Black Stories Archives - Directors Notes

Beru Tessema’s BIFA Nominated ‘Lions’ Shines a Light on the Disparate Experiences of Poverty in Modern Day Britain

Beru Tessema walks us through giving his actors room to embody the meaning of scenes through improvisation for his short about Britain's dysfunctional systems.

Live Action, Premiere

A Harrowing Phone Call Leads to an Illegal Immigrant’s Worst Nightmare in Joshua Okwuosa’s Suspensive Short ‘Okem’

Joshua Okwuosa discusses choosing a claustrophobic 4:3 ratio for his tension fuelled film about a Nigerian immigrant faced with a devastating situation.

Live Action

Savanah Leaf’s Blistering ‘Earth Mama’ Lays Bare the Struggles of Marginalized Motherhood in a Flawed Care System

Savanah Leaf details how shooting 16mm benefited her gritty, surreal debut feature which shines a unique authorial lens on motherhood, race and class.

Live Action

Abdou Cissé Examines the Inter-Generational Dynamics of a Nigerian Family in Hilarious Comedy ‘Festival of Slaps’

Abdou Cissé reveals his intentions of making a superhero film with his mum as the hero in his kinetic exploration of the misconceptions of African parenting.

Art & Fashion, Premiere

Freddie Leyden’s ‘Under the Skin of a Guild: Wake of Lost Souls’ Exposes Britain’s Colonial Horrors Through Dance

Freddie Leyden's history reckoning dance film explores the horrific past of Guildhall through heavy contrasts, wide angles and loose camera movement.

Live Action

A Karate Instructor Inspires His Shito Ryu Trainees to Excellence in Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah’s ‘The Knife Is Sharp’

Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah discusses her personal connection with Shito Ryu karate and the dojo at the heart of her latest exhilarating experimental spot.

Live Action, Premiere

Will Kenning Offers a Fresh Perspective on the Horrors of County Lines Drug Gangs in Dance Drama ‘Tap Boy’

Will Kenning chats to DN about combining the world of tap with the grim reality of exploitation perpetrated by drug gangs for his compelling drama short.

Art & Fashion, Documentary, Premiere

Dawn Richard Champions the Power of Self-Expression in Moving New Orleans-Set Dance Short ‘Pigments’

Dawn Richard breaks down why she wanted to alter the cliched image of New Orleans through her compelling and empowering dance short.

Live Action

An Undersung Political Activist is Given Her Due in Alex Kayode-Kay’s BAFTA Nominated ‘The Ballad of Olive Morris’

Alex Kayode-Kay reveals how he pounded Brixton's pavements to fund his BAFTA nominated short exploring the life of a woefully overlooked Black activist.

Live Action

A Teenage Boy Struggles With the Shame of Victimhood After a Brutal Attack in Toby Wharton’s Drama Short ‘Held’

We speak to Toby Wharton about the invisible camera work he employed to truly capture the raw emotions in his perturbing exploration of victimhood.

Live Action

A Chance Encounter Reveals Unexpected Truths in Keeran Anwar Blessie’s Queer Short ‘A Fox in the Night’

Keeran Anwar Blessie breaks down the process of scripting the pivotal tonal shift in his subversive BIFA-nominated LGBTQ romantic drama.

Live Action, Premiere

A Black Student’s Revelation Leads to Uncomfortable Repercussions in Chinwe Okorie’s Drama Short ‘Elephant’

Chinwe Okorie tells DN how she mined a darkly comedic childhood memory for her short drama about a tense encounter for a girl at her new school.

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