Babylon + Q&A Panel

BABYLON + Special Community Q&A Panel To close Black History month celebrations across Hackney, Rio Cinema presents an in-house favourite with Franco Rosso’s Babylon (1980). Banned on release in the US in fear of inciting riots and originally rated X in the UK, Babylon follows Jamaican-British youngster Blue’s day to day in Brixton. The young reggae DJ (played by Brinsley Forde, M.B.E., Aswad) of the Ital 1 Lion sound system in Thatcher-era South London pursues his musical ambitions while battling against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbours, police, and the National Front. The film will be followed by a live on-stage Q&A panel hosted by musician Nubiya Brandon. The conversation will take the opportunity to hear the real-life experiences of those who grew up in the Caribbean-British community of 1980s London. Alongside these events in Screen 1, The Rio Lobby will be exhibiting Photographs by Chanté Saunders and Maisie Brown (previously exhibited at Dijons and featured in Nowness) with their photography series titled “RUDEBOYS”. The series is a contemporary re-imagining of Rude boy culture inspired by the wealth of British-Caribbean style and history across the UK. And In partnership with Backronym Films there will be a limited number of Black history month zines on sale (included in one of the ticket brackets) available on the day. The film is rated 15, please ensure families wishing to attend keep this in mind. Photography and videos will take place throughout the venue. About the Host Nubiya Brandon is a Poet/ Vocalist / Singer / Writer / Performer/ Screenwriter / Director, spanning between Jazz, Dub, Reggae and soundsystem culture. Starting as a backing singer for New York Dolls album ‘Dancing Backward in High Heels’ Nubiya metamorphosed into her own lead projects touring across Europe. 3 x BBC listed as lead singer of lovers rock/Dub/Trip Hop ensemble The Hempolics and prior co-founder and Lead singer & collaborative writer of the Nubiyan Twist jazz ensemble. Her debut National Theatre performance and composition ‘All Kinds of Limbo’ was showcased at the Sundance Film Festival 2020, Bergen International Film Festival 2020, London Film Festival 2021 and Tate Modern 2021. About the Curator Curated by recent Film school graduate Zain Gibson (@zaingibson). Zain Gibson is a filmmaker, photographer and writer exploring identity and culture though her work. Having previously worked on screenings taking photographs in the Rio, Leo’s The Aggressives (Part 1 and 2) and her own screening of Spike Lee’s Girl 6 this summer.PT1H35M152024-10-26

Brinsley Forde

Karl Howman

Trevor Laird

Brian Bove

Franco Rosso

Babylon + Q&A Panel"Babylon + Q&A Panel"

Showtimes

October 26, 2:00 pm