Bute Street Festival returns this weekend with an inspiring host of talent from Luton alongside screenings of internationally acclaimed films, live music, art exhibitions, talks and an awards ceremony voted for by you.
The sixth annual celebration of art, music, and film, which will take place from August 1-3 at the Hat Factory, is now bigger than ever after being awarded British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) status. It means Bute Street Festival is not only a showcase of exceptional talent but also a gateway to greater opportunities in the film industry.
Among this year’s line-up of films are two documentaries about Luton from emerging filmmakers, that will be vying for the Breakthrough Film Award.
Twins Jaspal and Jaspir Nangla’s filmmaking debut ‘Tipping Point’ (screening on Thursday at 5:43pm) explores how local people and groups have been helping to to reshape the town’s narrative positively, using football and specifically the Hatters winning promotion to the Premier League last season as the tipping point.
Also ‘Made in Luton’ (screening on Saturday at 12:30pm) follows Sonia Chowdhury on a journey of what Lutonian’s are making of themselves in their hometown. Following negative media portrayals, Sonia wants to prove to herself and others that Luton is not “the worst place to live in the UK”.
The hometown films sit alongside a line-up of award-winning short films, and a special selection of Channel 4’s finest, featuring famous faces like Doc Brown (Benjamin Bailey Smith) and Indira Varma.
The festival will, for the first time ever, co-produce a section of the festival with Revoluton Arts to help platform aspiring Lutonian filmmakers, artists and musicians. Their Young Revolutonaries being showcased are:
Actor and writer Carl Connelly and filmmaker Cameron Mullane and their short film Dinner With A Dead Man (screening Thursday at 6:30pm), exploring the story of a hostage and his kidnapper. The duo recently helped huge YouTubers Yes Theory film their viral commercial about Luton.
Mi Angelo, a Nigerian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter (showcasing Thursday at 10pm), who recently relocated to the UK, and will be producing a three-track EP created in collaboration with young Lutonian musicians.
Singer and songwriter Rachel Broderick aka LDEEA (showcasing on Saturday at 8:15pm) will be performing with music curated specially to enlighten the soul with an entrancing sound-bed, that also draws from Neo-soul, R&B, Funk, Indie, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Latin grooves.
Mac Pajka aka Studio Melanix a sculptor, photographer, and filmmaker will be exhibiting a sculpture all weekend that represents our need to work on ourselves in order to care for others more. Parents who have not healed from traumas influence their children, which then echoes in their futures. The mirrors reflecting the scene continuously show that this happens everywhere at all times as a universal issue.
Elsewhere in the festival, music lovers will be treated to an array of amazing live performances throughout the weekend, adding a vibrant soundtrack to the festivities.
This will include The Looted Youth, the solo project of Lutonian musician Ben Thomson who is currently writing and recording his debut EP, and will be the next featured artist on local music collective Vandalism Begins at Home’s Live Sessions, a grassroots live music series shot at The Castle by the Nangla brothers’ Two Side Studios production outfit.
Also performing will be Fready, a British-Ghanaian artist currently based in Luton. His music has a very unique sound which he names ‘Nzema’ as he delves into different genres but has a very heavy west-African influence to it. Songs like ‘Nana Nyamenle’ showing a very calm afro-beats vibe and then songs like ‘Ignorant’ which has more of an upbeat afro-drill vibe to it.
Bute Street Festival’s art gallery has expanded significantly since last year, showcasing works from 13 talented artists, including Lutonian Ed Smith and multidisciplinary artist Silvia Lerin who will be shares her artistic journey that brought her from Spain to Luton, to play a significant part in the regeneration of the town through her vibrant mural art.
Festival attendees can also immerse themselves in diverse artistic expressions responding to the theme of ‘The Labour of Care’ and engage with creators, making for a truly interactive experience.
Aspiring writers can hone their craft at the scriptwriting surgery, where expert guidance will be provided to help bring their stories to life.
For those fascinated by movie magic, don’t miss the Hollywood prosthetics workshop, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the artistry that transforms actors into unforgettable characters. The festival will culminate in a thrilling live award show, celebrating the very best of the festival’s entries and recognising outstanding contributions to the arts.
Engage with industry giants during insightful talks and panels featuring director Koby Adom, the T A P E Collective, Festival Formula, Peccadillo Pictures, and many more. These sessions will provide invaluable insights and spark stimulating discussions on the art and business of filmmaking.
Writing on the Bute Street website, festival director Benjamin Cyrus-Clark said: “Like many creatives in Luton, I have a strong belief in our creative and cultural crowd. Bute Street was founded to create a platform to recognise and award local and international talents from the Film, Art and Musical backgrounds.”
Luton Councillor Javeria Hussain, vice chair of headline festival sponsor Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns the airport and other assets for community benefit, said: “We are proud to be the headline sponsor for the Bute Street Festival, and hope everyone enjoys a fantastic three days.
“Our support for Luton’s leading annual cultural and community celebrations is just one of the ways we say thank you to people for their support of our airport, and the social investment its success allows us to make supporting services and transforming lives.”
For the full festival programme, more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.butestreetfilmfestival.com.
