BBC Films on board for the BUFF Awards 2016

BBC Films on board for The BUFF Awards 2016 

British Urban Film Festival (BUFF), the leading BAME film festival in the UK, today announce BBC Films is set to sponsor its showpiece film awards in September. 

The deal marks the first time that the two organisations have worked together. Previously, the festival has had on-air partnerships with Channel 4, London Live (ESTV), Community Channel (Media Trust) and Showcase TV on Sky. The second annual British Urban Film Festival awards will take place at Hilton Tower Bridge on 18th September in London.

The ceremony (to be hosted by Adam Deacon and Femi Oyeniran) will award writers, producers and directors whose work has been showcased by BUFF over the past 12 months. 

“We are proud to be part of the British Urban Festival and look forward to celebrating all of the fantastic talent involved." said head of BBC Films Christine Langan.

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, the founder and CEO of BUFF, added "This deal signals the start of an exciting new era. In 2015 we celebrated our 10th anniversary with the first ever BUFF awards. That event plus the long and illustrious history of the festival shows how far we have come in championing diversity. The BBC has an integral role to play in showcasing talent within the diversity spectrum and we are delighted by their passion and their commitment to the British Urban Film Festival."

For more information: 

Jo Clare PR 

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About BBC Films

BBC Films is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing around twelve films a year. Headed up by Christine Langan, BBC Films was awarded the Michael Balcon BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 2015.

Recent releases include Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, currently in cinemas, Louise Osmond’s documentary Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach, Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins, John Crowley’s BAFTA and Academy Award nominated romantic drama Brooklyn and Nicholas Hytner’s BAFTA nominated comedy drama The Lady in the Van.

Upcoming releases include Ricky Gervais' David Brent: Life on the Road (in cinemas on 19^th August), and Philippa Lowthorpe’s Swallows and Amazons (also in cinemas on 19^th August). Films currently in production include Amma Asante’s A United Kingdom, Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or 2016, Ritesh Batra’s The Sense of an Ending, Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’s House, Lone Scherfig's We Happy Few, Mick Jackson's Denial and James Marsh’s The Mercy.

BBC Films’ eclectic back catalogue includes Mr Holmes, Far from the Madding Crowd, Pride, Saving Mr. Banks, Philomena, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, My Week with Marilyn, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Jane Eyre, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Made in Dagenham, An Education, In the Loop, Fish Tank, My Summer of Love, Truly Madly Deeply, and Billy Elliot.

bbc.co.uk/bbcfilms 

Twitter @BBCFilms

'To Dream' to open 2016 British Urban Film Festival

Nicole Albarelli’s debut feature - starring Ed Hayter, Freddie Thorp, Adam Deacon and Diana Vickers will premiere at the British Urban Film Festival in September.

To Dream - the London based drama from Anomaly Cinema is to open this year's British Urban Film Festival (14-20 Sep). 

Ed Hayter and Freddie Thorp star as two self-destructive teenagers who won’t let anything come between their friendship and their ultimate plan, but when dysfunctional family life becomes intolerable, loyalty leads one to make a choice that will change their lives forever.

Adam Deacon (Anuvahood) and previous X-Factor finalist Diana Vickers also star in the Neo-noir drama from first-time director Nicole Albarelli, born in Baltimore but now residing in London. The movie marks the screen debut of Freddie Thorp who has just completed filming for upcoming Hollywood blockbuster Overdrive, starring alongside Sean Eastwood, son of actor Clint Eastwood. To Dream also marks Adam Deacon's return to the big screen after a 2 year hiatus. Deacon won the BAFTA rising star award in 2012. 

The full festival programme for BUFF 2016 (including over 40 selections) will be released on 21 July. To Dream will receive its' UK premiere at Odeon Camden Town on 14 September. 

Festival director, Addie Akinrinade said: "To Dream is one of those urban, English, drugs, sex, rave, drink, gritty films. It's well written, very natural and real. Adam Deacon is brilliant as usual, the two leads are fantastic and Diana Vickers does amazingly". 

British Urban Film Festival tunes in with Colourful Radio Broadcast Deal

Colourful Radio has signed a deal with the British Urban Film Festival to broadcast live and exclusive coverage of BUFF's flagship events from the headquarters of Channel 4.

Voted by the public as “Best Radio Station” at the 2015 Urban Music Awards, Colourful Radio will be sending a team of presenters to Channel 4’s headquarters in Westminster, the host venue for BUFF media day on Thursday 21 July. From there, the station will broadcast live coverage of the BUFF 2016 press conference including interviews with writers, producers, directors and special guests.

The broadcast deal also includes coverage of the festival’s script reading competition - now in its’ 4th year and supported by Channel 4. This year will see the first time that the annual script readings will be broadcast live on Thursday 15 September.

