In Sebastian Whyte’s latest documentary for Sky, Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris celebrates Black cinema in style. During this entertainment special, Harris’ guests curate a watchlist showcasing their favourite movies, characters, and directors from Black cinema. The audience was captivated, moved, and entertained as Adrian Lester, Lashana Lynch, Oti Mabuse, and Trevor Nelson discussed why each film was important to them.
Hosted by directors and photographers talent agency The Visionaries at All Is Joy Studios, the sold-out screening featured a special appearance from Naomie herself, plus an insightful Q&A between director Sebastian Whyte and filmmaker and poet Be Manzini (Caramel Film Club) - which touched on Black cinema past and present, upcoming projects and the broader industry.
Like the documentary, the night celebrated the cultural richness and creative achievements of Black storytellers. It heartfeltly explored the impact of Black cinema while thoughtfully recognising that progress still needs to be made and that many stories remain untold.
The Visionaries are dedicated advocates for pioneering underrepresented talent and continue to showcase ground breaking work from their diverse roster in innovative and engaging ways.
Director Sebastian Whyte had this to say about the night, “It has been great to watch the film with an audience and share their experience. The most common reactions have been people telling me they wish it was longer, asking for more episodes, or wanting a list of the featured films! It’s been a fun night; the reaction has been amazing. It’s got everyone debating what their choices would be.”