A Wimbledon Film Club/ Njoya Foundation Special Event
celebrating Black History Month with pre-film entertainment and Director
Q&A
Sequins, Soca and Sweat: The hidden heart of Notting Hill Carnival
Dir. Stephen Rudder, 2006, UK, (uncert), 49 mins.
Wimbledon Film Cub in partnership with Njoya Foundation brings you a rare evening of
entertainment to celebrate Black History Month 2009.
Pre film entertainment by storyteller Jeanette Angela Barrett
Jeanette is a performer, writer and storyteller who has worked with Birmingham’s Language Alive
and Ladder to the Moon in South London, alongside bringing performance workshops to schools
and the local community. Her storytelling sessions draw from her African and Caribbean Heritage
and its rich oral/musical tradition and as a vocalist Jeanette will often punctuate her sessions with
singing.
Sequins, Soca and Sweat, is the debut documentary by award-winning filmmaker
Stephen Rudder. Sequins, Soca and Sweat follows six ‘Mas’ camps in the weeks leading up to
Notting Hill Carnival and captures the unique atmosphere of ‘camp life’. It gives insight into the
spectrum of participants ranging from the originators of the carnival tradition to the progressive new
wave of younger influence. We see Lawrence Noel, who brought the first costumes to the streets
of Notting Hill in 1973 and represents the original essence of Carnival, juxtaposed with PoisonUK,
a camp increasing in popularity which brings the younger, progressive partying carnival spirits to
the forefront.
Rudder’s interest in making a documentary on Carnival was first sparked in 2003. At the Notting
Hill Carnival he saw a young boy with a horn in one hand and the other around the shoulder of his
grandmother as they danced together in costume. He was intrigued by how this spectacular art
form had the power to bring together generations. And when Carole Morrison, the film’s Executive
Producer, was looking to commission a documentary about the ‘Mas’ in Notting Hill, Rudder’s initial
seed of interest had the chance to grow. When the Director looked behind the mask of the
masquerade, he found a small group of artists, designers, innovators and pioneers who somehow
managed to nourish their communities and inspire the younger generations, whilst also forming the
backbone of the largest street festival in Europe. Sequins, Soca and Sweat is their story.
We are delighted to welcome Producer and Director Stephen Rudder to answer your questions.
Stephen Rudder has a rare and insightful perspective on the world. His vision is to create films that
fuse great visual storytelling with a practical function within society at large. His accolades to date
include the Soho Images Audience Award for Best Film and Best Film by BBC Talent. His work has
been screened in numerous channels including on cable and BBC TV.
It’s also great to be collaborating once more with The Njoya Foundation; the charity was set up to
advance the life and education of Black boys and teenagers of African and African-Caribbean
descent. To find out more got to www.njoyafoundation.org.uk