Elias Williams is a filmmaker and the founder of online media platform, MANDEM (@mandemhood). He holds a First Class Honours degree in Filmmaking from the University of the West of England and a master’s degree in History from the University of Bristol.

His filmmaking attributes include a Channel 4 Random Acts film, Mansa Musa, where he was awarded a £5,000 budget. The film was selected for the ICA Playback Festival, the Palace International Film Festival in Poland, and nominated for Best Comedy at the RTS West of England Student Awards.

Elias’ graduate film, Samurai Blood, has been screened at Encounters Film Festival in Bristol, Docubox-EADFF in Nairobi, and was officially selected for the 2018 Edinburgh Independent Film Awards, 2019 British Urban Film Festival and 2019 That Film Festival Marbella. The film now has over 80,000 YouTube views.

Elias has also directed music videos that have been premiered by Complex magazine and RLD Records. His latest project is a BBC Arts New Creatives film, ‘Voodoo in My Heart’, released on BBC iPlayer in 2021.

Elias’ work for MANDEM includes providing a space for young men of colour to express themselves through writing, film and music, and has also included hosting panel-led discussions about topical issues around race, class and gender – the latest of which was hosted at the prestigious Barbican Centre in London.