ENTERTAINMENT
Meet The Nigerians Behind The Award-winning British’s Produced Film The Black Cop
Film focuses on a Black Gay Metropolitan officer who atones his past
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Cherish Oteka, a documentary filmmaker and Gamal Turawa, an ex-metropolitan police officer, are the two Nigerians behind the award-winning The Black Cop, recently nominated for 2022 BAFTA award in the best British Short film category.
While Cherish Oteka produced and directed the docu-drama THE BLACK COP, Gamal Turawa, is the man behind the story.
The insightful film which has just been nominated for a 2022 BAFTA in the Best British Short Category, tells a story of a UK’s first openly Gay Black Metropolitan police officer (who has now retired), admitting to racially profiling and harassing Black people in his early career in a quest to find acceptance in the force.
According to the film’s publicist, Shelly Diafuana, the former police officer relives his experience of being both a victim and a perpetrator of racism in the British police force.
Using archive and dramatic reconstruction to illustrate his story, Gamal takes viewers on a journey through his childhood and professional development as he grapples with issues of racial and sexual identity and acceptance.
An elated Cherish Oteka, speaking about the feat said; “It is a huge honour to have this important and nuanced story recognised by BAFTA. My work aims to provide a platform for often-marginalised communities to tell their stories on their terms. I have made documentaries that explore identity, discrimination, and institutional bias, but never through the lens of someone who,sits on all sides of the conversation.
“In one person and one story we present a villain, victim, and hero and begin to understand the potential that we all have in being any one of these, even all three. It has been heart-warming to see The Black Cop connecting with audiences in this way.”
Cherish Oteka
Director and producer Cherish Oteka, is a Black, queer and trans award -winning documentary filmmaker whose work often spotlights unique perspectives and untold stories.
Their films include A MAN CALLED DAD, a film celebrating Black fathers and BAME VOICES, short documentaries giving voice to people who sit at the intersection of Blackness and queerness and most recently, TOO GAY FOR GOD?
Oteka, who has been recognised as Edinburgh Television Festival’s Ones to Watch and has won many awards including UKTV’s Rising Star Award, aims to challenge false narratives and provide a platform for often-marginalised communities to tell their stories on their terms.
Producer Emma Cooper is responsible for two notable Netflix documentaries; BIKRAM and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MADELINE MCCANN. Having previously held the position of Commissioning Editor in Documentaries at Channel 4, her titles include TATTOOS, THE JIHADI NEXT DOOR and I AM BRADY: ENDGAMES OF A PSYCHOPATH. Prior to Channel 4, Emma directed and produced films for the BBC including LOUIS THEROUX: A PLACE FOR PAEDOPHILES, MIAMI MEGA-JAIL and AMERICA’S MOST HATED FAMILY.
Gamal “G” Turawa is a former police officer from the Metropolitan Police who for 14 of his 25 year decorated career, he delivered training programmes on Diversity, Inclusion and Personal Development. He became the UK’s first openly Gay, Black police officer. G retired from the Police force in 2018.
Gamal “G” Turawa is a former met police officer
The enchanting cinematography was provided by Damien Paul Daniels.
THE BLACK COP is available to watch on The Guardian website: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2022/jan/19/the-black-cop-a-police-officers-story-of-racism-remorse-and-resistance-documentary
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