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Windrush Caribbean Festival: Burning An Illusion + Q&A

This programme will feature a post-screening discussion, hosted by Paulette Harris-German and featuring special guest Cassie McFarlane, star of Burning an illusion, Co-Directors of M.A E. Yvonne Jeffrey and April John-Lewis, and Directors from the Warner Bros Black Britain Unspoken scheme.

6th Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2025 (WCFF), in partnership with www.alt-africa.com, and with support from Hackney Council's Windrush Microgrant Scheme, presents Burning an Illusion by Menelik Shabazz, alongside a curated programme of short films. 

Shabazz’s 1981 classic about a personal and political awakening remains a vibrant and liberating touchstone of Black British cinema more than 40 years on from its premiere. Burning an Illusion is a powerful drama following a young Black woman in London as she navigates love, identity, and systemic injustice. As her consciousness deepens, she confronts the harsh realities of race and gender in 1980s Britain.

Plus, a selection of short films...

M.A.E is directed by Yvonne Jeffrey and April John-Lewis, based on an average day following a traumatised woman’s daily struggle with her mental health, a battle between her and her own mind. Watch Ann Francis as she navigates her difficult interactions with the psychological professionals, the ruminations and ability to decipher what’s reality and what is not. A gripping story based on true life events, M.A.E (My Alter Ego) will leave you stunned with its thought-provoking thrilling twist and turns.

Lloyd the Instructor is a short film by Donell Atkinson-Johnson. Lloyd is a father, a first generation Jamaican and a driving instructor. We follow Dylan, the last of four brothers to learn with Lloyd, in his early lessons as he gains competency behind the wheel from total beginner stage. In his laid-back style Lloyd imparts his years of wisdom onto the South London youth as he teaches them the basics of driving - like a Jamaican Mr. Miyagi or Pai Mei he uses metaphors to get his students to grasp the meaning behind their actions as they seek out the independence that comes with having a driver's license.

mandem by Joladé Olusanya is a poetic documentary that explores the deeper meaning of 'mandem' beyond its stereotypes. Inspired by the late poet and friend Gboyega Odubanjo, the film delves into the significance of the term within the Black British collective through conversation and a poem written by director Joladé Olusanya. 

Dancing on Road directed by Lauren Gee documents and celebrates the Black British female roller-skating community, showcasing its long history and fixture within popular culture. Blurring the boundaries between documentary and music video, this experimental film reveals the expansive network of London’s Black skate scene through two key individuals that share their stories and delve into what this space and their skate crews and mentors provide them.

WCFF celebrates the stories of the Windrush generation and their descendants. Through powerful films, the festival explores identity, migration, and belonging, connecting audiences across the UK, the diaspora, and beyond.

Founded by Joy Coker, Alt A Review is a media platform and publisher dedicated to amplifying Black, Brown, and minority creative voices in arts and culture. 

Follow: @alt_africa_ | @windrush_fest

Windrush Caribbean Festival: Burning An Illusion + Q&A

  • Runtime: 210 minutes
  • Director: Menelik Shabazz
  • Country: UK
  • Year: 1981
  • Rating: (15)
  • Film

Event Key:

  • SO Sold Out
  • CB Carers + Baby
  • HH Hard of Hearing
  • QA Q+A
  • RX Relaxed Screening
  • PP Pink Palace
  • CM Classic Matinee
  • HA Heritage Archive
  • FF Family Flicks
  • S1 Screen 1
  • S2 Screen 2
  • LB Ludski Bar