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The BFI teamed up with Yolonda Brinkley’s Diversity In Cannes to launch a programme of events to build creative and financial partnerships for Black women in film.

Melanie Hoyes, the head of inclusion at the British Film Institute (BFI), has described the first Cannes’ Celebrating Black Women in International Film programme as a “phenomenal” success, and has pledged to return with the same focus next year.

After an informal gathering last year, this year the BFI teamed with Yolonda Brinkley’s grassroots film equality movement Diversity In Cannes to launch a programme of events to build creative and financial partnerships.

The BFI has teamed with Diversity in Cannes for the Celebrating Black Women in International Film initiative, a curated program of events and networking opportunities aiming to establish meaningful creative and financial partnerships while shining a spotlight on the underrepresentation of Black women in the film industry.

As part of this endeavor, a delegation of four U.K.-based Black female filmmakers, actively seeking partners for their current projects, will journey to the Cannes Film Festival to connect with their international peers. The filmmakers are Yvonne Ibazebo (“Rye Lane”), Nadine Marsh-Edwards (“Riches”), Kelley Robins Hicks (“Queen of Glory”) and Shantelle Rochester (“Stolen”).

The program encompasses two days, May 19, 20, and includes a Black Women’s Lunch, supported by The British Blacklist. A panel titled Demystifying Film Finance will bring together experts from the U.K. and international film funds to shed light on the intricacies of securing film financing. Heather Rabbatts from Times Up U.

The Peabody Award-winning HBO Original series returns for its second season when Random Acts Of Flyness: The Parable Of The Pirate And The King debuts the evening of Friday, December 9 at midnight (12:00 a.m. Et) with two episodes. The six-episode season continues with two episodes airing weekly, concluding December 23.

Logline: Artist, musician, and filmmaker Terence Nance returns for a long-awaited second season of the acclaimed series Random Acts Of Flyness. Exploring the metaphysics of Black life through avant-garde storytelling, the second season follows Terence (Terence Nance) and Najja (Alicia Pilgrim), a couple working towards healing generational wounds and reintroducing themselves to the ways of their ancestors. Each of the six episodes explores a different dimension while presenting a rich tapestry of audio and visuals to illustrate the spiritual practice of Black liberation.

Season 2 cast: Terence Nance (Terence), Alicia Pilgrim (Najja), Austin Smith (Xavier), and Ta’Neesha Murphy (Janaya).

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