It’s been one year since Film Birmingham launched its ShortFuse film night to celebrate the filmmaking talent of the West Midlands.
We’re celebrating with an online film discussion with the award-winning team behind “Beverley”, a short film which unites a host of British talent in a gritty, stylish coming-of-age story. With 2-Tone music as the cultural backdrop to the film, the journey of Beverley (Skins star Laya Lewis) from ghetto to suburbia symbolises the death of one chapter in British history and the birth of another. Beverley also stars This is England’s BAFTA winning actress Vicky McClure, and Sennia Nanua. Register here.
Director Alexander Thomas (The UnDream, Entropy) works with producer Cass Pennant, and the two will join our online Q&A, taking questions from the public.
‘Beverley’ Synopsis
Beverley follows a mixed race girl’s struggle to carve out a sense of identity in a confusing, shifting cultural landscape – 1980 Leicester. A move from the decaying, poverty-stricken, urban environment to the relative comfort and theoretical safety of white suburbia does not provide the hope and opportunities Bev may have wished for. A familiar enemy is ever present – a threat that extends beyond her own safety, as she must also protect her brother and sister. By asserting her will and using her guile Bev tries to shape her new environment into something palatable, but the result is the opposite of what she is trying to achieve.
Cast: Sennia Nanua, Vicky McClure, Corey Trevor, Laya Lewis, King Sounds, Neville Staple, Christine Staple, Winston Ellis
Join the event
RSVP to this virtual event here to keep updated on this Q&A. You are invited to watch the film here and tune in with your comments and questions on May 26th, at 7pm. You can also send the questions beforehand to shortfuse@filmbirmingham.co.uk with “Beverley Q&A” in the subject line.
About ShortFuse
In our bi-monthly evenings at Mockingbird Cinema & Kitchen, we’ve screened award-winning and emerging films, with special filmmaker Q&A sessions. ShortFuse accepts submissions for our film nights on an ongoing basis. If you would like to have your film featured among our future screened shorts, please see more info.
For more industry information, visit our news page.