Film / News
Trailer and crowdfunder launch for I Am Judah documentary
Back in January 2017, Bristol Rastafarian community elder Judah Adunbi – aka Ras Judah – was tasered in the face by police while walking his dog in Easton. The truth about what happened might never have been revealed had it not been for his neighbour, Tom Cherry, who recorded the incident on his phone. This footage subsequently went viral and placed Ras Judah at the centre of international attention. But more than two years on, he is still seeking justice. Not a single police officer has been found guilty of misconduct.
Last September, filmmaker Bashart Malik, poet and activist Lawrence Hoo and producer Zaheer Mamon decided they had to do something to support Ras Judah’s campaign. Like everyone else, they were shocked and disturbed by the cameraphone footage. But they were also surprised that no other filmmakers had approached Ras Judah to tell his story.
One of the striking poster designs for ‘I Am Judah’
From the outset, they were clear about their intentions. I Am Judah was to be a community project. They would not seek funding from broadcasters or make any other compromise that would mean sacrificing editorial control. Naturally, this means the project is much more of a challenge to fund. A successful trailer launch and discussion at the regular Cables & Cameras event at the Cube back in March provided the encouragement they needed to launch a crowdfunding drive to raise the £22,000 needed to complete the project.
is needed now More than ever
The trailer is now available to view online and potential supporters are offered a variety of options. These range from just £5 for a ‘Special Thanks’ in the film’s end credits to £3,000 for an Executive Producer credit along with a pile of other goodies. Intermediate options include £50 for a limited edition copy of one of the film’s two striking posters, £100 for the official T-shirt, £150 for an exclusive cinema screening and £1,000 for dinner with the cast and crew. Check out the I Am Judah crowdfunding site for more information and to donate.
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