Rentals
Black British Filmmaking
A selection of shorts and features by black writers and directors, from milestones of the 60s and 70s to contemporary hits.
For much of the history of British film and TV, black stories were overseen by white filmmakers. By the 1960s, black writers and directors were demanding to tell their own stories, in their own way. This collection celebrates the work of black storytellers who have enriched our understanding of the black British experience. Landmark features like Horace Ové's Pressure (1975) and Menelik Shabazz's Burning an Illusion (1981) stand beside earlier milestones in short filmmaking by Lionel Ngakane and Lloyd Reckord, and 1990s work by Isaac Julien and Julian Henriques. And you'll find hits by leading lights in new black British cinema, including Noel Clarke, Destiny Ekaragha and Debbie Tucker Green. The collection also highlights the work of Ngozi Onwurah, who became the first black British woman director to get a UK theatrical release with her extraordinary debut feature Welcome II the Terrordome (1995), a controversial dystopian fable unavailable for many years.
Farming Farming
Drama 2018 107 mins Director: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
A fostered Nigerian boy growing up in Essex loses all sense of identity and joins a racist skinhead gang. Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Oz, Lost) directs this powerful drama based on his own, extraordinary upbringing.
Welcome II the Terrordome Welcome II the Terrordome
Drama 1995 94 mins Director: Ngozi Onwurah
A ferocious dystopian nightmare, this was the first film directed by a Black British woman to receive a UK theatrical release.
Speak Like a Child Speak Like a Child
Drama 1998 77 mins Director: John Akomfrah
Moving drama about three close friends forever tied to a dark secret from their teenage past.
Kidulthood Kidulthood
Drama 2006 91 mins Director: Menhaj Huda
Noel Clarke and Menhaj Huda’s explosive youth film follows the drug, sex and crime-fuelled antics of a group of West London teens over the course of a single day.
Adulthood Adulthood
Drama 2008 99 mins Director: Noel Clarke
After being released from prison following a murder charge, Sam Peel (Noel Clarke) attempts to reboot his life and seek redemption.
Brotherhood Brotherhood
Crime 2016 104 mins Director: Noel Clarke
A decade after the release of Adulthood, Sam (Noel Clarke) is trying to keep his family safe while simmering old grudges threaten to resurface.
Hush Hush
Thriller 2009 88 mins Director: Mark Tonderai
A tense and terrifying motorway thriller about a man whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a malevolent trucker, directed by former Radio 1 DJ Mark Tonderai.
Riots and Rumours of Riots Riots and Rumours of Riots
1981 34 mins Director: Imruh Caesar
Radical resistance in the postwar British Caribbean community, from the 1948 Nationality Act to the 1958 Brixton riots.
Generation Revolution Generation Revolution
Documentary 2016 72 mins Director: Usayd Younis and Cassie Quarless
This urgent, impassioned documentary follows a new generation of Black activists as they fight for social and political change in London and beyond.
Babymother Babymother
Musical 1998 77 mins Director: Julian Henriques
Neeta and her crew rise to dancehall fame in North West London's Caribbean community, in the first Black British musical.
Dog Eat Dog Dog Eat Dog
Comedy 2001 93 mins Director: Moody Shoaibi
David Oyelowo makes his first feature film role as one of posse of DJs who enrage a local drug baron after stealing his dog.
Playing Away Playing Away
Sport 1986 102 mins Director: Horace Ové
A cricketing comedy of manners exploring white and black stereotypes, from pioneering British filmmaker Horace Ové.
Blood Ah Go Run Blood Ah Go Run
Documentary 1982 13 mins Director: Menelik Shabazz and Imruh Caesar
This documentary by Menelik Shabazz (Burning an Illusion) about the response to the New Cross Fire in 1981 prefigures the widespread social unrest later that year.
Sidney's Chair Sidney's Chair
Drama 1995 21 mins Director: Roberto Bangura
What do you do when a Hollywood star makes a film in your neighbourhood? Nick his chair, of course!
Rooted Rooted
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1997 4 mins Director: Victor Olusola Opeyokun
Animated awakening: a young black man in an oppressive urban environment finds a new outlook by embracing his African roots
The Weekend The Weekend
Comedy 2016 94 mins Director: Sheridan De Myers
Street-smart Hackney comedy about three friends whose unexpected cash windfall funds the mother of all parties; from the talents behind YouTube hit Mandem on the Wall.
Smack and Thistle Smack and Thistle
Drama 1989 95 mins Director: Tunde Ikoli
When a young black wide-boy rescues a rich white girl from a heroin overdose – and falls for her – he’s drawn into a world of high-class crime.
Midnight Breaks Midnight Breaks
1988 113 mins Director: Laurens C. Postma
Big Audio Dynamite’s Don Letts made his acting debut in this gripping, gritty 1990 drama of dreads, drugs, and music business corruption.
Yardie Yardie
Crime 2018 102 mins Director: Idris Elba
In his thrilling directorial debut, Idris Elba brings to life Victor Headley’s cult crime novel.
Omega Rising Omega Rising
1988 50 mins Director: D. Elmina Davis
The women of Rastafari talk about their relationship to the movement’s development.
Coffee Coloured Children Coffee Coloured Children
Biopic 1988 17 mins Director: Ngozi Onwurah
Experimental monologue about the trauma of racial harassment and self-hate that accompanies growing up mixed-race in Britain.
Frantz Fanon: Black Skin White Mask Frantz Fanon: Black Skin White Mask
Documentary 1997 70 mins Director: Isaac Julien
Isaac Julien and Mark Nash’s celebrated experimental documentary about the Afro-Caribbean psychiatrist and revolutionary.
The Nine Muses The Nine Muses
Documentary 2012 92 mins Director: John Akomfrah
John Akomfrah mixes archive material, literary and musical quotations and newly shot silent footage in a wry, rapt meditation on memory and migration.
Dream A40 Dream A40
Drama 1965 16 mins Director: Lloyd Reckord
A young gay couple’s relationship is put to the test as a road trip takes a sinister turn in Lloyd Reckord's daring underground short.
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