Black History Film Screenings

Join our mailing list to keep up with the latest Black films. Black History Walks curates powerful African diaspora movies monthly plus Q&A sessions held all over London. See coming events below. BHW was Activist in Residence at UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre (2021)

Our Black history walks and tours link directly to films as people often want more information after doing a walk .2026 marks 20 years of our monthly African Odysseys film shows. Previously at the BFI Southbank it moved due to their racism and now rotates shows across London. To add your name to the 17,455 strong petition to support it, click HERE . Read our book ‘Black History Walks in London Volume 1′ for a brief history of Black film exhibition HERE

Watch trailers, read reviews and book your place at various venues or sometimes online.

Our film showings are often accompanied by talks, workshops and Q&As. For those seriously into film history our 13 year archive of previously shown films is an excellent resource for fans looking for their next movie on Black history

Black History Walks has over 20 years’ experience managing film exhibitions and talks. The African Odysseys film programme at the British Film Institute was the only one of its kind in the country until recently when they decided to make the co-founder redundant as well as delete the 48 week post that enabled the films to be produced. In protest, BHW launched a petition, now at 17,455, requesting the decisions be reversed and a Race Equality Impact Assessment be run. Despite 20 race equality experts supporting the petition, the BFI refused to even discuss the issue for three months and then sabotaged the only meeting on the issue, cancelling it, without consultation, two hours before it was due to start HERE. The programme has proven hugely successful over the last 20 years and has created an impressive archive of general history, film history and recorded Q&As with directors, actors and producers.

You can see some of our recorded post film Q&As on our Youtube page here.

Join our free mailing list to receive notifications about upcoming films and film events in the city.

Upcoming & Past Films

Friday 5th December 6.30pm

Injustice + Defiance. Film + book talk with Janet Alder

Essential film about police killings and Janet’s 28 year fight for justice for her brother Christopher, the first custody death shown on TV Watch film trailer HERE Order the book Defiance HERE Double event of Ken Fero’s award-winning film about

Friday 7th November 6.30pm

World Wars and Black Soldiers. African Odysseys @BFI

Legendary activist Professor Patrick Vernon reflects on how to protect Black history media in a time of increasing right-wing activity Recognising 60 years since the first ever Race Relations Act of 1965 Professor Patrick Vernon OBE is responsible for: 100

Saturday September 6th

Bob Marley, Sidney Poitier, Count of Monte Cristo plus Esther Anderson

Esther Anderson’s films cover Marley, Haitian Revolution, 3 Musketeers and more. We screen two of them + intensive Q&A with the 82 year old Esther Anderson Day: Recognising 60 years since the first event Race Relations Act 1965 Watch trailer

Thursday 9th October 6.30pm

Afro Futurism, African Spirituality and the Black Image

In depth talk and two short films on the topic as linked to the work of Octavia Butler and recent Hollywood/African/Brazilian blockbusters What is Afro-futurism and how does it link to recent blockbuster films with superheroes ? This presentation by

Friday 5th September 6.30pm

Harry Belafonte film plus Q&A on Black British Civil Rights and film

70s superstar Belafonte used his fame/money to fight for equality; US Civil Rights, anti-apartheid to Black Lives Matter this is his story Watch trailer HERE “This is an absolutely phenomenal film … let us give a big hand for all

Saturday 20th September

UK Civil Rights, Kung fu movies and anti-racist Street Fighters!

60 years since the first Race Relations law we review Kung fu films and their impact on self-defence against violent racists of the 1970/80s An African Odysseys presentation: 60 years of Civil Rights The 1970s surge of Kung Fu cinema

Saturday August 9th 3pm

Fearless: Windrush women speak out. Plus director Q&A

Stories of six women aged 78-90. They left their homes in the 50/60s and now tell their extraordinary, true stories of resistance and fun. This an African Odysseys screening Watch Trailer HERE Fearless follows the stories of six women aged

Saturday 13th September 3-6pm

60 years of Struggle: Civil Rights , African Odysseys, BFI

60 Years of Struggle: Black British Civil Rights, a film on education, housing, policing, health, migration and anti-racism since 1965. Plus a deep conversation with legendary academic, activist and octogenerian, Professor Gus John. The film and conversation will cover: His

Sunday 6th July

Fearless: Voices of an unheard generation

African Odysseys and They’re watching us present Noella Mingo’s heartwarming feature debut documentary. Watch trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95cgz8gwf0 @Richmix cinema, nearest tube Liverpool Street. Book tickets HERE Fearless follows the stories of six women aged between 78 and 90. As young

Saturday 12th July 2pm

City of a Million Dreams + Q&A

Watch trailer HERE Famous the world over, jazz funerals have origins shrouded in mystery. Filmed over twenty-two years, City of a Million Dreams explores race relations at a tearing time in American society. Burial traditions train a lens on the

Friday 6th June 6.30pm

Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd + Q&A

This feature documentary tells the story of George Floyd’s murder, the massive global reaction to it and the backlash that followed. Watch trailer HERE Five years since the murder of George Floyd – the police killing that set America on

