Black Is Boundless: Black Joy
15 110 mins
15 110 mins
Ben (Trevor Thomas), an innocent immigrant from a remote village in Guyana, arrives into Brixton with a full wallet and a packed suitcase. When he bumps into Devon,a young streetwise boy with an eye on his money, he is taken for a fool - but is gradually drawn into the boy’s charismatic family circle, which includes Floella Benjamin in one of her earliest roles Nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1977, and produced shortly after Horace Ové’s landmark film Pressure, Black Joy is both a culture-clash comedy and an unflinching look at the social and financial issues facing Black Britons. Director Anthony Simmons came from a legal background - formerly a barrister; his debut work, the short documentary Sunday by the Sea (1953), won the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival.
Following the screening is a Q&A panel with Black Joy’s lead actors Trevor Thomas (Ben) and Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE DL (Miriam) whose work also spans across presenting, writing and politics. They will be joined by Dr Sarita Malik author and researcher of race in the media at Brunel University and Wanda Wyporska, Chief Executive of the Black Cultural Archives.
Join us for post-screening networking drinks.
G.O.A.T Film Club is a movement for change in film and television. Our mission is to amplify Black & Global Majority, women, LGBTQIA+, and disabled voices, creating a space where underrepresented talent and passionate audiences converge. Through curated screenings, workshops, and exclusive networking events, we connect filmmakers and viewers, championing diverse stories and reshaping screen culture to reflect a global perspective. G.O.A.T Film Club redefines film and TV as a space where every voice finds its platform and every audience finds stories that resonate.
Supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding, with additional support from the National Film and Television School.