The British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) is launching a dedicated Africa season to present up to 20 African films annually across the UK. This initiative comes in response to the BFI’s recent decision to put its long-standing African Odysseys program on hold.
Kicking off on July 25, the season will feature the world premiere of Ireke at Odeon Greenwich. This film marks the directorial debut of Emmy-nominated BBC journalist Peter Macjo. It tackles the intricate issues surrounding Africa’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, focusing on how a Nigerian family navigates the horrors of slavery during the colonial period.
The Africa season will showcase a carefully curated mix of contemporary and classic African films, complemented by filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
The BFI’s African Odysseys program, which had been operational for 17 years and aimed to highlight content from the African diaspora at BFI Southbank, was paused following the departure of co-founder and programmer David Somerset in January. The BFI stated in March that they had not reached a “shared approach to managing” the program moving forward with the original voluntary steering committee.
Despite this setback, BFI CEO Ben Roberts indicated that African Odysseys could return, as they will reserve a space in their monthly program.
Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, the founder and co-chair of BUFF, expressed: “For two decades, BUFF has been a vital platform for both Black British and African narratives. While the BFI’s cessation of African Odysseys is a notable loss, we are excited to take on this role with a firm dedication to promoting African cinema. We are particularly eager to launch the season with Ireke, a film that captures the richness and intricacies of our intertwined histories.”
