|
|
 |
| |
John Akomfrah, OBE |
Film-maker adds OBE to awards haul
AN Islington film-maker, renowned for his work addressing issues of black British identity, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
John Akomfrah, 50, has directed 12 films since 1986, including his first major film, Handsworth Songs, a controversial and award-winning documentary on the uprising of black communities in Birmingham in 1985.
John, who is also a British Film Institute governor, said: “I was very surprised and delighted. I am grateful for the support from my family and the people I work with. For me it’s important that black people are recognised for what they do. The fact is that I’m in an industry where there are very few black people and I am hoping that this award will help others from a similar background to mine and tell them that it is an industry you can strive in.”
Born in Ghana, the film director moved to the UK as a child. He started his career from scratch in 1982 by setting up a London-based media company, Black Audio Film Collective, with a group of young black film-makers. He focused his work on issues that touch black communities, exploring their history and experiences with one of his latest features, Digitopia, shown last year at the Venice and Toronto festivals.
He said: “The thing I’m most proud of, more than the films themselves, is the fact that we started as a group, not knowing anything or anyone in the film industry, and that we managed to work together and make a difference. We learned everything as we went along.”
Now involved with a new media company, Smoking Dog Films, he is also planning to create a fund to help black people make films.
He said: “I hope that the award will inspire others, and although it is a positive step, black people are a minority in the industry and there is still a long way to go [to change that].” |
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments: |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
