Essex Girls
by Yero Timi-Biu
2024, UK, 15 mins
9 PM on Sept 20, 2024
About the movie
English: Based on writer/lead actress Busayo Ige’s real-life experiences of growing up in the coastal regions of Essex (South East England) – ESSEX GIRLS explores how it feels to be a Black girl in a mostly white regional space, how to find self-love in a sphere that doesn’t always accommodate you, the magical power of female friendships and Black girl magic. All wrapped inside a warm, funny, nostalgic vision of 2009 Britain – the era of UK garage revival, Jane Norman bags, and BBM.
French: Basé sur les expériences réelles de Busayo Ige, scénariste et actrice principale, qui a grandi dans les régions côtières de l’Essex.
(sud-est de l’Angleterre), ESSEX GIRLS explore ce que l’on ressent lorsqu’on est une fille noire dans un espace régional majoritairement blanc, comment trouver l’amour de soi dans une sphère qui ne vous accueille pas toujours, le pouvoir magique des amitiés féminines et la magie des filles noires. Le tout enveloppé dans une vision chaleureuse, drôle et nostalgique de la Grande-Bretagne de 2009 – l’époque du renouveau du garage britannique, des sacs Jane Norman et de BBM.
About the director
Yero Timi-Biu is a British-Nigerian writer-director for TV and film with projects for BBC, Channel 4, BFI, and Audible. Currently, Yero is one of three directors at the helm of Sir Lenny Henry’s upcoming ITV drama, THREE LITTLE BIRDS. Yero has also been a staff writer on original shows for Sky One and Netflix (US). Her award-winning short films SIGNS and BENEATH THE SURFACE have played at international festivals such as Encounters, Aesthetica, and Animation Block Party. Yero’s film 0.5% was commissioned by Screen South/BBC Arts and was released on iPlayer in 2022. Continuing her BBC Arts relationship, Yero directed the first one-hour episode of THE READ released in April 2022, a narrative take on Sam Selvon’s novel ‘The Lonely Londoners’ starring I MAY DESTROY YOU’s Danielle Vitalis.
Yero was commissioned by the Booker Prize to direct two films for the 2021 shortlisted authors. Yero has recently directed the coming-of-age film ESSEX GIRLS for BFI, and she is working on her first feature film debut. Yero was 2nd unit director for the BBC One/Amazon psychological thriller CHLOE (2022). Yero also has original shows in development with various indies, streamers, and broadcasters. Yero was one of Edinburgh TV Festival’s prestigious ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2020/2021
Trailer
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