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(Main image credit: Film The Kitchen)
Somerset House Get Up, Stand Up Now: Margaret Busby Presents New Daughters of Africa
Mon 9th Sept: Contributors to Margaret Busby’s landmark anthology, New Daughters of Africa, explore themes of migration, identity, protest, and new and imaginary landscapes with readings selected from the work of 200 women writers.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Yemisi Aribisala, Yaba Badoe, Jacqueline Bishop, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Anni Domingo, Karen McCarthy Woolf and Bridget Minamore will join Margaret Busby in conversation and reading from their own work, as well as the work of others in the anthology, to showcase the remarkable range of creativity from the African diaspora.
This event is held in association with Somerset House’s exhibition Get Up, Stand Up Now exhibition which runs until 15th September.
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NEW THEATRE
Richard Blackwood makes Soho Theatre debut in “Typical”
Alt missed this at Edinburgh Fringe where the play received really good reviews, starring Richard Blackwood (Eastenders), Typical is a one man show – a new play by Ryan Calais Cameron, directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour and, starring in his Soho Theatre debut, Blackwood.
What is the cost of a typical night out? An ex-serviceman who has spent his life fighting for his country finds new battles in a society fighting against him. We caught it this week a brilliant performance by Blackwood, runs until 28th Sept 2019.
Bush Theatre: Chiaroscuro by Jackie Kay
Aisha, Yomi, Beth and Opal couldn’t be more different, but when Aisha hosts a dinner party, the friends soon discover that they’re all looking for an answer to the same question. Does it lie in Aisha’s childhood? Or in Beth and Opal’s new romance? Who will tell them who they really are?
What starts out as a friendly conversation between women, soon turns heated when Yomi reveals what she really thinks about Beth and Opal’s relationship. Runs until 5 October.
https://alt-africa.com/2019/09/07/bush-theatre-chiaroscuro-by-jackie-kay/
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FILM FILM FILM and more film
September Releases
September 2019 sees the release of The Last Tree, Hustlers, and The Kitchen.
Hustlers UK Release 13th September
Based on a true story inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer Julia Stiles
https://alt-africa.com/2019/09/04/new-movies-this-sept-and-coming-soon/
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INTERVIEW – Hero returns for Black History Month: Talking to lead actor Nickolai Salcedo
“What immediately struck me about Hero was the way in which it unashamedly highlighted the invaluable contributions that Caribbean people have made to the world. I am all for representation. That seems to be a sensibility that the film/art world is constantly trying to come to terms with”. Salcedo
Hero: Inspired By The Life and Times of Mr Ulric Cross the film by Frances Anne-Solomon returns to the UK with city-wide screenings throughout BHM. Alt caught up with lead actor Nickolai Salcedo who plays Ulric Cross about his character, his career and more. The film features Joseph Marcell (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), as writer CLR James; Fraser James, as George Padmore and Jimmy Akingbola (Holby City), as Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah. For screening dates and venues check back here. READ MORE
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INTERVIEW Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. – S.O.U.LFEST was at the BFI this AUGUST
Between the 1960’s and 1980’s in the UK, thousands of Nigerian children were fostered to white families. This practice was called Farming. Farming is a film by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. The film is surely a conversation starter about the practice of Farming and how Adewale has deals with racism in the film. The film won TWO awards at this years Edinburgh… . UK release 11 October.
Alt caught up with Adewale and lead actor Damson Idris ( known for #Snowfall, #TheTwilightZone and #BlackMirror
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Toronto 2019: “Just Mercy” starring Michael B. Jordan, Brie Lawson & Jamie Foxx tipped for Oscar Success
Is this the next big Oscar contender? Jordan’s latest film “Just Mercy” premiered in Toronto this Friday, he plays Harward-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson.
Described as an inspiring drama that brings one of the most important stories of our time to the big screen,Just Mercy is directed by award-winning filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton (“The Glass Castle,” “Short Term 12”) from a screenplay he co-wrote, based on the award-winning nonfiction bestseller by Bryan Stevenson.
“Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation…. READ MORE
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INTERVIEW: BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2019 IS almost UPON US……
Press Launch with Star Wars Brit actor turned Director Aki Omoshaybi whose film Real explores the relationship between two people who work hard to keep their romance on track. WATCH INTERVIEW
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BFI 63rd London Film Festival 2019 “Rocks”: 40% of Films directed or co-directed by Women
The 63rd BFI London Film Festival (LFF) in partnership with American Express announced its full programme this August.. presenting 229 feature films from some of the world’s greatest filmmakers and emerging talent. For 12 days from 2-13 October 2019 the #LFF will celebrate the diverse landscape of international cinema, showcasing films set to entertain and inspire, provoke debate and tackle the urgent issues of our time. With a strong female focus – In Special Presentation is British film ROCKS a vibrant and hugely engaging portrait of female friendship and growing up in London, from director Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane, Suffragette). Based on a script from award-winning playwright Theresa Ikoko and Claire Wilson. Here is ALT’s round up of what to catch. Tickets go on sale this week.
BFI Members’ priority booking opened 10:00am, 5th September – join at www.bfi.org.uk/join Public booking opens 10:00am, 12th September
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CHECK THIS OUT!!! ..American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in association with Screen Nation comes to London
Influential American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will make an entrance into the UK this September 27-29th, staging the first installment of its Global Film Series. The event is sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).
ABFF London, will take place at Picturehouse Central, as an integral part of an international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival, the leading event in the US showcasing black filmmakers. The three-day event is in association with Screen Nation, a leading UK platform which has raised the profile of black British and international film and television talent. Black British actors being an integral part in shaping this exciting new cinematic narrative underlines the importance of this event. The weekend of screenings and panel discussions are aimed at encouraging collaboration and promotion between filmmakers throughout the African Diaspora. GET TICKET INFO
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EVENTS
INTERVIEW – all roads lead to Africa Utopia this Friday 13th September we caught up with Chibundu Onuzo
Onuzo brings her autobiographical show 1991 featuring narrative, music, song and dance back to the Southbank Centre for Africa Utopia. The show1991takes us on a journey from Lagos to London,1991 premiered in a sell-out show at Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival in 2018.
Onuzo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1991. Her 27 years span two military dictatorships, one internet revolution, two boarding schools, five grandmothers and a book deal, signed when she was 19.
Her first novel won a Betty Trask Award,was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Commonwealth Book Prize and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her second novel, Welcome to Lagos, was published in 2017. This Nigerian odyssey features a live band, a choir and a healthy dose of West African rhythm. Her show takes place on Friday 13th September in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Price £15.
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