Talent

Donell is a director & writer of independent films and music videos as well as a production freelancer in the film/HETV industry. He aims to use inventive character-centred storytelling in order to create work that reflects his community. His work has screened at various festivals: Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Awards, Derby Film Festival, NAHEMI Eat Our Shorts Awards, Barnes Film Festival, and BAFTA-qualifying film festival S.O.U.L. Fest at BFI Southbank. In 2020, he was one of eleven writers selected for support from a BFI NETWORK short film development programme. He also received mentorship through B3 Media on their Origin programme and became a recipient of their Associate Artist Award receiving financial support toward his creative development. In addition to his independent work he has experience as a 1st AD, assistant producer and production assistant for BBC, Netflix and Sky productions.

Joladé is a Nigerian-British award-winning writer, poet, director and photographer based in East London. He's passionate about telling human stories with feelings that connect people, encourages conversation and sparks creative ingenuity. He has a keen sense and passion for community, collaboration and stories which has taken him across the world working with the likes of Bentley, Sony, Kurt Geiger, Canon, Channel 4, FIFA, Samuel L. Jackson, Nike, CHANEL, i-D and more. His films have been featured on streaming platforms including Amazon Prime and FIFA+. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a BAFTA Connect member as well as a committee member of the Young Africa Centre, the Amos Bursary and a founding Board Director for Writerz n Scribez; a London based arts CIC. He is also on the Business Council for the Jobs Foundation, a One Young World alumni, a guest film facilitator at the London Screen Academy and East London Arts and Music sixth form college and a peer and professional mentor for the Creative Mentor Network.

Lauren is a producer from London. Lauren has produced films for artist filmmakers Alberta Whittle, Onyeka Igwe, Keith Piper and Beverley Bennett as well as curating public programmes for South London Gallery, Tate, Create London, National Maritime Museum Greenwich and Film London.

Lauren is passionate about platforming black art and film through supporting independent artists and curating inclusive public programming. Alongside her role on the Program Committee at BlackStar Film Festival (Philadelphia, U.S.A), she supports London Short Film Festival’s outreach and engagement and is currently working with London’s Screen Archives on a project that addresses the lack of Black stories in the archive through community programming.