Screen Lately Podcast

Get this years selections on Apple TV app or via our BUFFoD room

City - Kenneth Lott : Separate teenagers ignite a gang war and narcotics investigation when they stumble upon a botched robbery and help themselves to the spoils. Starring Elijah Boothe, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris and Moses Massena.

Palindrome - Marcus Flemmings: Struggling British queer female artist, Anna, is witness to a tragic event and consequently becomes a revered artist. But should she stop at the height of success or just end it there? PALINDROME discusses mental health, Brexit, gentrification, race and art. This is a female strong, matriarchal tale.

Sorority - James Webber SORORITY explores the lives and relationships of two sisters; Sarah, a talented writer on the verge of attending Oxford University; and Harriet, who dreams of escaping the confines of their estate and leaving behind her overbearing boyfriend, Andrew. The sisters' close relationship is the most important thing in each of their lives and, with their father gone, it is only this bond that truly means anything. As Harriet prepares a move to the other side of the country, the sisters spend their last few days together reflecting on the past, and learning to come to terms with the future and life without each other.

What Is dIGIHIRO - Tony Amore : 10 tortured souls, believed to be unconnected runaway strangers, either reported missing or wanted by authorities are tracked attending a unique social event called dIGIHIRO. Before the night ends they suddenly vanish again together without a trace. With fears of an imminent threat becoming real, Detective Noizulli an intelligent and opinionated young criminal psychologist is assigned to uncover the case. While determined to find the truth through the interrogation of a fascinatingly passionate prime suspect Tia, it's clear all is not as it seems. As the event is pieced together from multiple perspectives using old and tampered surveillance footage, a vivid world conducted by music is born, twisting our moods and beliefs on what happened during the last minutes before these strangers disappeared.

Cold Feet - Moses Inwang: At an exotic resort with her husband to celebrate their fifth anniversary and her birthday, an ex-army colonel’s wife runs into an old flame and sparks immediately begin to fly. Starring Jim Iyke, Joselyn Dumas, Beverly Naya and Enyinna Nwigwe.

Dolly Tosin Lepe A White babysitter awaits the news of a job commission, meanwhile, she is pestered by the young Black girl in her care requesting help with her homework. In the process of helping her, the babysitter discovers the little Black girls' understanding of race and how it differs to that of adults' understanding. Resolution Neil Kemp, Nathan Loynes Somewhere between Ken Loach, a music video and the teenage angst records of the 80’s, RESOLUTION is a 10 minute poetic monologue set in the North of England from a troubled teenage girl illustrating emotions about her absent father and her trying to make sense of it all through eastern philosophies and self-actualisation. Ultimately, it’s a journey that illustrates what it means to be a young person in modern Britain, with an underlying positive message that aims to re-assure and inspire a young audience. S.O.U.L of a Black Woman RCL Graham An Afrofuturism film split into four chapters each representing what it is to be a Black woman. Each chapter is accompanied by its own original unique music and spoken word poetry which will take you through the passages of time. We Do What We Can Kwaku Awuku Asabre A film that looks at one of the miracles in the journey of diaspora Africans. It follows a couple who have a child when they don't have a place to live as they find a way to make a life.

BUFF script table readings are one of the highlights of the BUFF festival programming and awards. Each year we receive scripts and our jurors choose 3 which go onto be awarded and read to a live audience. From these 20 minute readings actors, actors have gone onto be scouted up by talent agencies (such as Curtis Brown, Mels Got Talent) and have been booked for paid work in film and tv (Netflix, BBC, Ch4, Prime Video etc). The award winning writers have secured finance for their scripts and have also secured literary agents (like Cassarota Ramsay) and development deals (with the likes of Sky, BBC, HBO). This years script awards are sponsored by First Flights - a Goldfinch brand.

1. Chalice and Blade written by Charlie Taylor 10 years after a Technological Apocalypse, Makayla spends her days surviving solo. But when a young Wes comes to London, unknowing of the horrors of real life, Makayla decides to help him find family, while being hunted by The Whips.

Actors reading parts

Raymond Dunbar - Ty

Ore Sanderson - Makayla

Sinna Mogul - Wes

Antony Knight - Brian

Kamahl Sami-Miller - Alex

Gabrielle Quaye - Stage directions

Charlie Taylor - writer

2. Made in America written by Brendan Kelly Made In America is about a real girl named Rikki Rivera whose life parallels the inception of the notorious MS13. From having a father who fought as a guerrilla soldier in El Salvador’s civil war, her challenging escape with her mother into America and growing up on the violent streets of East LA as an active gang member, Rikki was exposed to much but somehow managed to never allow her integrity to be compromised – even when facing perilous conditions. In the end she becomes pregnant and is forced to emulate the path of her past to escape the treacherous world she inherited in order to rescue her unborn child from the chains of a similar fate.

Actors reading parts

Sofia Maffei - Manuela/ night woman

Alex Guersman - Raul/ Fat Bastard/ Driver

Jon Gutierrez - Frederico / Soldier/ Cop

Veronica Jean Trickett - Little Ricki/ Ricardo / Stage

3. Hellwater written by Timothy Mallon A Modern British Western, Hellwater follows ex-soldier Will Jones who, after the murder of his father, returns to a home he doesn’t recognise and a sister who doesn’t want him, but perseveres with mystical assistance in order to save the family farm.

Actors reading parts

Marcia Burke - Stage directions

Lou Mussington - Sarah

Louis Anthony Prince Duke - John / Collin

Tim Mallon writer

Chris Labadie- joon

Essay - Will

luis david rodrquez - Mahmoud

Andre Harvey - Van Horn / Jamie

BAFTA Execs To Speak At British Urban Film Festival

EXCLUSIVE: The British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) has set BAFTA Chair Krishnendu Majumdar and BAFTA Film Committee Chair Marc Samuelson for a 90-minute ‘in conversation’ session at this year’s festival, Changing Faces of BAFTA, will be moderated by Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE.