Black to the Future: BAFTA Event in 2007

30 September 07

Back in 2007 the Academy's put on a special event celebrating Black British achievement in film and television.

Black to the Future brought together black achievers from in front of and behind the camera, for a weekend of screenings, discussions, Q&A’s, tributes and workshops (Friday 28 – Sunday 30 September, 2007).

Watch the event video...

In this video actor Eamonn Walker speaks passionately from the heart, thanking the black pioneers that have paved the way for artists of the future - “all your scars and battles have been noted”, he states.

Dona Croll and George Harris read from ‘Black Talent in British Film and Television’ by Jim Pines. Nina Baden-Semper then reads a moving tribute to the pioneering African Caribbean arts activist Pearl Connor Mogotsi (1924-2005).

Television actor Don Gilet rounds off the event by looking back to his early career to pass on words of encouragement to the next generation of black actors and actresses: “Find your own voice … stay with it, be proud, you will achieve and we will continue to celebrate black achievement.”

Special thanks to...

This special event was held in association with Cinnamon Films and was supported by BBC, BFI, Channel 4 and the Cultural Leadership Programme.

Other contributors included David Harewood, Colin Salmon, Rudolph Walker OBE, Earl Cameron, Mona Hammond OBE, Diane Parrish, Don Warrington and Hugh Quashie as well as Oral Norrie-Ottey, Andrie Austin, June Sarpong and Alrick Riley.