UK Black Pride are excited to announce our partnership with the Human Rights Watch Film Festival during March 18th - 26th presenting two films. I am Samuel & Unapologetic.

I am Samuel, Directed by Peter Murimi

Co-presented by Human Rights Watch Film Festival (18-26 March) streaming on Barbican Cinema On Demand and BFI Flare (17-28 March) streaming on BFI Player.

Film description: Samuel, a gay Kenyan man, balances duty to his family with his love for his partner, Alex, in a country where their love is criminalised.

Samuel grew up on a farm in the Kenyan countryside, where tradition is valued above all else. He moves to Nairobi in search of a new life, where he finds belonging in a community of fellow queer men where he meets and falls in love with Alex. Their love thrives even though Kenyan laws criminalize anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, and together they face threats of violence and rejection. Samuel’s father, a preacher at the local church, doesn’t understand why his son is not yet married and Samuel must navigate the very real risk that being truthful to who he is may cost him his family’s acceptance.

“This is a lovely film, very honest, very raw, with characters who are compelling in how real they are.” - Neela Ghoshal, Senior Researcher, LGBT Rights, Human Rights Watch

“I can’t really be myself. It’s like they’re seeing just half of who I am.” - Alex, I Am Samuel Fully subtitled in English

Access notes: This film is fully subtitled in English

Watch at your own pace from March 18-26, or watch along with us:

Saturday, March 20

7:15 PM GMT – Start watching the film on Barbican Cinema on Demand.
8:30 PM GMT – Join us for a live Q&A online. Free with RSVP.

We do not want the cost of entry to the films to be a barrier for participation in our events. If the price of buying a ticket to this film would prevent you from participating, please email the following address (filmticket@hrw.org) + we will send you a free ticket code. We have set aside a set # of tickets per film on a first come first-served basis. Once the free tickets are no longer available, the code will no longer work. For anyone that purchases a ticket, we appreciate your support. Your ticket purchase enables us to make tickets free for those who might otherwise be unable to watch. This also allows the festival to support the filmmakers for sharing their work in the festival, to support the arts organizations bringing this work to you.

https://ff.hrw.org/film/i-am-samuel?city=London

Unapologetic, Directed by Ashley O’Shay

Film description: This is a profound and necessary story ripe for a country, and indeed a global, reckoning with racial injustice.

After two Black Chicagoans, Rekia Boyd and Laquan McDonald, are killed at the hands of the police, the Movement for Black Lives demands justice and organises to challenge an administration complicit in violence against its residents. Unapologetic introduces Janaé and Bella, two fierce activist leaders whose upbringing and experiences have shaped their view of what liberation could and should look like, as they urge for an expansive view of public safety that does not depend on the police. This invigorating documentary illuminates the love underpinning the anger and frustration that comes with being Black, queer women in the US, and elevates those who are most often leading the way while being denied the spotlight.

"If Black, queer, feminist people are not free, nobody else is going to be free” Kush, Unapologetic

“The organisers’ activism is not a choice, but an integral and immediate part of their lives. The visions of the communities they are building and their creation of an abolitionist programme of safety without policing is illuminating.” John Raphling, senior researcher, US Program, Human Rights Watch

Watch at your own pace from March 18-26, or watch along with us:

Friday, March 26

7:00 PM GMT – Start watching the film on Barbican Cinema on Demand.
8:30 PM GMT – Join us for a live Q&A online. Free with RSVP.

We do not want the cost of entry to the films to be a barrier for participation in our events. If the price of buying a ticket to this film would prevent you from participating, please email the following address (filmticket@hrw.org) + we will send you a free ticket code. We have set aside a set # of tickets per film on a first come first-served basis. Once the free tickets are no longer available, the code will no longer work. For anyone that purchases a ticket, we appreciate your support. Your ticket purchase enables us to make tickets free for those who might otherwise be unable to watch. This also allows the festival to support the filmmakers for sharing their work in the festival, to support the arts organizations bringing this work to you.

https://ff.hrw.org/film/unapologetic?city=London