London Film Festival: Programme Highlights from Black voices.

London Film Festival 2023 is fast approaching, and even at a time of uncertainty for the film community, it has a programme jam-packed with exciting new films and tv series to look out for. The writers and actors might not be able to promote their work, but we can. So we’ve rounded up some of the highlights from this years selection by Black creatives, with details of when you can see them.

Pressure - dir. Horace Ové

Britain’s first Black feature, now restored by the BFI National Archive, is a groundbreaking depiction of second-generation experience in 1970s London. Pressure follows Tony, the son of Trinidadian parents, as he leaves school and faces the prejudice of British institutions, reluctantly being drawn into Black power politics. Ové pulls no punches – his semi-documentary style and stark location shooting conveying the bleakness of West London during a period of economic hardship. And the film’s examination of issues around assimilation remains just as potent and relevant today.
Screenings October 11th and 12th.

The Kitchen - dir. Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya

Set in near-future London, Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s film is a heartfelt rally against gentrification and a celebration of family and community. London, 2040. Izi, a hardworking loner, is counting down the days until he can leave The Kitchen, the estate he grew up on, and move to one of the sleek luxury penthouses that are popping up all over London. But when he discovers through his job at an ecological funeral home that his ex-girlfriend has passed away, Izi finds his path colliding with that of Benji, her young son. Meanwhile, the residents of The Kitchen – the last remaining untouched social housing in the city and a hub for a bustling community – fight back against those trying to destroy it.
Screenings October 15th.

Grime Kids (Series) - dir. Abdou Cisse

Rocks screenwriter Theresa Ikoko returns to the Festival with an exuberant drama series set during the early years of the East London grime scene. It’s 2001 and school’s out for the summer. Energised by the DIY spirit around them, Dane and his friends are eager to form a crew and get their music on pirate station Rinse FM. Ikoko’s fictional drama, loosely inspired by a book by DJ Target, perfectly captures a sense of time and place, and the moment when a local subculture was about to explode.
Screening October 13th.

Girl - dir. Adura Onashile

Déborah Lukumuena and Le’Shantey Bonsu give stunning performances as a deeply connected mother and daughter in Adura Onashile’s tender drama. Grace and Ama have each other and that’s all they need. Their lives are confined to their Glasgow flat, with Grace leaving only for her job as a cleaner and forbidding Ama to set foot outside. But as Ama becomes more inquisitive, Grace is forced to confront the traumas of her past in order to let the world in. This confident feature follows up on the promise of Onashile’s acclaimed short film work.
Screening October 4th and 6th.

Black Dog - dir. George Jacques

Nathan and Sam’s lives collide suddenly when Sam is mugged, sending the teenagers on an unexpected road trip across the UK. Nathan is running away from his foster home, while Sam has his own reasons for driving north. An unlikely – and uneasy – alliance is formed as they hit the road together. A meditation on friendship, family and grief, this is a confident debut from George Jaques, anchored by two charismatic performances from co-writer Jamie Flatters and newcomer Keenan Munn-Francis.
Screenings October 14th and 15th.

Gassed Up - dir. George Amponsah

A group of London teenage boys turn to motorbike crime for survival in George Amponsah’s high-octane follow-up to The Hard Stop. When Ash joins Dubz’s gang it’s for good reasons – to help look after his younger sister and get his mum into rehab. But what starts out as a few stolen phones quickly spirals out of control with a robbery gone wrong, and Ash finds that the world of crime is a lot harder to leave than it was to enter. Amponsah’s slick, fast-paced filmmaking will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Screenings October 10th and 13th.

Goodbye Julia - dir. Mohamed Kordofani

In Sudanese filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani’s impressive drama, a woman seeks redemption following an incident that threatens to destroy all she holds dear. After a tragic accident, wealthy Muslim Mona seeks to employ poor Christian street seller Julia, even housing the young woman and her child. As their friendship develops, forcing Mona to overcome her prejudices, she struggles to hide the terrible secret that has brought them together. But escalating tensions in the household – reflecting a national mood – add to the weight of Mona’s guilt. Kordofani grapples with wider societal issues through the microcosm of this riveting, intimate drama.
Screenings on October 14th and 15th.

See the full programme and book tickets to events across the 11 days on the BFI website.