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 The Black Film Maker International Film Festival (BIFF) will be
launched on 6th September at City Hall. A week of screenings from 7th –
14th September in London, at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) –
Pall Mall and Odeon West End – Leicester Square will show over 50
unseen films, features, shorts, music videos, animation, documentaries,
comedy and more.
BIFF was established in 1999 with the aim of filling a void within
London’s film exhibition scene. Menelik Shabazz, BIFF founder, says:
“There was a complete absence of black world cinema both in terms of
the multiplexes and existing festivals like London or Edinburgh, which
would show the occasional film but this was a long way short of the
wealth and depth of work available.”
There was, therefore, an opportunity for a new cinema. The work of many filmmakers had become virtually marginalized, and audiences, particularly within the African-Caribbean community, were eager to see films that reflected the cultural experience of the UK’s black communities. The festival’s purpose was, and still is, to make a difference by ‘bringing the unseen to light’.
The Festival opens with TYLER PERRY’S “DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS”, a romantic family drama staring Gabrielle Union (RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, BAD BOYS II, DELIVER US FROM EVA) and Idris Elba (HBO’s “THE WIRE,” THE GOSPEL, SOMETIMES IN APRIL) in writer/director Tyler Perry’s follow-up to his number one box office hits DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN and MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION.
This year’s festival includes two major competition elements. The main one is The Short Film Awards. This is a gala event which has been sponsored by BET (Black Entertainment Television) and will be held at the Odeon West End on Tuesday 11th September.
‘Are you the next Hype Williams?’ is the other key festival competition, which encourages young people to explore their creative potential by producing high quality, trail blazing music videos. Two winners will get the opportunity to work as part of a music video production team for Project Talent UK; the remaining eight finalists will have their film screened during the festival.
This dynamic and eclectic festival will have something for anyone who enjoys cinema.
Event: Black Film Maker International Film Festival (BIFF ’07)
Dates: 7th – 14th September 2007
Venues: ICA (Pall Mall) and the Odeon West End (Leicester Square).
For more information: festival@bfmmedia.com / 020 7540 0550 / www.bfmmedia.com
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