Nottingham Poetry Festival: A Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Celebrating a Legendary Poet and Supporting Brainstrust
Nottingham, UK – This summer, the Nottingham Poetry Festival paid homage to the late, great British poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who passed away late last year. In a heartfelt tribute, the festival showcased a series of films by local filmmaker Ben Wigley, featuring Zephaniah’s profound and influential poetry. The event took place on June 16th at Broadway Cinema.
The featured films, including "Paa Joe & the Lion," "PS Your Mystery Sender," and "In This World," captured Zephaniah’s unique perspective on the state of the world at different moments in time. Each film served as a testament to his powerful voice and enduring legacy.
Local poets Chris Oliver, Hilário Alves, Cae Capurro, and Frances Wilson-Morkeh also paid tribute to Zephaniah, enriching the evening with their own performances inspired by his work. Following the film screenings, there was a Q&A session with director Ben Wigley and producer Anna Griffin, offering insights into their collaboration with Zephaniah and the creative process behind these remarkable films.
In honour of Benjamin Zephaniah's memory and his contribution to the arts, all proceeds from ticket sales for this event went towards supporting brainstrust, a charity dedicated to helping individuals diagnosed with brain tumours and their families. brainstrust provides crucial support, information, and guidance during some of the most challenging times.
"We were very pleased to showcase the films featuring Benjamin Zephaniah's poetry created by Director Ben Wigley as part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival this year at Broadway Cinema. When we planned this event, we had not imagined Benjamin Zephaniah would not be with us. However, we felt that we would go ahead and make this a tribute and celebration of friendship between two creative people sharing a passion for stories and allotments," said the Creative Director of Nottingham Poetry Festival.
"As the Creative Director for the Nottingham Poetry Festival, my passion is about community and engaging people, giving them a chance to experience and explore poetry in many different ways. We chose brainstrust because personally, I know they do some fantastic work to help people and their friends and family as they go through the journey of tumour diagnosis."
The event was an evening of reflection, inspiration, and support as attendees celebrated the life and work of Benjamin Zephaniah, and contributed to a worthy cause that makes a difference in the lives of many.
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Editors notes
The statistics on brain tumours:
- More than 80,000 people in the UK are living with a brain tumour diagnosis.
- 40% of all cancers spread to the brain.
- It is the most common form of cancer in people under 40.
About brainstrust:
brainstrust is a UK-based charity dedicated to providing essential support and information to brain tumour patients and their families. With a mission to improve the quality of life for those affected by brain tumours, brainstrust offers a range of services, including emotional support, practical advice and access to expert guidance. By fostering a sense of community and raising awareness, brainstrust strives to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals facing the challenges of brain tumours.
AVAILABLE for comment: Will Jones from brainstrust is available to comment.
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