David Farnor | On 06, Jul 2020

BFI Player is teaming up with We Are Parable for a season celebrating Black British cinema.

Titled Who We Are, the weeklong collaboration will lok at the past, and the canon of work from Black British filmmakers, look at the current state of affairs, with the perspective of cultural commentators, and commit to the future, with mentoring sessions and a young filmmakers short film competition. The programme is intended to be a catalyst for change, emphasises Anthony Andrews, We Are Parable’s co-founder, and the first in a series of long term initiatives from the BFI to ensure “our exceptional filmmaking voices in this country are heard”.

We Are Parable is an award-winning film exhibition company and will be combining curated collections from BFI Player’s library with online events, kicking off on 13th July.

We Are Parable Selects, will be a BFI Player collection spanning rental, subscription and free archive titles available on BFI Player and will include great work from Menelik Shabazz, Ngozi Onwurah, Shola Amoo, Campbell X and many others. This programme will sit
alongside a selection of shorts, Black Lives through Black Eyes, that have been handpicked
by Iyare Igiehon, founder of SOUL Celebrate Connect, and co-founder of SOUL Film Festival.

Andrews adds: “We want to celebrate the variety of stories that have been, and continue to be told by Black British Filmmakers. Our film history is so rich, so it is an honour for us to go through the archives at the BFI and explore the last five decades of films that reflect who we are. In addition, we’re thrilled to work with the SOUL Film Festival to host a collection of shorts from filmmakers who are creating truly magnificent work on BFI Player.”

Online conversations with prominent and established filmmakers will also be streamed on BFI YouTube, as well as emerging Black British talent such as Nosa Eke, Tomisin Adepeju, Anthony Vander and Stephan Pierre Mitchell. There will also be access to music sets in partnership with Jazz Refreshed, plus workshop tutorials for aspiring creators to get their work made, and a short film competition for 16-19 year olds.

Finally, a a competition for 16-19 year old Black filmmakers will invite them to enter their short film (under 15 minutes), with the winners having their work appear on BFI Player. The competition is open from 9th to 23rd July, with the winner announced on 3rd August.

We Are Parable will also be handed over the reins to all BFI social channels for the week, using them to highlight key figures in the Black British Film arena who have been doing exemplary work for the last 50 years. From Horace Ové to Rapman, to unsung heroes, this will provide an opportunity to thank and acknowledge pioneers who have led the way and those who continue to do great work.

Events

Filmmaker Forum panel (7pm) – 13th July

The British Blacklist’s Akua Gyamfi moderates a debate between producers Stella Nwimo (Stud Life, A Viable Candidate), Fiona Lamptey (Sitting in Limbo) and Delia Rene (Kisses and Bumflicks).

Jazz Re:Freshed present: VJ Set (7pm) – 14th July

The London based music collective Jazz Re:Freshed join Who We Are forh a 40-minute experience for our eyes and ears as they take a sonic journey through the last 40 years of Black British Film – from Pressure to Babylon, Burning An Illusion to Kidulthood.

Advice for Black British Creatives Panel (7pm) – 15th July

A panel with emerging filmmakers Nosa Eke, Tomisin Adepeju, Anthony Vander and Stephan Pierre Mitchell.

In conversion with Akinola Davies Jr (7pm) – 16th July

Visual artist and filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr discusses his various work with Blood Orange, Kate Tempest and Carhartt, to name a few. Plus a look at the Black British films that have inspired him.

In conversation with Justin Simien (7pm) – 17th July

Justin Simien talks to We Are Parable about his feelings on new audiences discovering his work, the need to see himself and his values represented on screen, and what he has planned in the future.

Followed by a watchalong of Dear White People.

 

BFI Player Collections

We Are Parable Selects

Adulthood (Noel Clarke, 2008)
Assessment (Mark Gutteridge, 2010)
Babymother (Julian Henriques, 1998)
Blood Ah Go Run (Menelik Shabazz, 1982)
Brotherhood (Noel Clarke, 2016)
Burning An Illusion (Menelik Shabazz, 1981)
Coffee Coloured Children (Ngozi Onwurah, 1988)
The Double (Richard Ayoade, 2013)
Dreams of a Life (Carol Morley, 2011)
Farming (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, 2018)
Gone Too Far! (Destiny Ekaragha, 2013)
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (Sophie Fiennes,
2017)
Immigrants (Peter Davis, 1965)
Julius Caesar (Gregory Doran, 2012)
Kidulthood (Menhaj Huda, 2005)
The Last Tree (Shola Amoo, 2019)
Looking for Love (Menelik Shabazz, 2015)
A Moving Image (Shola Amoo, 2016)
The Nine Muses (John Akomfrah, 2010)
Omega Rising (D. Elmina Davis, 1988)
One Love (Rick Elgood, 2003)
Pressure (Horace Ové, 1975)
Rooted (Victor Olusola Opeyokun, 1997)
Second Coming (debbie tucker green, 2014)
The Stuart Hall Project (John Akomfrah, 2013)
Stud Life (Campbell X, 2012)
The Uncertain Kingdom Volumes 1 & 2 (Various,
2020)
A United Kingdom (Amma Asante, 2016)
Welcome II The Terrordome (Ngozi Onwurah,
1993)
Wolcott (Colin Bucksey, 1981)
Yardie (Idris Elba, 2018)
Young Soul Rebels (Isaac Julien, 1991)

Black Lives through Black Eyes

Fatherhood (Dir. Iggy London)
Dear Philadelphia (Dir. Renee Osubu)
RIVE (Dir. Victor Adebodun)
Kindred (Dir. Sam Olanipekun)
We Do What We Can (Dir. Kwaku Awuku-Asabre)
Father Of Man (Dir. Cornelius Walker)
Something in the Closet (Dir. Nosa Eke)
Motherland (Dir. Tracey Lopes)
I Am Pilate (Dir. Femi Oyeniran)
Survivors Guilt (Dir. Caleb Femi)
Almost an Adult (Dir. Curtis Essel)
SECURE THE BAG (Dir. Femi Oyeniran)
Beneath the Surface (Dir. Yero Timi-Biu)
Appreciation (Dir. Tomisin Adepeju)

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