The pioneering film festival Images of Black Women returns on the 11th to 20th April 2014 to celebrate 10 years of promoting race and gender equality in film, both in front of and behind the camera. A six-day festival taking place at Tricycle Cinema on the 11, 12 & 13th of April as well as at the Rich Mix Cinema on the 14, 19 & 20th April.
Says Festival Director Sylviane Rano,
I started IBW to promote films from Women of African and Caribbean descent, a group still severely underrepresented in the film industry. I want the festival to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and provide a platform for them to show their work.to the wider audiences. Ten years later whilst things have improved slightly there is still a need for financial support in this area.
This year again, despite lack of funding, the festival manages to offer a fantastic mix of films made by and reflecting the lives of women of African descent from the UK and around the world.
At Tricycle Cinema SOLD OUT
- 11th of April Half a Yellow Sun at the Tricycle Cinema 8.15pm
The festival is launching with the release of the film half of a Yellow Sun adapted by Biyi Bandele from the award-winning Novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at the Tricycle Theatre on April 11th Starring Chiowetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton – at 8.15pm followed by a Q & A session.
- FGM takes centre stage on Saturday the 12th of April at 15.00pm
With the documentary The Cruel Cut – Directed by Vicky Cooper (Courtesy of Love Productions) and Calm by Kwame Lestrade. Followed by Q &A with Anti –FGM campaigner Leyla Hussein, and director of Calm Kwame Kestrade,
The Cruel Cut follows FGM Campaigner Leyla Hussein as she and a group of survivors attempt to take their cause to the very top of the government. Leyla has been campaigning against female genital mutilation since 2008, winning a Cosmopolitan Ultimate campaigner Award in 2010
The Cruel Cut is a passionate, exuberant, exploration of the complex world of Female Genital Mutilation. Giving an insight into the cultural and societal pressures it brings and how it continues despite being illegal in the UK –At the time this documentary was filmed there had been no prosecutions for FGM in the UK despite being made illegal in 1985.
This screening is a timely reminder of how far this campaign has come, with the first ever prosecution for FGM due to take place this April, two days after the screening. Where does the campaign go moving forward?
- Calm : Director: Kwame Lestrade
Is an adaptation of a true story, set in present day London, uncovering what female genital mutilation means to a father.
On the 13th of April, UK Premiere of Award winning Haitian film DEPORTED, which won Best Documentary and Human Rights award at Vues d’Afrique 2013 in Canada, made by Rachèle Magloire, and Chantal Regnault. Plus short film The Silent Treatment. 14.30PM:
- In the news constantly Deportations are a contentious issue in the UK, but what happens once someone is deported to their country of origin, separated from their family, with no job, or home to go to?
This documentary explores the controversial issue of what happens to deportees from Canada and the US who are forcibly returned home to their homeland Haiti, an issue currently affecting migrants in the UK.
Synopsis: Since 1996 and 2002 respectively, the United States and Canada conduct a systematic policy of repatriation of all foreign residents who have committed crimes on their soil. These range from violent crimes to simple convictions for driving while intoxicated or petty theft. “Deported” follows for three years these North American offenders as they return to their homeland: Haiti, a country they do not know.
Plus a Q & A with filmmaker Laurence Magloire (Deported) and The chief executive of Hibiscus Initiatives Jacqueline Mckenzie, an organisation who support deported Migrants in the UK and abroad.
For more information: