Each year, the BIFA jury identify an industry figure or organisation that they believe should be recognised with the coveted Special Jury Prize and, in the spirit of BIFA’s celebration of the under-acknowledged, the award honours the unsung heroes of the film industry – those who have left an indelible mark on the landscape of British film but have not necessarily received the recognition they deserve. UK-based Black cinema distributor We Are Parable will receive the honorary Special Jury Prize at this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Anthony Andrews and Teanne Andrews, founders and directors of We Are Parable, will accept the award at the ceremony on Sunday, December 3 along with the other category winners. The duo launched We Are Parable in 2013, as a means of giving audiences a chance to experience Black cinema and television. Across the past decade, they have hosted screenings and events for films including Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Woman King, Rocks, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The organisation regularly programmes film seasons, including 2017’s Spike Is 60, for the birthday of Spike Lee. In 2020, We Are Parable also launched Momentum, a programme designed to support Black filmmakers and content creators based in Britain by providing them with mentoring, mental health workshops and access to industry professionals.
Anthony Andrews and Teanne Andrews said:
‘A decade ago we were screening our favourite films in our local cinema and now we have the privilege of supporting filmmakers via our Momentum programme, and creating cinematic events all around the world. Community, collaboration and experience have always been so important to us and with our move into distribution this year, we remain dedicated to creating opportunities for audiences to experience and respond to Black Cinema in culturally relevant ways.’
The award was selected by two independent BIFA juries with members including Paapa Essiedu, Sheila Atim, Daisy Edgar-Jones, J Blakeson and Nick Frost. Previous recipients of the award include Raising Films, Open Door, Horace Ové, Jenne Casarotto and Ken Loach.
Juror Hanna Flint said of We Are Parable:
‘The theatrical experience has never been more paramount to experiencing cinema in all its glory. We Are Parable is a shining example of what can be achieved when you bridge the gap between filmmakers and community[…]Teanne and Anthony are two of the most respected, thoughtful and creatively exciting exhibitioners in the UK right now and thoroughly deserve this recognition.’
Learn more about We Are Parable.
The 26th British Independent Film Awards take place on Sunday 3 December at Old Billingsgate. A full list of this year’s nominations and 2023 Craft winners is here.
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