British Urban Film Festival Reviews 

Buff is THE Best Awards show in UK! A incredible platform that brings people from all walks of life together to Celebrate British talent! A huge achievement by Clare and Emmanuel Anyiam- Osigwe who do so much for the film industry and highlight those that deserve their flowers. The projects that Buff supports’ win Baftas! As we just saw at this years 2025 Buff BAFTA watch party- If you are lucky enough to be invited to their events, you’ll be sure to have an incredible time whilst meeting amazing and talented people.
Love you Buff!
Georgia Amodu Curtis

Fantastic team, amazing events. But beyond that, their work pushing for and celebrating diversity in the film industry is just admirable!

I was introduced to BUFF through a fantastic Director , I have been blown away the dedication , kindness and caring shown by the team , Claire , Emmanuel and Leo all so talented and they know how to throw a party ! BUFF BAFTA party was amazing and they won BAFTA short film!!! Incredible company incredible care for the arts .

Emmanuel, Clare and all the team at BUFF are the very best!!!

This festival is an absolute gem! They really look after all the filmmakers and champion them!

Had a wonderful experience watching a fantastic award-winning film in a stunning setting amongst other creative filmmakers

This BUFF event was both wonderful and powerful experience. A great evening connecting with people from the film industry, and meeting some of the people involved in the BAFTA award winning short film, ‘Rock Paper Scissors’, a very relevant and moving film to watch.

I’ve been attending BUFF since 2014 and it has continued to go from strength to strength. Premium programming, warm staff and excellent ethics. As it turns 20, I’m looking forward to seeing more BAFTA wins, more film productions and more educational programs.

We work directly with BUFF as a sponsor. Our businesses are totally aligned and have so much synergy. We love the complete BUFF experience from idea stage, to execution of events and everything in between. The team at BUFF meticulously tailor each event for its annual festival for all involved to relinquish lasting memories. The Culture Deluxe team cannot wait to do it all over again for the 20th year celebrations in 2025! Exciting times await!

Wonderful festival! Professional and very welcoming. A true champion for the arts in the UK

They have an excellent communication team, and their email responses were clear and prompt. BUFF provided me with the chance to meet audiences in the UK and around the world. It was a great experience for me as a Korean filmmaker, and I am so grateful to be part of this festival! Most importantly, I will never forget their warm welcome. If your film is unique, personal, and thought-provoking, I highly recommend submitting to BUFF!

BUFF is as a real as it gets for recognising diverse up-and-coming talent tackling hard-hitting subject matters. I was fortunate enough to win Best Picture in 2023 for my micro-budget feature 'Suicide Kelly.' And what impressed me the most about the festival was the support they give to filmmakers who have made films outside the traditional routes. Never did I expect my little 10k feature film to take home the grand prize! This is testament to everything BUFF stands for and I could not have asked for more fitting validation for my film because BUFF prides itself on a DIY attitude. More festivals should follow suit if we really want to level the playing field in the UK.

Verd de gris arts were invited to be part of the BUFF programme of film screenings taking place in 2024. These screenings were partnered and supported by Creative Minds, a regional mental health initiative dedicated to integrating creativity and the arts into mainstream health and wellbeing practice.

For us, film has the power to bring about systematic change - in the lives of individuals, in their communities, and in society as a whole. In our advocacy work, film has shown how we can disseminate information, ideas, and solution to complex issues impacting on particular communities and / or individuals.

Films like What Remains, a film about suicide bereavement, has the power to change attitudes and shape the way people perceive a very complex and sensitive subject.

We believe that film can be used as a powerful tool to bring about social and political change, creating a forum for public debate and mobilising local people, stakeholders and commissioners. This has been evident in the screenings and Q&A sessions facilitated by Emmanuel and Clare and the team at BUFF. The event were welcoming and inclusive, and put new audiences at their ease. The choice of films were excellent, and the post-screening conversations were passionate and informative, expertly managed by Emmanuel.

We need to support and enhance creative opportunities like this, that give local people the chance to engage and discuss matters that are relevant to them.

I recently attended a screening of "Absolutely Marvellous"at Buff Studios screening, and it was truly exceptional. The documentary offered a unique and powerful insight into the lives of the visually impaired, allowing the audience to experience the world from their perspective. The way the film conveyed their sensory experiences was both moving and eye-opening, celebrating their resilience while raising awareness.

Buff Studios continues to deliver impactful, inclusive storytelling, and this film is a must-watch for anyone interested in diverse narratives. I highly recommend it!

Emmanuel and the amazing team at BUFF offered us a space to screen our documentary Our Place Is Here at the Rich Mix during the festival, which we are forever grateful about.
The team was so helpful and gave us many details in the weeks proceeding the event to help us ensure all the tickets were sold. The night was very fun and we can't thank them enough for giving us this space to showcase our film.
This was an incredible experience.

I've been aware of the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) for many years, but until recently, I hadn’t had the chance to attend one of their events in person. When I learned that BUFF was planning to establish a northern base at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax, I was thrilled. Since then, I've been fortunate enough to attend each event, and the experience has surpassed my expectations.

As a filmmaker, I regularly attend premieres, screenings, and festivals, but BUFF stands out to me for several reasons. The level of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail that goes into each event is exceptional. Every programme is thoughtfully curated, offering a well-balanced selection of films and discussions that resonate with both heart and intellect.

One of the standout features of BUFF is the opportunity to network with a diverse and talented array of people. Each event introduces me to creative, stimulating individuals whose perspectives and ideas enrich the experience. The films themselves are consistently powerful—deeply emotive, thought-provoking, and often addressing important life stories from underrepresented and diverse communities. These are stories that deserve to be told and shared, and BUFF provides a vital platform for doing so.

I’m excited to see how BUFF continues to expand its northern audience while maintaining its solid roots in the South. It’s a festival that truly contributes to the richness and diversity of British cinema, and I look forward to seeing it grow from strength to strength.

This is my first year attending the bristish urban film festival, and I would do so again next year and years to come.
The event was well coordinated. It was a very fulfilling event and I felt proud to be there.
The featured films are representative of our reality and I appreciate that.
As a creative I appreciate platforms supporting and promoting talents, BUFF definitely is one of them. I look forward to being present for future events.

"Zoe Films UK made film submissions at the British Urban Film Festival in 2021 and 2022 which were selected, screened and nominated for awards in both years.

The imprint had a rich experience at the screening and award shows for both of the years. Our cast and crew were delighted at the opportunity to showcase their craft at the festival.

Showcasing our films at the British Urban Film Festival certainly helps to propel our films forward and Zoe Films UK look forward to working with the British Urban Film Festival on our future productions and releases".

On the 27th July, I watched Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe's debut documentary Absolutely Marvelous as part of the evening of Official Selection announcements for BUFF '24. It's a life affirming documentary portraiture and all the more intimate and personal for its stripped down approach to production. This is confident filmmaking that ploughs its own furrow!

I've have attended BUFF every year since 2021. They select the best films from all over the world to showcase. I was first drawn to the festival to watch a film called 'NAVY' (which won best feature that year), the welcome i received as a first time festival goer was an experience that has yet to be topped. The first time i have seen an independent British film combine music, romance and culture so smoothly.

Last year i followed the festival to Leeds and watched another great selection of short films.

Cant wait for this year!

BUFF has been a hugely important event in the UK film championing the works of black and minority ethnic filmmakers. Forever grateful for what they do