28 February 2018
Newsdesk
The British Urban Film Festival is stepping up its offering with a new platform that will launch with the release of “No Shade” at this year’s festival on 5 June.
The organisation has commissioned BUFF Originals to make its’ first feature film “No Shade”, produced by Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe and directed by Clare Anyiam-Osigwe.
Starring Adele Oni and Kadeem Pearse, the “No Shade” storyline focuses on colourism and is told through the prism of love, relationships, dating and marriage. Colourism has become a hot topic of conversation in the United States thanks to the predominantly dark-skinned cast in Black Panther and recent comments made about Beyonce's skin tone by her father Matthew Knowles, former manager of Destiny's Child. And with movies such as Dear White People and Get Out coming to the fore, BUFF is looking to explore these themes from a Black British perspective.
The move into production suggests that BUFF is diversifying into original programming having exhibited films since its’ inception in 2005. In recent years, the festival has produced its’ own content with the BUFF Awards and today’s announcement signals its’ intention to tap into an already established core demographic and showcase a movie with audience pulling potential.
The cast also features Clare Anyiam-Osigwe, Algie Salmon-Fattahian, Jade Asha, Zephryn Taitte, Sharea Samuels, Fred Lancaster, Shone Romulus, Tenisha White, Lonyo Engele, Veronica Jean Trickett, Chris Preddie OBE, Paula Masterton, Joel Grizzle, Justin Chinyere, Kele Le Roc and Judith Jacob.
“The release of No Shade, written and directed by Clare Anyiam-Osigwe who also co-stars, is testament to her many talents and the brilliant cast we’ve assembled. We hope that the movie will appeal to film fans not just in the UK but all over the world, from Houston to Holland,” said producer of “No Shade” and founder of the British Urban Film Festival, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe.
He added: “BUFF audiences have been treated to some special opening nights over the years including “Free In Deed” with David Harewood, “Calloused Hands” with Andre Royo and “Sus” with Clint Dyer. To open this year’s festival with our very own movie fills me with great excitement and has been many years in the making”.
BUFF has also revealed that the film will be screened in Cannes ahead of its’ world festival premiere at the Rio Cinema in Dalston on 5 June. Tickets for the premiere have been released today and can be pre-ordered at www.bufforiginals.com
#NoShadeFilm
