Hello! Just Passing is our BFI NETWORK backed short film shot over (a very snowy!) 2 days in London. The film was nominated for the 2023 Iris Prize Best British Short Film sponsored by Film4 and co-stars BAFTA Nominated Actor Cyril Nri alongside the films' writer Leann O'Kasi. It was previosuly broadcast and streamed on Channel 4 TV in the UK and Ireland for a year! 







Overview

I wrote the first draft of Just Passing in 2016 at a time when I had feelings of disconnection towards my environment and the people around me - and I put this into a narrative.  
I wanted to explore a woman from my community, who I hadn't seen on film before - a professional woman of colour, an authority figure - who was also falling apart. I was interested in making Del’s character principled but also flawed. She is one of a small minority of female officers of colour in her division and this further isolates her. But as quick as I wrote the film, I shelved it for many years, not thinking it could have any impact. 

Fast forward to a global pandemic and numerous lockdowns, mental health was being talked about in a more nuanced way. I revisited the script and realised the urgency of the other themes too - people exposing institutional racism and violence within the police force, harsher immigration laws being introduced and the particularly harrowing effects on immigrants of colour and those from the LGBTQI community.

I am an immigrant myself. I moved to the UK from Ireland at the age of five. My Mother is Irish and like the character of Sami, my Father is Nigerian. I grew up in East London and the 24hour cafe in Just Passing is based on a real place! I often think about what separates my experience from that of many asylum seekers entering the UK today, and it is clear it is simple luck. Like the character of Del who herself is the product of a mixed-race migrant family, this luck plays on my mind, and I often wonder how different my passing into the UK would have been if it wasn’t on my side. 
These reflections have compelled me to create a story which throws together two people from seemingly contrasting worlds, who must take risks to truly be themselves. I am so full of gratitude to our Director Sophie Austin, our Producer RCL Graham and our amazing cast and crew who have come together to bring this story to life! I hope it sparks some debate and reflection in you - thank you for watching!



Origins of the Story ...

All Strangers Have Secrets: The path of a driven woman dramatically collides with an undocumented homeless man one night in London. As their secrets are revealed, which one of them is truly lost and who really needs saving?

Just Passing

Short Film

Events

Events

Images

Details

Credits

Explore More

Just Passing

Short Film

Events

Events

Images

Details

Credits

Writer - Co-Producer - Co-Lead

Director

Producer - Editor

Executive Producer

Cinematographer

Sound Designer - Composer

Explore More