Our coverage of the Across the Street, Around the World Festival continues with a look at the Best of the West, an event that celebrates West London’s rich filmmaking history and the part it has played in the progression of black British representation. The main event? A special screening of Horace Ové’s 1987 TV comedy, Playing Away, followed by an interview session with both the man himself and young British filmmaker, Kolton Lee.

When the film Adulthood was released in UK cinemas in June 2008, its opening weekend grossed more money than the freshly released Sex and the City. In the wake of its success, a spate of new and gritty urban films has been drawing audiences to cinemas in increasing numbers, with films such as Shank and Dead Man Running bringing new vigor to the UK film industry. Despite their success, though, the issue of black representation is never far away. With a panel debate titled “The New Blaxploitation?” taking place as a part of London’s Across the Street, Around the World festival, Best For Film went to investigate.