This course presents the best films, ideas, Q&A, talks, interviews, and knowledge of thirteen years of African and Caribbean film programming at the BFI Southbank.

Distilled into online learning sessions and one physical meet up, the course will feature various African Odysseys contributors, special guest’s, film clips, quizzes and lectures. 

Session 1. African Odysseys top 40 films: This session shows trailers and previews of the 40 best films screened plus relevant commentary.

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 show clips of revolutionary films from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and various experts fill in the context of the politics of the day and the effect of the film on the community. Clips include Shaft, Sankofa, Sweet Sweetback, Watermelon Man, Farewell Uncle Tom, Brazil, Abolition, Three the Hard Way and more.

Session 4. 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.

Session 5. The best of Ten Years of African Odysseys Q&As: Selected outtakes of recorded Q&A’s and talks over the last ten years. Plus the African, French and Caribbean perspective.

Bonus Session 6 Q&A and meet up at BFI Southbank (exact date to be announced).

The Zoom link will be sent on registration. Book your place here

The course runs from Thursday 21st May until Thursday 25th June 2020.