Projects in genres: Black

Synopsis

St, Mary’s Parish, Jamaica, April 1760, in a cave near what is now known as Tacky Falls, Tacky’s Rebellion is unfolding as the most significant revolt of the eighteenth-century in the Caribbean, three decades before the Haitian Revolution. AN UNIMAGINABLE LEAP traverses loosely associated events and places: 16mm footage of daily life in contemporary Jamaica; caves as portals; and a celebration of Jamaican Independence Day at a cricket club in Manchester. Moments of respite and celebration are negotiated alongside the threat of ecological degradation and bauxite mining, in order to consider the relationship between revolutionary time, the climate emergency and cinematic form. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

As Mike is leaving his London life behind, an old friend reappears to say goodbye. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

In 1981, twelve young Asian men in Bradford faced terrorism charges after defending their community from a violent racist skinhead attack. They made petrol bombs for self-defence. Known as the Bradford 12, by arming themselves, they took direct action to ward off the greater threat of skinhead violence. The state labelled them terrorists, but the people rallied behind the slogan, “Self-defence is no offence.” Their case exposed the intense racial tensions in Britain. Their arrest sparked fierce protests nationally and internationally, with thousands demanding justice for the Bradford 12. The lengthy, tense trial revealed a police force indifferent to racist violence, one that believed discrimination was necessary and had Special Branch surveillance on key defendants. Ultimately, the Bradford 12 were acquitted - a landmark victory affirming the right to organised armed self-defence for oppressed communities. Their courage and solidarity challenged systemic racism and continue to inspire the fight for justice. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

Miles struggles with feelings of emasculation and emotional impotency within his relationship. An opportunity to turn things around arises from another man’s act of heroism. But when things take an unexpected turn, Miles is left to confront the reality that he is both the victim and perpetrator of his own warped masculine ideals. Blending psychological thriller with dark comedy, THE ANIMALS explores modern masculinity, emotional repression, and the performance of strength, told through the unsettling lens of a suburban home invasion. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

AT NIGHT follows six women in Paris, as they traverse the neon soaked anxiety of the city after dark. A filmmaker struggles to understand the film she is making. A black single mother revolts against oppression. A former sex worker reflects on her past. A poet gives up trying for a child. Taking place over the course of a single night and inspired by the writings of cult literary figure Alice Notley, as well as June Jordan, Kathy Acker and Bernadette Mayer, Beatrice Gibson's debut feature film intertwines dream, fiction and reality, each liquefying one into the other. Official Selection Locarno Film Festival 2026 - World Premiere

Synopsis

Guided through shifting realms shaped by memory, spirit and emotion, Maleek is forced to confront the unresolved wounds that continue to echo across generations. As reality blurs and time slips away, what begins as a search for connection becomes a journey of healing and transformation. Official Selection, S.O.U.L Festival 2026

Synopsis

Overwhelmed by work, an ever growing to do list... Elsie, a young black woman, cancels a first date to finish taking out her braids. Her charming suitor Kwame unexpectedly offers to help her with the task. In the cramped comfort of Elsie’s messy living room, an unconventional first date unfolds. The quirky interaction evolves into a warm, funny, and disarmingly intimate night.

Synopsis

Bel was a Kenyan-Scottish woman who dreamt of singing to the whole world. A gifted musician, singer, and writer, she performed under the stage name Heir of the Cursed and in 2021 was on the absolute cusp of wider fame. But just as the world was finally about to discover her name, Bel took her own life, leaving behind poignant video diaries and a mobile phone full of amazing, unreleased songs. She was a brilliant artist fighting to be heard, yet she remains largely unknown today. Her untimely death and a small but beautiful body of work form her legacy now. Much like the legendary musician Nick Drake who also died young, the power and mystery of Bel’s music lies within the heavy pathos of her life's sudden end. Whatever deep internal struggles led to her tragic death were also at the very heart of what powered her mesmerising art. This documentary tells the story of an artist on the edge of stardom, and her sister Leah’s fierce determination to fulfil Bel's dream: releasing her final record and sharing her with the world. Official Selection Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 - Closing Night Film - World premiere

Synopsis

When Andre, a successful business man, unexpectedly reunites with his homeless childhood friend Robert, buried secrets from their boarding school days force him to confront the trauma he's tried to forget.

Synopsis

Bento Moura is running out of options. Broke, exhausted and under pressure from his estranged family, he takes covert work for a shadowy compliance firm spying on London’s remote workforce. Armed with a Prius and a long lens, Bento hunts for “productivity crimes”: an ad creative skipping agency calls, a project manager dancing in his underwear and a coder choosing the gym over a client status meeting. But as he sinks deeper into the absurdity of corporate surveillance, a routine audit pushes him from casual stalking to breaking into a worker’s home and forces him to decide how far he is willing to go to remain employable. HollyShorts Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

For the first time in 30 years, a film crew gains rare access to Pennsylvania’s maximum-security women’s prisons. Inside, The Lady Lifers – a band led by former soul singer Naomi Blount – turn grief into music and defiance. Though Naomi never took a life, she is serving life without parole. To have any hope of freedom, she must express guilt she does not feel – a cruel paradox of the justice system. As her music echoes beyond the prison walls and reaches the public, lawmakers and activists, the question remains: Will her voice be enough to finally set her free - and to free those she left behind? Official Selection Durban International Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

The story of Famous Eddie, a fashion icon responsible for the meteoric rise of culture-defining grillz. Archival footage alongside contemporary perspectives illuminate his legendary impact on the face of hip-hop. Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2026 - World premiere