There has always been a complaint regarding the lack of diversity in the British film industry, in terms of people of colour in front or behind the camera. One person making a change is filmmaker, founder of the BFM International Festival and all-round inspiring guy, Menelik Shabazz.
Hailed as a key pioneer is resurrecting black British cinema, Menelik has won countless awards, written and directed one of the most successful documentaries in British cinema history and published his own magazine dedicated to black cinema.
With the upcoming world premiere of his new film Looking For Love, we sat down Menelik to talk black love, the BFM festival and his favourite love story of all time.
BB: Tell us about 'Looking For Love'
MS: 'Looking For Love' is a film about black male-female relationships in the UK. We seem to be at a crisis point with high levels of failed relationships, which is not just true of our community but is being experienced across the board. Modern lifestyles and relationships seem to be at odds. The film looks at why this is happening and are our ideas about love, sex, intimacy and self-reflection.