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

British Urban Film Festival Awards to be broadcast on Showcase TV

• First ever BUFF awards to be shown free-to-air on Sky, Freeview & Freesat

• Illusions Cosmetics to sponsor 60 minute highlights package on Wednesday 27 January

• Richard Pryor tribute forms centrepiece of ceremony from London's Cinema Museum

The 2015 British Urban Film Festival awards will be broadcast for the first time in January as part of a new deal agreed with free-to-air broadcaster Showcase Television. Highlights coverage will be sponsored by makeup and skincare company Illusions Cosmetics. 

The prestigious event, which was recently hosted at London's Cinema Museum will be compered by Capital Xtra's Abrantee & Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and feature PA's from Terri Walker, Mikel Ameen and Omar with special guests Clint Dyer, Ellen Thomas and Rain Pryor, daughter of the late American comedian Richard Pryor. The awards celebrate films and personalities showcased by the British Urban Film Festival throughout its' 10 year history. Reflecting BUFF’s track record for terrestrial broadcasting, the programme will be available to all Sky digital customers, Freeview customers and Freesat customers. 

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, director and founder of the British Urban Film Festival said: “Audiences are demanding more diversity in their film and television coverage and the BUFF Awards are the only ceremony of its' kind in the UK which celebrate this. I’m delighted to have agreed this exciting new partnership with Showcase to maintain our urban film coverage in peak-time on free-to-air television.”

-ENDS-

Programming notes: "The BUFF Awards 2015", 27/01/16, 21:00 - 22:00

Showcase TV, Sky channel 261, Freeview channel 254, Freesat channel 402 

About the British Urban Film Festival

Colloquially known as BUFF, the British Urban Film Festival which began in 2005, is the home of urban film coverage in the UK. In 2015, it hosted its' 10th annual flagship British Urban Film Festival with events staged at Channel 4 headquarters, The W Hotel and the Genesis Cinema. Founded by award-winning entrepreneur Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, BUFF creates its' own platforms to cover diversity in film and television online, on-air and in person through crowdsourcing for film and script submissions, curating regular film seasons and also by publishing blogs and bulletins throughout the year to audiences in the UK and abroad. In 2015, award-winning actor Adam Deacon joined the prestigious BUFF board of patrons. The list also includes actors Aml Ameen and Clint Dyer plus producers Charlie Hanson and Damian Jones. For more information on BUFF visit www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk 

About llusions Cosmetics

Illusions Cosmetics is a makeup and skincare company created in 2007 to provide an innovative approach to makeup and skincare application. Founded by sisters Denise and Janice Tunnell, the company stocks a complete line of color cosmetics with a foundation range to cover any woman. The line most recently introduced in its' 2015 holiday collection, six new liquid lipsticks. Illusions Cosmetics is a hit with stars including Taraji P Henson and Vivica A Fox and its’ success encouraged the founders to partner with blogtalkradio.com to bring "Beauty Talk with Illusions" to the airwaves. The radio show (launched in 2008) includes style tips and interviews with top professionals from the beauty industry. Illusions Cosmetics is proud to be the official broadcast sponsor of the British Urban Film Festival awards. For more information on Illusions Cosmetics visit www.illusionsbeauty.com   

You can also search "Illusions Cosmetics” on Facebook, or visit them on Twitter (@illusionsbeauty) and on Instagram (@illusions_cosmetics) 

2016 British Urban Film Festival - call for submissions

The 11th British Urban Film Festival has started its’ search for films and scripts in earnest with the countdown to the 2016 British Urban Film Festival already in full swing.

 

Submission Guidelines:

• Scripts: must be no less than 20 pages and no more than 60.
• Drama/Documentary Films: must be no less than 40 minutes and no more than 120.
• Short Films must be no less than 3 minutes and no more than 40.
• Stand-up sketch videos can only be entered as 3 minute submissions.
• All Music, Spoken Word, Dance & Movie Image videos must be no less than 3 minutes.
• The early bird deadline for 2 submissions is 11.59pm, Friday 27th May 2016.
• Fees are non-refundable at £75. Single submissions are also non-refundable at £50.
• The final deadline for submissions is 5.00pm, Monday 27th June 2016.
• Submission fees for scripts and films will rise to £85 from Saturday 28 May 2016 onwards.
• Fee waivers will not be considered. Under 23's qualify for a 50% discount.
• Payments can only be accepted via http://www.paypal.com/ using the email address: screeniq@yahoo.com 
• Films & trailers can only be submitted via private digital links to teambuff@outlook.com  
• *DVD masters, DCP's & quad posters will all be requested if submissions make the shortlist.
• EPK’s must include 5 publicity stills (film submissions only), a 50 word synopsis, trailer and a cover letter with at least 1 social network point of contact
• Scripts must be submitted via PDF to teambuff@outlook.com  

The full list of terms and conditions can be found at www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk/submissions