Throughout August and September, Colourful Radio will also host live interviews across a number of its’ regular shows with some of the key personalities who will be featuring in this year’s festival and awards.

Listeners in the UK and around the world will be able to tune in live via the Colourful Radio website (colourfulradio.com). In addition, the station will provide its own automatic listener catch-up service delivered within 15 minutes of the end of each broadcast and accessible in just two clicks; a customised and unique mobile App allowing access to live stream, catch-up and podcasts, plus 24/7 social media engagement.

Officially ranked as the world’s leading film festival for diversity (by Metro.co.uk) BUFF 2016 will launch at Odeon Cinemas in Camden Town on Wednesday 14 September and run for 7 days with screenings also taking place at Odeon Cinemas in Swiss Cottage. The festival’s annual awards ceremony will be taking place at Hilton Tower Bridge on Sunday 18 September.

“We are very pleased that Colourful Radio will be broadcasting our key BUFF events at Channel 4, giving us the unique opportunity to introduce coverage of our event to listeners for the very first time,” said Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, founder and chief executive officer of the British Urban Film Festival.

“Our status as the leading BAME film festival in the world affords us the privilege of working with great brands synonymous with diversity like Channel 4 and Colourful Radio. Today’s deal is a great deal for audiences around the world and for the filmmakers and scriptwriters who will continue to be front and centrestage of BUFF’s urban film coverage”.

Kofi Kusitor MBE, the founder of Colourful Radio, said… "The most diverse radio station in London supporting the leading film festival for diversity? That's a no-brainer."

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


Follow the BUFF awards at our new Twitter handle HERE: 

BRITISH URBAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2016 DATES‏

The British Urban Film Festival has announced its 2016 dates in the UK’s Autumn festival event calendar.

 

The 11th edition of the UK’s leading BAME film festival will return on September 14-20. The festival will move from the Genesis Cinema in east London, which hosted the last three editions from 2013 to 2015, to the Odeon cinemas in Camden Town and Swiss Cottage. The festival recently signed a multi-year deal to screen films with the multiplex chain.

The festival has also appointed Adeyinka Akinrinade as its’ new festival director. Adeyinka becomes only the 2nd festival director in its’ 11 year history succeeding Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe who has been at the helm since July 2005. 

Ms Akinrinade said: “Independent films are the heart of the industry and it’s extremely important we are able to offer filmmakers a platform to showcase their work. This is why the British Urban Film Festival is key in supporting up and coming talent as well as being the home for urban film coverage in the UK. 

 

We have a very exciting programme of events this year, with some real BUFF talent. This year’s festival cannot be missed.”

The programme for the seven-day festival will be announced later this summer from Channel 4’s headquarters as part of the annual BUFF media day.

Previous festival premieres have included Montana, Calloused Hands, Melvin: Portrait of a Player, Lapse of Honour, The Ballad of Johnny Windows, David is Dying, That Daughter’s Crazy, Traveller, Invisible Men and The Trials of Muhammad Ali. 

The festival has been attended by filmmakers, patrons and guests including Clint Dyer, Aml Ameen, Femi Oyeniran, Zawe Ashton, Charlie Hanson, Andre Royo, Parminder Vir, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Brian Bovell, Mo Ali, Cass Pennant, Arnold Oceng, Ellen Thomas, Tamer Hassan, Mohammed George, Rain Pryor, Nicholas Pinnock, Cassam Looch, Shone Romulus and David Essex. 

British Urban Film Festival appoints Adeyinka Akinrinade as new festival director

With a CV including 2 stints at the Cans Short Film Festival in Luton, Akinrinade will oversee the day-to-day running of the annual BUFF showpiece. The British Urban Film Festival has appointed Adeyinka Akinrinade as its’ new festival director. Adeyinka becomes only the 2nd festival director in its’ 11 year history succeeding Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe who has been at the helm since July 2005. The former BUFF protege (who worked on the festival in 2013 and 2014) will take up the post on June 18. Adeyinka, who arrives at the company from her position as trainer producer at the Full House Theatre in Bedfordshire, will oversee BUFF’s communications strategy, working closely with the BUFF patrons, film producers and other key partners. She will report to Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe who becomes CEO. Also joining the festival team behind the scenes will be Chanice Hird and Semaicy Crabbe both of whom worked on the festival in 2015. Chanice will be working on her 3rd film festival having started out with BUFF in 2014.  Ms Akinrinade said: “Independent films are the heart of the industry and it’s extremely important we are able to offer filmmakers and scriptwriters a platform to showcase their work. This is why the British Urban Film Festival is key in supporting up and coming talent as well as being the home for urban film coverage in the UK.   We have a very exciting programme of events this year, with some real BUFF talent. This year’s festival cannot be missed.”  Ends Full terms and conditions about submissions for BUFF 2016 can be found HERE