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UK Film Council boosts Black and Asian British film talent

The UK Film Council will this year honour some of Britain's best Black and Asian film-making talent through its unique high-end honour programme Breakthrough Brits.

The UK Film Council will this year honour some of Britain's best Black and Asian film-making talent through its unique high-end honour programme Breakthrough Brits.

The programme is designed to celebrate and bring on the new wave of British film-making talent on the cusp of breakthrough international success.

The programme will culminate in a special showcase event in LA on 4th June where honourees will be presented to an audience of some of Hollywood's most influential industry figures.

Honourees will also be guests of the Hollywood Black Film Festival which attracts some of Hollywood's most prominent acquisitions and development executives, agents, producers and directors. Participants will also have access to the festival programme including its Infotainment Conference.

This year, in addition to the work in the US the honourees have had access to a series of film masterclasses, networking events and business workshops in London.

The 2008 Breakthrough Brits honourees are:

  • John Giwa Amu director
  • Kwame Kwei-Armah actor / playwright
  • Florence Ayisi documentary writer / director
  • Noel Clarke actor / director / writer
  • Esther Douglas producer
  • Osbert Parker director
  • Kara Miller director / writer
  • Rita Osei producer
  • Karlene Page producer
  • Barrington Robinson producer
  • Zoe Stewart producer
  • Sunandan and Yugesh Walia co-producer / directors

For further information please contact:

  • Rachel Grant/Caroline Nagle/ Tina McFarling
    UK Film Council Press Office
    T: 44 (0)20 7861 7505 /7508/7900

Notes to Editors

  1. We have the biographical details on our site here.
  2. For full details of the programme, or interview requests please contact the press office.
  3. Previous alumni of Breakthrough Brits include a number of award winning filmmakers; directors Amma Asante (A Way of Life) and Gaby Dellal (On a Clear Day), actresses Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Mary Nighy (Mary Antoinette) and Oscar winning short film producer Mia Bays (Six Shooter).
  4. The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK. We aim to make sure that the UK has a dynamic film industry fit for the digital age and to help UK audiences enjoy the best of British and world cinema.