Michaela Coel will mentor aspiring filmmakers for a new challenge
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I never saw a black woman in a director’s chair growing up’: Michaela Coel set out to mentor aspiring filmmakers for a new challenge as she urges them to tell ‘stories yet untold’
I May Destroy You star Michaela Coel will take on a lead role in a new filming challenge in association with BFI and BMW.
The 35-year-old actress, filmmaker and director offers a mentoring role to five shortlisted filmmakers, drawing on her personal experience from both sides of the lens.
And the Chewing Gum star has said she’s looking forward to hearing stories that have yet to be told.
‘I never saw a black woman in a director’s chair growing up’: Michaela Coel is ready to guide filmmakers for a new challenge as she urged them to tell ‘stories yet untold’
In a video accompanying the campaign, Michaela said: “Growing up, I didn’t see what a lot of young people are seeing now, that black people could direct movies or TV.
“The shots we’re doing, I’ve never seen a vision of a black woman in a director’s chair and just seeing helps you believe.
“There’s a long way to go and I’m happy to try to ease that journey for creatives.”
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress continued: “There are strange stories that I haven’t been told, there are stories about sexual identity that I haven’t seen, stories about what it’s like to be an immigrant that I haven’t been told.”
She said: ‘I never saw a vision of a black woman in a director’s chair and just seeing helps you believe. “There’s a long way to go and I’m happy to try to ease that journey for creatives”
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress continued: “There are weird stories that I haven’t been told, there are stories about sexual identity that I haven’t seen, stories about what it’s like to be an immigrant that I haven’t been told.”
“I look forward to the future and look forward to more of those stories.”
The BMW Filmmaking Challenge, in association with the BFI, encourages filmmakers to dream big and push the limits in cinema, and is inspired by the innovative all-electric BMW i7 and its ultra-wide 31.3-inch cinema screen for the rear passenger.
The challenge will give five shortlisted filmmakers access to the latest technology and a production budget of £10,000.
This will allow them to explore new perspectives and experiment with an exciting format, unlocking the potential of 8K/32:9 cinematography.
Exciting! One winning film will be selected for release as part of the Closing Night of the BFI London Film Festival in association with American Express taking place in October 2023.
One winning film will be selected for release as part of the Closing Night of the BFI London Film Festival in association with American Express taking place in October 2023 and all five films will be available on the BFI Player.
The BMW Filmmaking Challenge in association with the BFI will officially open for entries in March 2023.
Five winners will be shortlisted and given the budget to produce their films during the summer months. Talented, high-profile judges will select the final winner in September, ahead of the 67th BFI London Film Festival in association with American Express, taking place in mid-October. .
Iconic: Michaela starred in I May Destroy You, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (pictured at the November premiere), and Chewing Gum