According to the reports, organizers revealed that Oscar-winner Steve McQueen would debut the original films at the New York Film Festival this year. In addition to two other premières for films in his anthology show, the director of “12 Years a Slave” would be offered the opening nightspot for the 1980s romantic “Lovers Rock”
Steve McQueen’s upcoming British-American anthology “Small Axe” is incorporated of five films telling stories about London’s West Indian culture from the 1960s to the mid-1980s.
McQueen said in a statement. “It’s an incredible honor and also very humbling to show three of my films at the New York Film Festival.’’ And he also added that “It’s especially meaningful for me at this particular time to share these stories as a Black man of West Indian heritage.”
“Mangrove,” and “Red, White and Blue,” are other two films which are also set to premiere. “Mangrove” revolves around a group of Black activists called the Mangrove 9 who clashed with police in the 1970s and “Red, White and Blue,” is another true story about Leroy Logan, a man who joins the police to try to inspire change from within. John Boyega is featured in the movie.
We have reports which suggest that the festival’s programming director, Dennis Lim, disclosed one of his statement that Steve McQueen is one of the beginner artists of his time, and now he has reached a new level of mastery with the Small Axe films. He also revealed that there are historical drama work plays that speak clearly and critically to the real period of police violence and structural injustice.
It is also reported that the five films would be premiered on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and on BBC One later this year.
There are several reports which suggest that the 58th edition of the New York Film Festival’s dates haven’t been set yet due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Still, film festival organizers confirm that specifics would be announced in the coming weeks. Reportedly, the festival will be organized with all the safety protocols; it would proceed with outdoor and virtual screenings, and, indoor screenings as well.