On Sunday 16th June, the Nottingham Poetry Festival hosted a remarkable evening of poetic tribute and solidarity, all in support of brainstrust.

The event was a heartfelt celebration of the life and legacy of Benjamin Zephaniah, bringing together local poets, filmmakers, and a community united by a shared cause.

 

 

Poetic Tributes to Benjamin Zephaniah

An afternoon of film screenings and live poetry in tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah, who had profound influence on poetry and social justice. The local poets Chris Oliver, Hilário Alves, Cae Capurro and Frances Wilson-Morkeh, echoed Zephaniah’s spirit, through their own words, celebrating his contributions to literature and his advocacy for change.
Late last year, we lost the brilliant British poet Benjamin Zephaniah – this summer, Nottingham Poetry Festival is paid a tribute to him, with a series of films by local filmmaker Ben Wigley featuring poetry by Benjamin Zephaniah, including documentary feature Paa Joe & the Lion (72m), alongside short films PS Your Mystery Sender (10m) and In this World (4m).
The films and poetry sharing were followed by a Q&A with director Ben Wigley and producer Anna Griffin, about their experience collaborating with the poet.
Supporting brainstrust

The event was not just a celebration of art and poetry but also a significant fundraising effort for brainstrust. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and supporters, the event raised £632.00 for the charity. These funds will go directly towards providing essential support and resources for those affected by brain tumours, helping to improve their quality of life and offering hope during challenging times.

A Community United

 The Nottingham Poetry Festival fundraising event was a testament to the power of community and the enduring impact of Benjamin Zephaniah’s legacy. Attendees left inspired, not only by the poetry and films but also by the collective commitment to supporting brainstrust’s vital work.

Nottingham Poetry Festival was pleased to work with Benjamin Wigley and all at Broadway to bring this event to our festival, highlighting the brilliant poet Benjamin Zephaniah through these captivating films and raising awareness of the brainstrust.  Through this collaboration, we managed to raise £632 for a good cause. – Alma Solarte-Tobon, Creative Director, Nottingham Poetry Festival

 This was a project that was a very inspiring and meaningful experience for everyone involved and even more important to be able to raise money and awareness for the brainstrust. – Benjamin Wigley, Filmmaker and Director, Art Docs

We feel privileged to have hosted such a special event, honouring the incredible life and legacy of Benjamin Zephaniah. Raising money to support the work of brainstrust made the occasion even more meaningful and we are proud Broadway was able to contribute to making it happen.– Lucy Askew, Chief Executive, Broadway

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended, participated, and contributed to making this event a success. Your support is invaluable and helps us continue our mission of providing critical support to brain tumour patients and their families.