Documentary backdrop image for Handsworth Songs (1986)

198661 minPGdocumentary

5.9/ 10(11 ratings)• TMDB

Racial Justice Historical Events

Deep Dive

Handsworth Songs

198661 minPGdocumentary

5.9/ 10(11 ratings)• TMDB

Deep Dive

Birmingham's Handsworth area experienced significant riots in 1985, reflecting the struggles of Caribbean and South Asian immigrants amid economic decline and racial tensions.

Racial Justice Historical Events

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Synopsis

Birmingham's Handsworth area experienced significant riots in 1985, reflecting the struggles of Caribbean and South Asian immigrants amid economic decline and racial tensions.

People

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John Akomfrahdirector

Sebastian Shahdirector

Pervaiz Khancast

Meera Syalcast

Yvonne Weekescast

Synopsis

Birmingham's Handsworth area witnessed intense riots in 1985, a backdrop for the documentary "Handsworth Songs." Directed by John Akomfrah and produced by the Black Audio Film Collective, the film combines newsreel footage, photographs, and voice-overs to depict the experiences of Caribbean and South Asian immigrants in Britain. It addresses the economic decline and rising racial tensions of the early 1980s. The documentary premiered at the Birmingham Film and Television Festival on October 24, 1986, and has won seven international awards.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See the impact of the 1985 Handsworth riots.
Meet key figures from the Black Audio Film Collective.
Find out about Caribbean and South Asian immigrant experiences.

Did You Know

Handsworth Songs premiered at the Birmingham Film and Television Festival on 24 October 1986.
The film won seven international awards, including the John Grierson Award for Best Documentary.
The Black Audio Film Collective was founded in 1982 by seven artists.
The film has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews.

Perfect For

British social historyRacial tensions in the UKDocumentary filmmaking

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed Handsworth Songs?

Handsworth Songs was directed by John Akomfrah.

What year was Handsworth Songs released?

Handsworth Songs was released in 1986.

What awards did Handsworth Songs win?

Handsworth Songs won seven prizes internationally, including the John Grierson Award for Best Documentary.

Awards & Festivals

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam

2021 • Official selection

True/False Film Festival

1986 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

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