Windrush Caribbean Film Festival
Celebrating its 5th year the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival (WCFF) has a exciting range of events including a first ever outdoor cinema screening in Windrush Square to take place on 23 June.
The WCFF launched at Rich Mix London with the 2024 theme “Transition and Travels – The Journey Continues”. WCFF celebrates Black British film making and the legacy of storytelling about the contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants.
WCFF revealed at the Rich Mix launch to attendees of the breadth of the programming which included the more than 60 films that applied to be screened were successful.
From 13 June audiences worldwide will be able to access the 2024 Windrush Caribbean Film Festival online, on-demand with 30 days to complete viewing.
Starting on 19 June, audiences will be able to attend in-person screening, interviews and panel discussions to continue the celebration.
Featuring new works from up-and-coming creators, the Festival also draws on extensive archives for historic storytelling.
WCFF also announced working in partnership with Friends of Windrush Square to provide the first ever outdoor cinema screening in Brixton’s Windrush Square on Sunday 23 June, as part of the Big Caribbean Lunch, honouring the legacy of the Windrush Generation.
The event, running from noon to 7pm, will see 100 original members of Windrush Generation and their descendants enjoy a Caribbean lunch and storytelling to the soundtrack of music they brought with them to Britain.
Festival co-founder and Director Patricia Hamzahee says, “The Windrush Caribbean Film Festival is delighted to add this exciting outdoor cinema experience to the Big Caribbean Lunch. Guests will be able to watch a selection of engaging short films and end with Super Sam, an inspiring tribute to 98-year-old Brixtonian Clovis Salmon.”
The Windrush Caribbean Film Festival will showcase over 30 films across three cities (Birmingham, London & Newport Wales). In addition to watching this online, offering an exciting programme of feature, documentary and short films.
The Festival culminates with a 29 June Closing Ceremony where awards will be given for Best Short, Best Feature and Best Film along with two special awards: the Paulette Wilson Windrush Justice Award given in memory of the tireless campaigner for justice who confronted the continuing Windrush scandal and the Menelik Shabazz Award in partnership with ALT A REVIEW http://www.alt-africa.com given to an outstanding up and coming Black British filmmaker. Adjani Salmon won the inaugural Shabazz award last year.
Festival Programming
This year’s theme of Transitions & Travels highlights the importance of movement for Caribbean people from their home countries to the UK and how this history was emulated through the journey of some aboard HMS Empire Windrush. Each year careful thought is given to the Festival’s theme.
The inaugural Festival in 2020 focused on Justice as the Windrush generation continues to fight for compensation and Britain’s Black communities faced devastating racial and social injustice. In 2021 we celebrated the Art of Carnival while 2022 explored the Legacy from Empire to Commonwealth. Last year, for the 75th anniversary, WCFF celebrated The Journey Starts Here.
Director of WCFF Ansel Wong CBE says, “This is an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant and diverse Caribbean communities in Britain, their profound impact on life in the UK, and the continuing contributions they and their descendants make today.”
Important dates:
2024 Windrush Caribbean Film Festival host cities and partner venues
Newport, Wales 21- 23 June, The Riverfront
London 22 June, The Ritzy Brixton 12pm
Birmingham 23 June Mockingbird Cinema
London 23 June, Big Caribbean Lunch, Windrush Square
London 29 June, Closing Ceremony and Awards, The Ritzy
Brixton
2024 Windrush Caribbean Film Festival official selections (subject to change)
Title Director
Black Stroke Olivia Smart
Burnt Milk Joseph Elmhirst
Choke Hold Joel Ayuk
Civic Dwayne LeBlanc
Dementia: The Island Journey Rianna Patterson
Fearless Noella Letitia Mingo
Flame C’drick Fremont
Hard to Reach Darryl Foster
Homegrown Corinne Walker
Iconography: Roy Cape Mikhail Neruda Gibbings
Ivan Jazz Pitcairn
Mosiah Jirard
Otros hombres Geury Calderon Castro
Paria’s Pearl Suelyn Choo
RèD Fabienne Orain-Chomaud
Results Day Omari McCarthy
Returned Janett Marrett
Santiago of the Women Rosamary Berrios
Save Me Amani Simpson
Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip Hop Eunice Olumide
Shielding Sheila Joyce Ann Grey-Carter
Some Sweet Day Rasheed Peters
Sugarlands Akley Olton
That Great British Documentary Joan Hillery
The Happiest Time Mia Harvey
This Light is Fire, Too Dwayne LeBlanc
Tula Lives! Thijs Borsten
Who We Were, Who We Became Darshan Gajjar
Windrush75: Forging Ahead R
Like Water Water Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black
Then Or Now Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black
To purchase tickets please visit windrushfilmfestival.com
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