To highlight the thirteen-year history of the African Odyssey film programme we review facts and figures as to why Black films have a hard time being produced, distributed and screened; and the impact on communities around the world. This will be an in-depth, interactive lecture. It will feature elements from the upcoming online course ‘The best of Thirteen years of African Odysseys’ and draw on more than a decade of unique programming experience. It will cover:

• The Hayes Code: How America policed the black image
• Civil Rights and the moving image the untold story
• Blaxploitation good or bad?
• How Black films saved studios but didn’t get the credit
• Marcus Garvey, cinema and the colonies
• Government agencies and their role in suppressing independent movie production
• How to ban a film without appearing to ban it
• ‘We don’t want a full house of black people even if it will make us money’ with proof

NB. This event precedes and previews the Thirteen Years of African Odysseys 14 hour online course starting June 15th 2020.

Course queries to events@blackhistorywalks.co.uk

This is a free event. Register here

Course Details and outline:

This online course will present the best films, ideas, Q&A, talks, interviews, and knowledge of thirteen years of African/Caribbean film programming at the BFI Southbank. Distilled into seven learning sessions, the course will feature various African Odysseys contributors, special guests, film clips, quizzes, mini lectures and live chat.

Session 1 African Odysseys top 40 films (and where to get them) Part 1 of 2 sessions.: With monthly screenings over a decade many people have missed chunks of the vast array of brilliant films we have screened. This presentation will show trailers and clips of the 40 best films we’ve screened plus relevant commentary and tips on how to access.

Session 2 Black films don’t sell? Exploding the myth. For decades, white producers have promoted the idea that films with black casts don’t perform well and therefore should not be made. We go right back to the 70’s to show how the opposite is true and why this falsehood is maintained with numerous UK and US examples.

Session 3 An evening with film experts. In this session, we will feature revolutionary films from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and fill in the context of the politics of the day and the effect of the film on the community. Films include Shaft, Sankofa, Sweet Sweetback, Watermelon Man, Goodbye Uncle Tom, Brazil, Abolition, Three the Hard Way and more

Session 4 African Odysseys top 40 films (and where to get them) Part 2: with monthly screenings over a decade many people are unaware of the vast array of brilliant films we have screened. This presentation to consist of trailers and clips of the 40 best films we’ve screened plus relevant commentary and tips on how to access.

Session 5 The Conspiracy to destroy positive black films: A list and examples of obvious and invisible obstacles black films face. How the BBFC rating system discriminates against African films, etc

Session 6 The best of Ten Years of African Odysseys Q and As Selected outtakes of recorded Q and A’s and talks over the last ten years.Plus the African,French and Caribbean perspective

Session 7 Course review Q and A live chat.