[EVENT] British Urban Film Festival 2011

The British Urban Film Festival (aka BUFF) is 6 years old and continues to grow with this year’s event taking place at TUC Congress House in London’s West End on the weekend of September 16, 17 and 18. The full line-up of festival selections will be announced at the end of July when the deadline closes for producers and directors wishing to submit films for due consideration. Festival director Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe has also confirmed that Lonyo Engele, Isaura Barbe-Brown and Stephen Lloyd Jackson will feature in a live question and answer session to be hosted by the writer and broadcaster Henry Bonsu on the opening night of the 3-day festival. Seats are free to book by phone and available on a first come, first served basis from August the 1st onwards.

Organisers of the British Urban Film Festival have confirmed that “David is Dying”, written and directed by Stephen Lloyd Jackson, will be making its’ UK premiere at the annual showpiece on Friday September 16. It marks the acting debut of Lonyo Engele (familiar to fans of UK Garage music) who plays the male lead alongside fellow debutante Isaura Barbe-Brown.

Billed as a bittersweet tale of love and lust, the film tells the story of David Brown, a confused and tormented man, haunted by his past, in which, as a boy he fell in love with his French-Caribbean mother – a glamorous courtesan who entertained men for money. Her death heralds a downward spiral in David’s adult life as he attempts to settle down with his partner (Carla). Early reviews for the film are hailing it as “raw, unadulterated mental torture both beautifully told and shot”.

Films at the event also include Aml Ameen’s coming of age film ‘Sex, Drugs & KFC’, Damilola: Death of a 10 year old and the UK Premiere of war film ‘Mercenaries’ starring Billy Zane, which will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Paris Leonti.

All screenings take place at Congress House 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1