London Breeze celebrates the incredible work of Black filmmakers and creatives integral to this tenth anniversary year of the film festival during Black History Month. The following titles exemplify films in the festival that reflect our core themes for this edition: resistance, resilience, remember, reimage and community. Support the exceptionally talented Black writers, directors, actors, producers, cinematographers, designers and more that enrich this programme with their creativity, skills and talent.
The opening gala feature of LBFF 2025 is The Banjo Boys, directed by Johan Nayar. The documentary follows the discovery and rise of Madalitso Band, a Malawian duo of Yobu Maligwa and Yosefe Kalekeni. Getting their start on the streets of Lilongwe, they begin to attract larger crowds with infectious music. While busking, they encounter British musician Neil Nayar and continue their rise — from Zanzibar, to the United States and across Europe. This documentary feature captures the band’s unmatched talent and global connection through music. Book here!
The second gala screening to open the festival will be Shoot The People, directed by Andy Mundy-Castle. This documentary explores “the most talked about photographer of our times” Misan Harriman. Renowned for his portraits of high-profile celebrities and members of the Royal Family, the film captures the photographer at another angle. Misan is dedicated to social justice, using his craft to capture moments at several protests. Over three continents, he finds resilience in the face of injustice and a personal evolution of his life’s work in photography and activism. Book here!
As part of our first Shorts programme Resistance, comes the documentary Beyond The Rush, directed by NIYADRE. A reflective look into the vivid Caribbean culture of Luton — the ascension, the decline, and the rediscovery. Told through many personal stories and recollections, this documentary explores the gradual erasure of undeniable legacy. What remains are the questions of how the community reclaims their traditions and thrives once again. Book here!
To tie into a similar theme, the third online Shorts programme Remember showcases The Last Dance, directed by Hayden Mclean. This short film follows life as it was with the Windrush Generation in 1990s East London. The community hub of “LA Bar” is compulsory purchased by the council, destroying a beacon of the neighbourhood in the wake of oncoming gentrification. As an act of remembrance to what once was, they all come together for a great last dance. “As the city begins to forget, the community remembers.”. Access Breeze Online here!
From the wide selection of online screenings during the festival comes Terry’s GI Dad, directed by Jonathan Beamish. This feature documentary showcases the lives and times of African American WWll soldiers that were based in Britain. Hailing from Leicester, former Royal Marines Commando Terry sets off to learn the untold history of his dad the WWll GI. From South Carolina to America’s capital, and the beaches of France, this documentary explores the emotional depths of family and honouring the lives of Black soldiers who fought in the Second World War. Access Breeze Online here!
A notable screening at the festival will be Mother City, directed by Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert. This feature documentary was filmed over the course of six years detailing the progression of the Reclaim The City movement in Cape Town, South Africa. The narrative follows RTC activist Nkosikhona Swartbooi as he evolves with the movement; a key protest being the occupation of two buildings being left unused by the state. This important piece showcases up close the rippling effects of Apartheid and an ongoing revolution for progress. Book here!
From the seventh Shorts programme Animation comes Two Black Boys in Paradise, directed by Baz Sells. This stunning short visualises the poem of the same name by Dean Atta through vibrant claymation. Edan and Dula traverse a world filled with conformity, shame, and struggle to find themselves in their own idealised paradise. In this world they are free to come together while accepting themselves as individuals — creating a loving space meant for only them. This animation unfolds beautifully in an enchanting journey of discovery and perseverance in the face of adversity. Book here!
The featured image in this article is from Set Pace, a second short documentary from Daisy Ifama, whose debut short film, Twinkleberry, featured in last year’s LBFF. Set Pace tells the story of legendary Carol Glenn, Britain’s first black, female motorsports official, as she sets out on a new venture to launch her own Formula Ford single seater race team, breaking boundaries as the first black woman in the UK to do so. It can be see as part of the Resistance shorts programme showing at The Garden Cinema on opening day. Book here!
The closing gala screening of LBFF 2025 will be Love Offside, directed by Dale S Lewis. This romantic comedy follows physical therapist Cami Hart and star rugby player Ryan Hunter. Cami is tired of being overlooked in her role and starts impersonating her boss to treat Ryan when he is seriously injured during a match. As their sessions using both modern sports medicine and traditional Jamaican treatments continue, so do their feelings for one another. This feature is absorbing and heartfelt with a delightful crossroads of tradition and modernity — made by the innovative Jamaican and female-led production company The LAB Studios. Book here!
Throughout the festival programme are many more feature and short films both in person and online created by talented Black filmmakers. Watch live screenings of titles including Whiteface (dir. Julian Alexander) and So Here We Are (Dir. Warren Mendy). Also on offer is the vast Breeze Online programme, with titles such as Yam and Egg (dir. Emily Nkanga) and Dante’s Inferno: Ascension (Dir. Sofian Francis).
Celebrate Black History Month with us this October from 22nd to 26th October and from 22nd October to 2nd November with the Breeze Online pass!
This is also the inaugural year of a new fund for young Black filmmakers created by London Breeze in partnership with TikTok. The Young Black Filmmakers’ Fund, inspired by BAFTA nominated filmmaker, Alex Kayode-Kay, has seven teams competing infront of an industry panel for the fund worth £10K at a live pitching event on Friday 24th October 4.30pm at The Garden Cinema. Don’t miss this nail-biting event. Book here!
