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Acclaimed documentary film maker comes to UEL Docklands campus

Monday 10 November 2008

The University of East London’s (UEL) public lecture series is continuing with a special free screening of a retrospective work by acclaimed film maker, Ishmahil Blagrove Jnr on Monday 17 November.

As part of the Black Film Makers International Film Festival (BFM IFF), Blagrove’s hard-hitting 2004 documentary, Bang Bang in Da Manor will be shown at UEL’s Docklands campus and the public are invited to attend the screening and meet the Director.

Bang Bang in Da Manor was filmed over a six month period and it features interviews with gunmen, underground arms dealers, drug dealers and victims of the violence. The film attempts to define the social environment which conditions and nurtures the desire to consume and destroy.

Ishmahil Blagrove said: “This documentary looks at the disproportionate levels of violence and murder suffered by the black community of Britain.

“I wanted to portray as accurately as possible the failings in our educational system, family breakdown and our materialistic society as significant contributory factors and the wide-ranging effect this has.”

Ishmahil founded Rice N Peas Films, based in Notting Hill Gate, in 1999 and since then has directed eight innovative documentaries, some in foreign languages such as Creole and Spanish. Other titles include Roaring Lion; Hasta Siempre; Man Dem Nor Glady'O; With or Without Fidel and This Is Our Country.

He also has an extensive journalistic career spanning twenty years and has worked as a consultant on the hit film Notting Hill in addition to receiving commissions from the BBC and Channel 4.

The 10th BFM IFF will also feature an extensive catalogue of photo journalism by Ismahil from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as part of the retrospective.

The screening will take place between 5pm - 8pm in the west building lecture theatre at the Docklands Campus, University Way, London E16 2RD. For full details go to http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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