Adam Deacon & Femi Oyeniran to Host 2016 British Urban Film Festival Awards

London, 16 May 2016: 

The British Urban Film Festival has today announced that Adam Deacon and Femi Oyeniran will host the British Urban Film Festival Awards on 18 September 2016 at the Hilton Hotel in London's Tower Bridge. It will be the 1st time that Hilton Hotels are hosting the ceremony. It will also mark the presenting debuts of Deacon and Oyeniran. They are also BUFF film festival patrons.

Adam Deacon said: "I'm looking forward to being part of this year's BUFF Awards. It's important to support the up and coming urban British talent as they don't always get the support that's needed from the mainstream".

Femi Oyeniran said: "I am delighted to be presenting this year's BUFF Awards with my friend and long-term collaborator Adam Deacon. I hope I am able to bring wit and charisma to the evening's proceedings".

Organisers have also confirmed Heather Small, the former lead singer of M People, as this year's headline act. In 2000 Small released her debut solo album Proud along with a single of the same name, closely affiliated with the British Olympics team.

The British Urban Film Festival Awards will be broadcast in the autumn, exclusively on Sky Showcase in the UK and complimented by extended digital coverage from BUFF online.

The 2016 British Urban Film Festival Awards Nominations Announcement will take place on Wednesday 1 June.

The British Urban Film Festival Awards are the showpiece event in its' annual film festival. The event honours emerging and established film and writing talent whose work is synonymous with the festival and has been showcased in recent years. 

www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk will feature red carpet highlights and exclusive photography and backstage interviews, as well as updates across its social networks including Twitter (@buffawards) Instagram (@buffenterprises), and Facebook (British Urban Film Festival.)

The official hashtag is #BUFFAWARDS2016.

Wil Johnson to be honoured with British Urban Film Festival award

London, 9 May 2016:

The British Urban Film Festival will honour actor of stage and screen Wil Johnson with the highest accolade at the British Urban Film Film Festival Awards on Sunday 18 September.

The BUFF honorary award is given to an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or theatre.

Last year, the late American actor and comedian Richard Pryor was posthumously honoured for his work in film and television with daughter Rain Pryor receiving the accolade on his behalf. 

Wil Johnson said: "Wow... It is an honour to be a recipient of such a prestigious award. It means a lot to me and to all those who have chosen our glorious profession. I have been in this profession for 31 years and the fire is still burning bright, even more so as i get older. Thank you BUFF and i look forward to the main event later on this year. God Bless".

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, CEO of BUFF, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Wil Johnson is to receive the 2016 honorary award. Wil is an actor of great standing whose talent and significant work on stage, on screen and in cinema has made him one of the pre-eminent figures in my lifetime. His 3 decade career is an inspirational story for young actors starting out in the industry today.

By recognising Wil with the highest accolade at the British Urban Film Festival Awards on Sunday 18 September, BUFF will be honouring one of the UK's most respected actors.”

Johnson's first professional acting role came in the play Four Seasons at the 1985 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For the rest of the 1980s he made minor appearances in television series such as Casualty and London's Burning.  From 1994 to 1995 he played the supporting role of Detective Constable Michael Skelton in Cracker. In 2000, he appeared in the BBC One television pilot Waking the Dead, as Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan, a member of a specialised police unit tasked with investigating "cold cases". Waking the Dead returned for a complete series in 2001, and Johnson remained a main cast member until the series ended in 2011.

From 2000 to 2002, he appeared as Steve Robinson in Paul Abbott's popular drama series Clocking Off From 2001 to 2002, he appeared as a main cast member in two series of the BBC's Babyfather. In 2004, Johnson played the title character in the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company's Othello. He also played Marcus Kirby in the BBC One school-based drama Waterloo Road.  In 2011, Johnson appeared as 'Sean Dolan' a Consultant paediatrician in BBC One's Holby City. From 2012 - 2014 Johnson he appeared as a main cast member in ITV's Emmerdale as single father Dominic "Dom" Andrews.  

He has also co-produced a film "Disorientated Generation" in which he plays a Nigerian man living in London. The film was partially funded by Enfield Council, with a small grant from the UK Film Council (now defunct). His numerous list of film credits include Babymother (1998), Emotional Backgammon (2003), Adulthood (2008) Colourblind (2009) In a Better World (2010) Pimp (2010) Anuvahood (2011) and Amina (2012).  

The 2016 British Urban Film Festival Awards take place in London on Sunday 18 September. The ceremony will be broadcast later in the Autumn, exclusively on Sky Showcase in the UK. 

ENDS


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