Highway to the Moon, a film directed by Black Panther star Letitia Wright, exploring the lives of young Black victims of knife crime, will premiere at Brixton’s Ritzy cinema on Saturday (31 May),
The showing will come during the South London Film Festival’s annual awards showcase hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Fee Mak.
It will showcase 15 award-winning, powerful and thought-provoking short films.
They include the Oscar-nominated and Palme d’Or-winning The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent; Oscar-shortlisted Room Taken; and the award-winning music video Mathematics from Joy Crookes and Kano.
The festival was founded during lockdown by South Londoner Kyriakos Georgiou.
“It was a natural extension of my passion for storytelling and community engagement,” he says.
“Leading a team of dedicated volunteers, we’ve turned the festival into a beacon for international talent, demonstrating my commitment to nurturing the film industry and contributing to the vibrant cultural scene of South London.”
He says the not-for-profit festival was created “because we are passionate about providing an opportunity for filmmakers worldwide to showcase their creativity with the multicultural community of South London.
“We believe that every film we watch shapes the future of the industry and the world around it. Because of this, we work with partners to offer unique rewards and prizes that will support the careers of our filmmakers.”
The festival is working with charities and local communities to use winning films to raise awareness and educate people about climate change.
The festival is also dedicated to supporting students and offers a “free to submit” category for students and schools/educational facilities.
“South London offers a wealth of multicultural diversity and we are proudly surrounded by an amazing community of both creatives and film lovers, who we want to bring together to celebrate filmmakers and films from around the world,” says Kyriakos Georgiou.
“We believe in fostering a festival environment that champions diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and ethical filmmaking practices.
“Our commitment extends beyond showcasing incredible films. We actively support under-represented voices, ensure fairness in programming, create a safe space for creatives and engage with our community to make independent cinema more accessible.”
On Saturday 14 June the festival will present She Owns The Scene at the Ritzy, celebrating female talent on and off screen.
Tickets for the awards ceremony [3.30pm Saturday 31 May]
