Film Festival
The East End Film Festival (23-30 April) will be screening some amazing films this year, but not all of the festival will take place in front of a cinema screen - because the programme will incorporate a host of inspiring panel events, controversial debates, and lively discussions that compliment the festival films.

Issues surrounding the depiction of race in British cinema will come under the microscope, as discussion follows a series a short films in a panel on Black Representation on Screen (Fri 24 April). The panel will be chaired by Nadia Denton, director of bfm International Film Festival, and panellists include Wil Johnson (currently starring in BBC's Waking the Dead).

Find out more on the East End Film Festival website.


Happy Soul Festival
This award-winning festival, formed from South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, is heading towards its 3rd year (26 March to 8 April).

The festival has developed a strong strand of film screenings and related talks and youth film and video commissions targeting the African-Caribbean community around the themes of mental health awareness and well-being.

Find out more on the Happy Soul Festival website.


Images of Black Women Film Festival
Taking us into 2009 is the Images of Black Women Film Festival, an international film festival that celebrates African descent women film-makers on screen and behind the screen.

The festival will celebrate the organisation's 5th year and runs from 27 March to 29 March 2009 at The Tricycle. As the first UK film festival dedicated to African descent women, it has proved to be an undeniable success. For more information please email info@imagesofblackwomen.com or visit www.imagesofblackwomen.com.


Screen Nation Film and TV Awards
Keeping the momentum going is the Screen Nation Film & TV Awards, aka 'the Black Bafta's', which takes place on Saturday 7 February 2009 at BAFTA. Screen Nation Awards remains the UK's only international ceremony to recognize the achievements of Black film and TV.

Hit the red carpet and party with black stars of the movies and hit shows like Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City, Hustle, Casualty and many more - plus music stars like Estelle, Sway and Lemar.

Log on to www.screennation.co.uk for more information.


BFM International Film Festival
The largest black world cinema event in the UK. Marking their 10th anniversary, the festival took place at venues across London, including BFI Southbank, the British Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Rich Mix and Bernie Grant Arts Centre.

Running from 7 - 17 November 2008, the festival opened with a screening of Horace Ove's The Ghost of Hin King Estate. For more details log on to: www.bfmmedia.com/festival.


The London African Film Festival
Africa At The Pictures, in partnership with the Royal African Society, celebrates African cinema in The London African Film Festival.

The festival consists of 50 films in six major arts' venues across the capital (BFI Southbank, Renoir, Barbican, ICA, Rich Mix and the October Gallery). Amongst the highlights in a programme, that promises to excite, entertain and enlighten, is a retrospective of Abderrahamane Sissako, one of Africa's leading film-makers (Bamako/Waiting for Happiness).

There will also be a showcase of early South African cinema from the 1900s to the present day, Q&As with more than a dozen of the continents' most exciting up-and-coming directors and established directors, a selection of the latest rich pickings from Nigeria's booming home video 'Nollywood' industry, and an animation programme for children.

The festival runs from 29 November to 7 December 2008. For details of the full programme visit: www.africaatthepictures.co.uk.


The British Urban Film Festival
Celebrating the best in new urban film-making on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 December at the Genesis in Mile End and Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E1.

The full programme is available at www.buffenterprises.co.uk and tickets for all screening events are free - simply call 08712 885 785 to reserve your seat.