BUFF blog (4)

The gospel truth is that the theme for this BUFF blog was going to be entrepreneurship and the challenges and internal struggle that we all go through day in day out – I can personally vouch for that after the events of the past month. As it turned out, the month started with the final of the Apprentice and the potential end of Gordon Brown. It ends with the death of Setanta Sports and Michael Jackson.

In terms of media stories, each had its merits but when we come to talk about THE story of the year, barring the death of the Queen or Barack Obama, the death of Michael Jackson is probably the biggest news story of the 21st century. On Thursday June the 25th, Jackson was at his LA apartment preparing for his musical comeback, 50 concerts at London’s o2 arena when he suddenly stopped breathing and never regained consciousness. And with that, the end of an era in popular culture. Arguably the world’s greatest entertainer, his influence more powerful even in death then when he was alive. On that same day I had just woken up from a rather long siesta and ended up watching the BBC’s Question Time and rather ironically, its’ presenter David Dimbleby was announcing that Jarvis Cocker would be on next week’s panel. As you maybe aware Jarvis and Jackson have previous if we are to recollect what happened at the Brits. And then came the newsflash…

Spent most of the night getting over the initial shock thanks to Dotun Adebayo MBE on BBC Radio 5 live and then started to brainstorm (as most entrepreneurs do). I had more reasons than most to brainstorm given that in an earlier life, yours truly was part of the ‘Nights to Remember’ film festival, a cross between This Is Your Life without the guest and Big Brother showing you your best bits. In amongst the brainstorming I shared my thoughts with several peers and acquaintances including Quincy Jones jnr (QD3), son of Quincy Jones, synonymous with the success of Michael Jackson in the glory years. So there I was, delaying my grief for Michael Jackson (and still am), and putting my energies into organising a tribute. Watch this space for further updates including whether I’ll actually go ahead with the tribute.

Lest we not forget about the festival – many thanks to all those who have submitted their film entries, keep them coming in. We apologise for the confusion regarding the address. Naturally, as the organisation continues to grow, so do our resources. For the moment, we are teaming up with 4front Films who are helping us process the films. Please go to the website http://www.buffenterprises.co.uk/ where you’ll find full details about how to enter and where to send your film entries to. You can also keep up to date with the latest buff tweets at www.twitter.com/buffenterprises

You can also find us at www.myspace.com/britishurbanfilmfestival

The 2009 British Urban Film Festival - Call for Submissions

For immediate release:

Buff Enterprises is teaming up with voluntary organisations, film agencies and local authorities to launch the 2009 British Urban Film Festival – bringing together independent filmmakers from across the country to submit their own films. In return, organisers of the festival, scheduled for later this autumn, plan to offer free cinema tickets to the public in what’s been dubbed ‘credit crunch cinema’, to ensure that the widest possible audience gets to see the showcase of films on offer.

A DVD screener, EPK, plus a non-refundable entry fee of £25 is applicable to film-makers wishing to submit a short film, documentary or feature-length movie. All cheques are to be made payable to ‘Buff Enterprises Ltd’. Please send all materials, plus a cover letter, to

British Urban Film Festival 2009, Buff Enterprises c/o 4front Films, 27 ITHICA HOUSE, ROMFORD ROAD, LONDON E15 4LJ

More information can be found by visiting www.withoutabox.com/login/8182

Editor’s notes:

The British Urban Film Festival was first established in 2005 to profile creative work in an important and emerging genre which is not otherwise regularly seen in the capital’s cinemas.

The 2008 festival was supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council and Film London Regional Investment Fund for England. For more information visit www.filmlondon.org.uk

The 2008 festival was also supported by the London borough of Tower Hamlets, independent film website thescreen.biz and by other partner organisations in the London boroughs of Newham and Hackney (4front Films, Black Chilli Productions and Ewav Works).


Press Contact:

Buff Enterprises (Press Office)

+44 8712 885 785
info@buffenterprises.co.uk