Ariadne’s Notes:  The World Poetry Cafe radio show  CFRO, 100.5 FM at 1:35 pm PST, December 5th welcomed the talented director Tomisin Adepeju, calling in from the UK.  He is the writer and director of I Am Joseph now on Four8’s Youtube channel.

It was a fascinating interview about bringing the histories of the past to life in a modern format.  He is indeed a talented director that puts his creativity into the series. Also, the cast is exceptional. I found the dilemma of Joseph to be very powerful as he seeks to process and work through the information he has received. We were lucky to fit him in at the last minute.

Tomisin is a 2018 Edinburgh Talent Lab alumni and graduate of the MA Directing course at Met Film School, Ealing Studios. His multi-award-winning shorts, The Good Son & Marianne, have been selected at over 100 international film festivals including Oscar-Qualifying Urbanworld Film Festival, the 25th New York African Film Festival, Smalls Film Festival & Triforce Film Festival. His work has also screened at several prestigious institutions, including Cinematheque Suisse, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Film Society of Lincoln Center, the British Film Institute & BAFTA.

His short film, The Right Choice had its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and was also selected to screen as part of Sundance London in June. The film recently screened at the Oscar-qualifying; Pan African Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and HollyShorts Film Festival. His latest short,  Appreciation, was selected to screen at BFI London Film Festival 2019 and he was one of 12 filmmakers selected for the BFI Network @ LFF development programme in 2019.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE!

Also featured on the show were the well-known poet Bernice Lever, Canada and Peaceathon E-poets Mahmood Jan, Afghanistan, Honey Novick Canada, Maki Starfield will be read next week. A lovely note of poetic thanks from Laura Tohe, Poet Laureate of the Navaho Nation, (https://www.lauratohe.com/)was received and read.  Hosts: Ariadne Sawyer and Diego Bastinutti with super tech Victor Schwartzman.

I Am Joseph is the debut short feature film from Four8, that tells the powerful and moving story about one man’s struggle to come to terms with a truth that will change the course of his life. The world premiere on December 5th is the first in a series of films focused on elevating diverse, up-and-coming talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Starring Michael Akinsulire (Killing Eve, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) plays Joseph, a businessman set to marry his beloved Mary, portrayed by BBC New Talent Hotlist’s Asmara Gabrielle (Finding Fatima). When Mary reveals she is pregnant but her soon to be husband is not the father, their quiet rural life is transformed by her claim to who the father is, forcing Joseph to come to terms with this shocking revelation. He grapples with his faith and the impact this news will have on the rest of his life.

I Am Joseph is the latest feature from one of the UK’s most exciting writers and directors, Tomisin Adepeju (The Good Son, The Right Choice). One to watch, his films have been selected by more than 100 film festivals around the world including Sundance and Urbanworld and have been invited to screen at several prestigious institutions internationally including Cinémathèque Suisse, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Film Society of Lincoln Center and The British Film Institute.

Adepeju was excited to tackle this story and bring it new life. “Joseph is a largely forgotten character in the nativity story, he is seldom mentioned or referenced in any profound or significant way, despite being the earthly father of Jesus. Thus, to make a film entirely centred on him, exploring perhaps one of the most difficult and challenging moments of his life was what interested me in making this film. We really wanted to humanize Joseph and make him a relatable character,” says Adepeju.

It also stars stage and screen actor DK Ugonna (Tales Retold, Take on Me) who plays David, and BAFTA-nominated, Miles Ridgway as the cinematographer. The series was created and produced by Stephané Alexandre, with Emmy and BAFTA award-winner Matthew Barrett and Vikki McLachlan serving as executive producers.

I Am Joseph is the first film from the ‘I Am Series’; a series of films that reintroduces biblical characters in timeless settings, expanding on their individual journeys and humanizing their experiences. The film combines emotive and thoughtful storytelling with complex characters, to reinterpret one of the Bible’s most remarkable stories in a way rarely seen on screen. With a brilliant cast and team of emerging creators, I Am Joseph brings a classic story to life for a new generation.

I Am Joseph feature film premieres on December 5th, 2019 on Four8’s Youtube channel.

 New Talent Hotlist’s Asmara Gabrielle (Finding Fatima). When Mary reveals she is pregnant but her soon to be husband is not the father, their quiet rural life is transformed by her claim to who the father is, forcing Joseph to come to terms with this shocking revelation. He grapples with his faith and the impact this news will have on the rest of his life.

 I Am Joseph is the latest feature from one of the UK’s most exciting writers and directors, Tomisin Adepeju (The Good Son, The Right Choice). One to watch, his films have been selected by more than 100 film festivals around the world including Sundance and Urbanworld and have been invited to screen at several prestigious institutions internationally including Cinémathèque Suisse, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Film Society of Lincoln Center and The British Film Institute.

Adepeju was excited to tackle this story and bring it new life. “Joseph is a largely forgotten character in the nativity story, he is seldom mentioned or referenced in any profound or significant way, despite being the earthly father of Jesus. Thus, to make a film entirely centred on him, exploring perhaps one of the most difficult and challenging moments of his life was what interested me in making this film. We really wanted to humanize Joseph and make him a relatable character,” says Adepeju.

It also stars stage and screen actor DK Ugonna (Tales Retold, Take on Me) who plays David, and BAFTA-nominated, Miles Ridgway as the cinematographer. The series was created and produced by Stephané Alexandre, with Emmy and BAFTA award-winner Matthew Barrett and Vikki McLachlan serving as executive producers.

I Am Joseph is the first film from the ‘I Am Series’; a series of films that reintroduces biblical characters in timeless settings, expanding on their individual journeys and humanizing their experiences. The film combines emotive and thoughtful storytelling with complex characters, to reinterpret one of the Bible’s most remarkable stories in a way rarely seen on screen. With a brilliant cast and team of emerging creators, I Am Joseph brings a classic story to life for a new generation.

 I Am Joseph feature film premieres on December 5th, 2019 on Four8’s Youtube channel.  

*Source and thanks to Nicola Pender for her exceptional help.