Black Europe Film Festival

Free Short Film Program + Virtual Q&A with Directors

Saturday, February 1 • 4:30pm • Tickets: FREE

**Event Location: Capri Theater • 2027 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411**

Black youth in Europe are often mischaracterized as being stuck—caught between cultures, traditions, and societal expectations, unable to define their own paths. These reductive narratives fail to capture the vibrant and multifaceted experiences of Afrodescendant youth, who are actively shaping their futures despite significant obstacles.

The films in this free short program challenge stereotypes, celebrating the agency, resilience, and creativity of Black youth across Europe. Through stories of identity, friendship, defiance, and self-discovery, they illuminate a generation navigating cultural crossroads and going places. Together, these films affirm that global Black youth are not constrained by the expectations placed upon them—they are innovators, dreamers, and changemakers confidently shaping the future.

Following the screenings, a virtual Q&A session with the talents behind these films will provide additional insights into the cinematic journey of Black European youth.

ABOUT THE FILMS

Villa Madjo (Belgium • 2023 • French • 13 min • Director: Elen Sylla Grollimund)

Villa Madjo is a compelling documentary by Elen Sylla Grollimund, combining animation and archival footage to uncover the layered history of her family. Beginning with the striking contrast that her white father was born in Africa and her Black mother in Europe, the film explores their lives amidst the shadows of colonialism and the societal challenges faced by interracial couples in 1950s and 1970s Europe. With its innovative visual storytelling, Villa Madjo provides an intimate yet universally relatable exploration of bi-racial identity and belonging.

Pediment (Ireland • 2023 • English, Yoruba • 14 min • Director: Derek Ugochukwu)

A precocious boy embarks on a day's journey through Dublin to reconnect with an estranged relative, unaware of a longstanding dispute between both sides of his family.

Essex Girls (United Kingdom • 2023 • English • 15 min • Director: Yero Timi-Biu)

Navigating adolescence in Essex hasn't been straightforward for British-Nigerian Bisola. She's done her best to fit in, but even her two best friends Charlie & Saffron seem to be understanding her less and less recently. However, after she enters into the orbit of the only other Black girl in her year - the gorgeous, irrepressible Ashlee - Bisola is plunged into a journey of discovering a whole new side of herself.

The Night Stop (Finland • 2022 • Finnish, Finnish Sign Language • 15 min • Director: Khadar Ayderus Ahmed)

Asad is a 16-year-old Black boy whose first language is Finnish sign language. On his way home on a rainy night, his bicycle breaks down in the middle of a quiet highway, leading to an encounter with a mysterious woman.

Run Like We (United Kingdom • 2024 • Engllish • 13 min • Director: Rhys Aaron Lewis)

Set during the 2012 London Olympics, the film follows Alvin, an awkward 14-year-old who hates sports and constantly disappoints his Jamaican father, Lester, a former sprinter. When Alvin is unexpectedly nominated to represent his class in the upcoming school sports day, it becomes his chance to make his dad proud.

Blackwool (United Kingdom • 2023 • English • 15 min • Director: Eubha Akilade)

On her first day at a rural Scottish high school, a London teenager becomes the target of cocksure bullies fixated on her afro hair, forcing her to harness her inner superpowers.

Please note that this short film program is playing at the Capri Theater, with free tickets available at capri.simpletix.com

ABOUT - BLACK EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is a groundbreaking celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Rooted in community collaboration and anti-racist organizing, BEFF MSP brings you a dynamic lineup of documentaries, fiction films, and shorts by Europe’s most acclaimed Afro-descendant filmmakers. This festival offers a space for artists to showcase their work and foster connections across the global Black diaspora and the international film community. At its core, BEFF MSP recognizes the intertwined legacies of racism, colonialism, and displacement while celebrating the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of Black filmmakers. These artists challenge stereotypes, redefine narratives, and envision worlds beyond the limits imposed by whiteness, amplifying an authentic vision of Black Europe and Black Europeans. The festival experience is enriched by masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, workshops, lectures, and artist residencies, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and joy. Join us to celebrate the power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of Afro-European cinema while engaging diverse audiences, communities, and youth.