British Urban Film Festival unveils 2024 line-up

Films from a record 22 nations will feature at the 19th British Urban Film Festival (BUFF).

10 features will be receiving their UK premiere including the world premiere of Here We Are Now – Miriam Henri’s documentary which follows the stories of 3 Ukrainian refugees who fled their war-torn homes and are now rebuilding their lives in the UK, Brazil and Germany.  

The festival takes place from October 17-25 with host venues including Square Chapel in Halifax (which will host the world premiere), Rich Mix in London and Mile End’s Genesis Cinema which will also play host to this year’s 10th BUFF Awards ceremony. The Film and TV Charity in Soho will host an industry programme featuring actress, filmmaker and TV personality Verona Rose and Halifax’s Phoenix 96.7fm radio station will broadcast 3 script readings from this year’s winning shortlist: Luke Hunter’s Acid; Andrew Goth’s The Die is Cast; and Hear my Song by Rachel Walsh-Williams. 

White Guilt, a Marcus Flemmings drama with elements of horror, challenging perceptions, intentions, and societal norms will receive its UK premiere at Rich Mix in London. 

Also receiving its UK premiere at BUFF is Wof Zerash Coffee, a documentary which highlights the effects of climate change and the quality and supply of coffee from the wild Arabica coffee forests of Ethiopia.   

Other UK premieres include A Man Called Hurt: The Life & Music of Mississippi John Hurt; Kambili Ofili’s debut feature Shaping Us; We Will Be Brave directed by Chrisann Hessing and Michael J Long’s debut feature Baby Brother – a drama set in Liverpool which depicts the relationship between two siblings attempting to overcome their troubled home life.  

This year’s BUFF Awards ceremony – the festival’s annual celebration of film and television talent – is set to be hosted by Fee Mak, alongside Mosique Lavontelle and Linda E on Friday 25 October. Broadcaster Remel London will present Teddy Nygh, co-founder of Fully Focused Productions, Million Youth Media and director of comedy drama series PRU with the BUFF honorary award for outstanding contribution to the industry. 

9 other categories spanning music, animation and script supervision will be showcased with winners to be unveiled at a prestigious ceremony in Mile End’s Genesis Cinema which is staging the event for the 2nd time having previously played host in 2018 when director Amma Asante received her honorary award from actress Dona Croll. 

Teddy Nygh, co-founder of Fully Focused Productions said:  “It is a great honour to be the recipient of this year’s honorary award. I am grateful and proud of this recognition, especially from the British Urban Film Festival whose incredible work I have always admired and whose ethos has much synergy with my own. I’ve seen the festival go from strength to strength over the last 19 years. In 2025, I will celebrate 20 years of directing and creating opportunities within the industry, in perfect alignment with BUFF’s 20th anniversary. What a great way to kick off the celebrations! A special thank you to Emmanuel, wife Clare and the whole BUFF jury and team. Here’s to another incredible 20 years ahead.”

Adi Alfa, BUFF Awards Producer said: “As somebody who wholeheartedly believes in empowering the youth and elevating those who don’t have access to opportunities, the work that Teddy Nygh has done and is doing, has been both groundbreaking and inspiring. To see his journey and the heart he has behind what he does is exceptional and I am delighted to be a part of an organisation that recognises and champions people like Teddy.”

BUFF 2024 UK Premieres 

*denotes world premiere 

Here We Are Now* (UK) – sponsored by Calderdale Council 
Dir. Miriam Henri 

White Guilt (UK)
Dir. Marcus Flemmings 

Wof Zerash Coffee (UK)
Dir. Sylwia Pecio 

A Man Called Hurt: The Life & Music of Mississippi John Hurt (USA)
Co-Dir. Alex Oliver, Jamison Stalsworth  

Shaping Us (UK)
Dir. Kambili Ofili 

Baby Brother (UK) 
Dir. Michael J Long 

We Will Be Brave (Canada) – sponsored by Creative Minds
Dir. Chrisann Hessing 

Dynamite (Ghana)
Dir. Uche Aguh 

My Place Ozerna (Poland)
Dir. Karina Bedkowska 

Redemption Road (USA)
Co-Dir. Yusef Bunchy Shakur, Scott McCartney  

BUFF awards – official nominations  

Best Short Film 

Saving Art – dir. Remi R.M. Moses 

Syncope – dir. Linus Von Stumberg 

Blue and White – dir. Hiroyuki Nishiyama 

Free Bird – co-dir. Lauren Mckenzie, Wilson Benedito 

Best Actress (The Blessing Anyiam-Osigwe award) 

Hannah Griffiths – The Deal 

Zoe Belkin – Sprinkle Brownies  

Elisha Robin – Seven Sisters 

And Freya Rivero – Hangnail 

Best Actor 

Albert Magashi – Cut 

James Nelson-Joyce – Safe 

Frederick Yeboah – God is Grey  

Oliver Asante – Deserters  

Best Feature (The Victor Adebodun award) 

Shaping Us – dir. Kambili Ofili 

White Guilt – dir. Marcus Flemmings 

The Long Quiet – dir. Lucy D’Cruz 

Baby Brother – dir. Michael J Long 

Best Documentary 

A Man Called Hurt: The Life and Music of Mississippi John Hurt   

Co-dir. Alex Oliver, Jamison Stalsworth 

Shaking Hands with the Devil – dir. Olz Mccoy  

We Will Be Brave – dir. Chrisann Hessing 

Here We Are Now – dir. Miriam Henri 

Best Soundtrack 

Shingai Shoniwa (Another day in Buenoseres) – dir. Cameron Medford-Hawkins 

Kwang Ho-cho (Saving Art) – dir. Remi R.M. Moses  

Philip Hashweh (Our Males and Females) – co.dir. Ahmad Alyaseer, Rana Alyaseer  

Usman Adams (Dynamite) – dir. Uche Aguh 

Best Animation 

Divvy: A voodooville short film – dir. Nova Chimera 

For You – dir. Luca Paulli  

Pocket Princess – dir. Olivia Loccisano 

Home Office – co-dir. Endre Lund Eriksen, Daniel Damm  

Best Script Supervision (The Amanda Nally award) 

James Kentfield – The Intruders 

Uche Aguh – Dynamite 

Marcus Flemmings – White Guilt  

Kambili Ofili – Shaping Us