Ibrahim Muhammad, Film BA Honours student, is one of five up-and-coming Black filmmakers from London who have partnered with actor John Boyega and Converse to create five short films.
The Create Next Film Project, John Boyega’s recent collaboration with Converse, is a network that aims to empower the next generation of Black filmmakers. The initiative brings together young creatives and industry giants in the hopes of bridging representational gaps in the industry.
Participants in the programme are carefully selected and awarded access to a robust and community-focused ecosystem of mentorship and funding. The filmmakers are given room to realise their talents and showcase stories they believe deserve to be on the big screen.
Over the last six months, Ibrahim and four other London filmmakers, Ade Femzo, Kaylen Francis, Kemi Anna Adeeko and Lorraine Khamali have each written, directed and produced their own five-minute short film, which premiered at London’s Curzon Cinema on 12 April 2022.
Ibrahim’s short film, titled ‘Only Child’, follows a young woman who is forced to reconnect with her estranged father after her mother passes away.
Speaking about his involvement in the Create Next Film Project, Ibrahim said: “Being able to write and direct my own short on a professional level was an eye-opening experience of the industry I want to get into.
“It means a lot to me that someone saw my talent and believed in what I could do enough to support me for six months. This opportunity meant that me, along with the other filmmakers could showcase our creative potential, and I think a lot of young black creatives need more opportunities like that.”
Watch Ibrahim’s full short film on Converse’s YouTube channel.
Find out more about Film and Television courses at the University of Westminster.
