BUFF Appoints Kelechi Ehenulo as Artistic Director as Festival Moves to May and Launches New Filmmaker Revenue Model
BAFTA-qualifying British Urban Film Festival enters a new era with leadership change, calendar shift and sustainability-focused initiative The British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) has announced the appointment of Kelechi Ehenulo as its new Artistic Director, signalling a major new chapter for the BAFTA-qualifying event as it prepares to enter its third decade. For the first […]
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BAFTA-qualifying British Urban Film Festival enters a new era with leadership change, calendar shift and sustainability-focused initiative
The British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) has announced the appointment of Kelechi Ehenulo as its new Artistic Director, signalling a major new chapter for the BAFTA-qualifying event as it prepares to enter its third decade.
For the first time in its history, BUFF will move from its traditional October slot to a spring showcase, taking place from 4–9 May 2026 at Genesis Cinema in Mile End, London. The calendar shift is designed to enhance the festival’s cultural visibility, deepen industry engagement and align more closely with the wider film and awards calendar.
Ehenulo joins BUFF with extensive experience as both a critic and producer. Her work has appeared in Empire Magazine, Digital Spy, GamesRadar, Movie Marker, Film Stories and The Daily Mirror, among others. She has covered major UK festivals including London, Glasgow and Manchester, and has previously served as an awards juror for both BUFF and the Grierson Awards.
She is a member of the London Critics’ Circle, the UK Film Critics Association, the Black Film Critics Circle, the Online Association of Female Film Critics, the International Film Society Critics Association and Rotten Tomatoes. Her producing credits include The ReStore (ITV), The Dating Pool (Channel 4) and The Sickle Cell Diaries News Report (Channel 4 News) for Renaissance Studios.
“I’m delighted to become BUFF’s Artistic Director for their 2026 season,” Ehenulo said. “Film has always been a passionate love for me, and this role presents an exciting opportunity to usher in the next generation of filmmakers from our community. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead and the stories that will shape and inspire us.”
A New Model Supporting Filmmaker Sustainability
Alongside its leadership announcement, BUFF has also unveiled a new box office revenue-sharing and post-festival reporting initiative aimed at strengthening long-term filmmaker sustainability.
From 2026, selected feature films screening in person at the festival will receive 70% of the net box office revenue after the cinema split, with the remaining balance retained by BUFF to support festival operations.
Participating filmmakers will also receive a guaranteed post-festival sales report, providing verified ticket sales figures and detailed audience performance data. The report is designed to support future distribution, funding and exhibition opportunities by offering clear and credible evidence of audience demand.
The initiative reflects BUFF’s ongoing commitment to transparency, creative sustainability and long-term career development for underrepresented filmmakers.
Further announcements relating to the 2026 programme are expected in the coming months.
