WEUSI funded for Storytelling by Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Black-led, not-for-profit, Arts Production House, Weusi Ltd, has received funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation StoryTeller’s Fund to tour the film more than 150 film festivals across the UK and internationally, cover cast and crew expenses to attend festivals, create a digital platform to house the production online, create paid and organic promotional material, fund an in-person film festival event and preparing for general release on Amazon Prime in 2025.

Black, Queer & Done is a feature film exploring the critical differences between how Black, LGBT+ artists and professionals are portrayed, within the media, arts and cultural sectors, versus the reality.

Black, Queer & Done, which was funded by Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund, will premiere on Friday 11 November at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre and features contributors and artists from Coventry, the wider West Midlands and UK, Africa and the US.

To date, BQD has been screened at 30 film festivals, won 13 Awards and received several finalist, semi-finalist and honourable mentions.

Nyasha was motivated to capture the real conversations being had within communities, which often did not reflect the messages reflected by media, arts and culture. The film uses compelling shared experience, coupled within eight artistic pieces responding to themes discussed throughout. The film has been entered into more than 150 film festivals, thanks to the funding, with award deadlines into Spring 2025.

Commenting on the film’s success, WEUSI Co-CEO and Artistic Director, Nyasha Daley said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation for the generous grant funding that allowed us to share BQD around diverse audiences internationally, as well as creating lasting legacy though digital real estate.“

“The film was our debut and we’re thrilled to have had so many screenings around the world. We’re also really humbled to have won so many awards for our first film production, and we still have more festivals to look forward to. It’s been an excellent learning process and we are really proud of this first foray into film-making.”

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s ambition is that over time, with continued investment and learning, more communities and organisations will feel equipped to use collective imagination practice and unleash its power.

Last updated: September 22, 2024