Saturday 10th May 5pm

Sinners plus 1 hour Q&A

African Odysseys in association with Kush films Presents: SINNERS: watch trailer HERE A Deep Bite into The Cultural Significance of This Ground-breaking Phenomenon Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again,

Wednesday May 28th 6.30pm

Bad Patriots plus Director Q&A

Film on renowned director Ken Loach and Jeremy Corbyn MP as they consider the myths that have been spread about them in mainstream media Bad Patriots plus Q&A with director Victor Fraga Watch teaser here HERE Mainstream media bestowed some

Saturday 21st June 2pm

Reclaiming Cocoa, premiere plus Director Q&A

Watch trailer HERE an African Odysseys screening “Reclaiming Cocoa” reveals the layers of the complex chocolate industry, taking viewers from the lush cocoa farms of Ghana to the posh chocolate stores in Switzerland – whose famous chocolate consists mostly of

Friday April 25th 6pm

London Recruits, film plus Q&A

Secret agents from London go to South Africa to fight for Mandela against Apartheid, risking life and limb in the fight for racial equality Watch trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKcW12xH7pA&t=72s A special screening of the documentary “London Recruits” and a live Q&A

May 17th 2pm

Soundtrack to a Coup d’etat plus Q&A

How the USA used Black American music and stars to undermine African independence in the 1960s. Soundtrack to Coup d’etat plus Q&A. Watch trailer here United Nations, 1960: the Global South ignites a political earthquake, jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and

Since June 2024

Save 17 years of Black Film history, 14,000 signed so far

The British Film Institute (BFI) plans a redundancy that would end the 17-year-old African Odysseys programme. Sign the petition to save it HERE African Odysseys was set up in 2007 by Black community activists who were already showing films at

Saturday 11th January 2pm

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Watch trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RwLdIiZk_8 This maybe the final African Odysseys film if cuts go ahead, tickets from www.bfi.org.uk United Nations, 1960: the Global South ignites a political earthquake, jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crash the Security Council, Nikita

Saturday 1st December 2pm

Mugabe and Me + Q&A with director Roy Agyemang

Mugabe and Me+ Q&A with director-producer Roy Agyemang and executive producer Andy Mundy-Castle An intimate documentary portrait of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe in his later years.Courtesy of BBC Africa Over a ten-year period, British-born Ghanaian filmmaker Roy Agyemang gained

Tuesday 22nd October 6.30pm

James Baldwin: Gary Younge, Caryl Phillips, Round Midnight

African Odysseys presents ’Round Midnight’ + discussion with writers Gary Younge and Caryl Phillips A dramatic re-creation of the Black American migrant community in post-war Paris jazz clubs, starring legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon.Director Bertrand Tavernier France 1986. 133min. Total running

All October

James Baldwin season African Odysseys BFI Southbank

Please sign the petition to Save 17 years of Black film Tear This Building Down: James Baldwin on film In 1976, James Baldwin published a book-length essay, The Devil Finds Work, in which he explored his relationship to film. It’s

Reviews of Black History Walks, Tours & Talks

Don’t miss out some of the most fascinating and historically interesting events in London. Sign up to our free newsletter for updates on coming events or book one of our walks and talks today!

The audience and the panellists had some incredibly positive feedback about your presentation. It went down so well and was a brilliant combination of information, revelation and humour. There were also a number of attendees whose firms or companies had organised a Black History Walk with yourself and also had nothing but positive feedback

I just wanted to let you know that the students REALLY enjoyed the tour yesterday. I polled them in class and everyone overwhelmingly had positive things to say. They particularly enjoyed how you incorporated modern day information into the tour. They said it was extremely informative and made it seem all really relevant. And today it was great listening to them as they walked around central London, noticing some of the things you'd pointed out. So, your work was very well received. Well done and thank you!

What an amazing tour! It completely moved me to rethink the intricate web of social, economic and political relations that characterize British imperial rule and racial politics. Engaging, moving, will keep you asking more questions. The best way to get to know London.

We are studying Migrants in Britain with Edexcel, and to participate in a workshop/talk from one of the authors of the Pearson textbook was a fantastic learning opportunity for our students. His insight and in-depth knowledge of Notting Hill combined with his well-pitched and flexible delivery meant our students were fully engaged for three full hours, which is some feat! They loved the many jokes and links to their own music tastes, and I am confident that they will retain more knowledge for the final exam thanks to his input. I have rebooked for next year.

Thank you for organizing a wonderful walking tour for my students. You are incredibly knowledgeable, and it was such a joy to hear your take on things. The students loved this field trip. You did an excellent job relating the history, culture, and social contributions of Black and Afro-Caribbean people in a fun and lively way while still emphasizing the seriousness and importance of this often overlooked aspect of British life. I could not have asked for a better supplement to my Sociology course on race, identity, and culture. I really appreciate you helping make the class so special and look forward to arranging another.