Experiencing Interruptions?

IS THE UK INNOCENT? Black Lives Matter

Black people are nine times more likely to face stop and search than white people - 18 times more likely under Section 60, where no reasonable suspicion is required.
There is the endless list of deaths in police custody - where no British police officer has ever faced prosecution.
Black women are twice as likely as white women, and black men are 3.3 times as likely than white men, to die from Covid-19 in the UK.
Britain was the leading slaver nation, carrying 40% of all Africans transported between 1761 and  1807.
What do all these facts have in common? Racism is at the root.
'Is the UK innocent?' explores the relationship between the
transatlantic traffic of enslaved African people between the 1600s to 1800s and racism today in the UK. Through interviews with anti-racism activists in South East London this documentary asks what the relationship is between Britain's role in the enslavement of over 12m free African people and the circumstances in which today's Black people find themselves in the UK.

  • José Maria Martinelli
    Director
  • José Maria Martinelli
    Writer
  • José Maria Martinelli
    Producer
  • Adetola Stephanie Onamade
    Key Cast
  • Robin Walker
    Key Cast
  • Harold Wilson
    Key Cast
  • Carol Webley -Brown
    Key Cast
  • Mark 'Mr T' Thompson
    Key Cast
  • Elizabeth Adofo
    Key Cast
  • Rahul Patel
    Key Cast
  • Melissa Jacques
    Key Cast
  • Ndan Marshall
    Key Cast
  • Lucia Casado & Lucas de Rocha
    Animation & graphics:
  • Miguel Rossi
    Music
  • STAND UP TO racism south east London
    Many Thanks
  • Ian crosson
    Many Thanks
  • Rachel morar
    Many Thanks
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ¿Es el Reino Unido inocente? Las vidas negras importan
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    43 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Montreal
    Canada
    July 21, 2021
    Montreal, Canada.
    Winner of best Documentary Direction at the "International Black and Diversity film festival" & Jury Prize in "International Black and Diversity film festival".
  • London, UK
    February 15, 2021
    London
    First Prize in Documentary at "London Web & Short Film Festival"
Director Biography - José Maria Martinelli

José Maria Martinelli was born in South America, Argentina, where he first studied audiovisual communication, and later taught video-making workshops, while making his own audiovisual creations. He has made over 70 experimental videos and documentaries, focusing on political and social issues. These have, and continue to be, shown extensively in Latin America.

Ten years ago he moved to London where he has made a number of independent films, screening them in pubs across the city, with titles such as “Men Cry; a critique of traditional masculinity” and “2 hours work per day”.

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