The British Urban Film Festival honouring the very best on-screen and off-screen talent
The British Urban Film Festival Awards will be broadcast in the autumn, exclusively on Sky Showcase in the UK and complimented by extended digital coverage from BUFF online.
The British Urban Film Festival honouring the very best on-screen and off-screen talent showcased at the British Urban Film Festival. This year’s ceremony will be held at The Hilton Hotel Tower Bridge, London on Sunday 18 September and will be hosted for the first time by Adam Deacon and Femi Oyeniran.
Adam Deacon said: “I’m looking forward to being part of this year’s BUFF Awards. It’s important to support the up and coming urban British talent as they don’t always get the support that’s needed from the mainstream”.
Femi Oyeniran said: “I am delighted to be presenting this year’s BUFF Awards with my friend and long-term collaborator Adam Deacon. I hope I am able to bring wit and charisma to the evening’s proceedings”.
Organisers have also confirmed Heather Small, the former lead singer of M People, as this year’s headline act. In 2000 Small released her debut solo album Proud along with a single of the same name, closely affiliated with the British Olympics team.
Leading the way with four nominations are Second Coming and Invisible Men. Both London based movies mark the directorial debuts of Debbie Tucker Green and Meshack Enahoro respectively and were shown as part of BUFF’s coverage in 2015. Second Coming is nominated in the Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Movie categories. Invisible Men is nominated in the Best Actor, Best Emerging Talent, Best Director and Best Movie categories.
Following closely with three nominations are: Lapse of Honour, a gritty feature length drama set in Moss Side, Manchester and the eponymous short film Beverley, set in 1980’s Leicester.
Montana, the second feature from Somali-British director Mo Ali, receives two nominations, as does For His Sake, the short film directed by British-based Frenchman Louis Lagayette.
A number of short films which screened at BUFF in 2015 have 1 nomination each: Stealing Moses; Sheila; Murder Capital; Shadows; Out and The Good Son.
BUFF has also announced that actor of stage and screen Wil Johnson will receive the Special Honorary Award at the ceremony. Johnson is being recognised for a 31 year career across a diverse range of productions on stage, on television and in the cinema including Waking The Dead, Babyfather, Emotional Backgammon, Disoriented Generation, Emmerdale and King Lear.
The British Urban Film Festival Awards recognises talent across 7 different categories whose work was showcased by BUFF between September 2014 and and September 2015: Emerging Talent; Script Talent; Best Short Film; Best Actor; Best Actress; Best Director; and Best Movie.
The winners will be announced at the ceremony on 18 September with live music from Heather Small.
Tickets to attend the big night are available from £215 with tables available from £1799.
The nominations for the British Urban Film Festival Awards in 2016
BEST SHORT FILM:
“For His Sake (dir. Louis Lagayette)
“Beverley” (dir. Alexander Thomas)
“The Good Son” (dir. Tomisin Adepeju)
“Sheila” (dir. Vicki Kisner)
BEST MOVIE:
“Invisible Men”
“Lapse of Honour”
“Second Coming”
“Montana”
BEST ACTRESS:
Vicky Mcclure (“Beverley”)
Lady Leshurr (“Lapse of Honour”)
Vikki Earle (“For His Sake”)
Nadine Marshall (“Second Coming”)
BEST ACTOR:
Emmanuel Imani (“Invisible Men”)
Idris Elba (“Second Coming”)
Mohammed George (“Murder Capital”)
Shone Romulus (“Out”)
BEST SCRIPT TALENT: (Winners to be announced on 4 July)
BEST EMERGING TALENT:
Leya Lewis (“Beverley”)
Joseph Marshall (‘Stealing Moses”)
Johnny Sachon (“Shadows”)
Abrantee Boateng (“Invisible Men”)
BEST DIRECTOR:
Meshack Enahoro (“Invisible Men”)
Rayna Campbell (“Lapse of Honour”)
Second Coming (“Debbie Tucker Green”)
Mo Ali (“Montana”)
FOUR NOMINATIONS FOR SECOND COMING & INVISIBLE MEN
THREE NOMINATIONS FOR LAPSE OF HONOUR & BEVERLEY
TWO NOMINATIONS FOR MONTANA & FOR HIS SAKE
STEALING MOSES, SHEILA, MURDER CAPITAL, SHADOWS, OUT & THE GOOD SON EACH RECEIVE 1 NOMINATION
The British Urban Film Festival Awards are the showpiece event in its’ annual film festival. The event honours emerging and established film and writing talent whose work is synonymous with the festival and has been showcased in recent years.
www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk will feature red carpet highlights and exclusive photography and backstage interviews, as well as updates across its social networks including Twitter (@buffawards) Instagram (@buffenterprises), and Facebook (British Urban Film Festival.)
The official hashtag is #BUFFAWARDS2016.