BBH marked its 40th year with the launch of a global short film competition.
Four filmmaking teams from four different countries were commissioned, with the aim of finding more diverse voices in film and supporting the next generation of creative talent from around the world.
‘Differently Does It’ launched on April 28th in the UK, US, Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai, with a theme of ‘Difference’. The four winners were selected in July with each receiving a budget of £20,000 to create four short films. In addition, they received a masterclass from a renowned director as well as creative guidance from BBH creative leaders to support the development of their vision.
Now, the four films will be premiered at an exclusive screening at the BFI on 20th February and launched on the international film circuit at the end of the year.
Founding client Audi has partnered with BBH to support the screening, designed to celebrate diversity in film-making and storytelling and to give a platform to the next diverse generation of filmmaking talent. The premiere takes place at 7pm on Monday 20th February at the BFI Southbank, with a back to back screening of all four films:
Where I Can See Them, directed by Lanre Malaolu, is a British documentary-dance hybrid short exploring the emotional and psychological effects of police officers ‘Stop and Search’ on black men.
Flee & Engulfed, directed by Chen Hui, is a Chinese fictional short which explores whether the politics of sameness are leading us to the destruction of the concept of difference.
OBA, directed by Femi Ladi, is an Afrofuturist fictional short; the King of Oyo has just died and the news sends global ramifications amongst the Yoruba people. Now they must choose a new king.
As For Me, directed by Guen Murroni, is a British fictional short that fights against the mainstream negative portrayal of mental health and specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
The screening will be followed by a panel Q&A with the directors led by Mathieu Ajan, founder and artistic director of Bounce Cinema.
The winners have been selected with a focus on supporting talent from under-represented backgrounds. Their ideas were judged by a panel of filmmaking and creative experts including playwright and screenwriter Rita Kalnejais, alongside a panel of creative leaders from across the BBH Global network.
Karen Martin, CEO at BBH said: “Nurturing artistic talent is in our DNA and our roots are forged in telling stories through film. We’re incredibly proud of that legacy and with ‘Differently Does It’, we aim to find and support the next generation of filmmakers from around the world.”
Alex Grieve, Global CCO at BBH added: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it. ‘Differently Does it’ is a launch pad for a new generation of film-making talent not just to rocket into culture but to shape it moving forward.”
Stephen Ledger-Lomas, Chief Production Officer explains: “We wanted to pay it forward and invest in the creative visionaries of this new generation. Differently Does It is an idea that is borne from BBH’s legacy in engaging with and nurturing emerging talent and placing our belief in raw talent rather than status; essentially investing in the power of difference.”
Martin adds: “With 40 years of creative heritage to our name we are looking forward to delivering the next wave of creative excellence at BBH, through our unwavering belief in the power of creativity and celebrating difference. We want to make the best work of our history, in our future. The best is yet to come.”
As part of its ongoing Unsigned initiative in the UK, BBH will continue to bring together some of the most exciting and progressive artists, photographers, filmmakers and illustrators in the country. BBH will also continue to play a leading role in the Unsigned Union, which launched in 2021 alongside four founder agencies to provide a vital platform for underrepresented and unsigned creators.
