"Shoot The Messenger" is a reflection of the ongoing debates within the black community, questioning some of the things that black communities tell themselves and their children. Like a fable, this film depicts the story of Joe, who is a teacher with a mission. He's determined to save the black youngsters at his school from a life of gangs, crime and underachievement - whether they like it or not. But when a seemingly minor incident rapidly escalates out of control and he loses his job, he turns against his own community. He quickly descends into madness and hits rock bottom, before realizing he has a lot to learn about love, understanding and a different way of seeing his world. This controversial film was the winner of the Dennis Potter Screenwriting Award, in addition, to two BAFTA TV Awards. A highly provocative comedy about a young man's feelings on what it's like to be a person of color. Shocking, disturbing and funny this film throws a spotlight on racial attitudes in our work in a way that is anything but politically correct… A staling and comic look at an extremely controversial subject. To "shoot the messenger" means to blame the person who comes with news that while bad, is also true. In Ngozi Onwurah's film, the bad news is about the relationships between black people in the western world and it is delivered by Joe, a teacher with a mission. After losing his job because a group of students lie to the administration about his use of authority in the classroom, Joe finds himself the target of a community-led attack on his professional practices. Isolated and surrounded by family and friends who are more concerned about public perception than truth, Joe descends into clinical depression. Through a series of serendipitous meetings and encounters, Joe finds his way back into the world. Ngozi Onwurah, Nigeria/UK, 2006, 100m Written by Sharon Foster. Photographed by David Katznelson. With David Oyelowo, Nikki Amuka Bird, Charles Mnene, Jay Byrd. (100 mins, Color, Beta SP) FESTIVALS / AWARDS Shoot the Messenger is the latest winner of the Dennis Potter Screenwriting Award, as well as two BAFTA TV Awards. 2009 | African Film Festival - BAM-PAF (University of California, Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive) | BERKELEY, Ca, United States | January 25, 2009 - February 22, 2009 | www.bampfa.berkeley.edu * Selected 2008 | 15th New York African Film Festival | NEW YORK, Usa | APRIL 9th to MAY 26th | www.africanfilmny.org | > Selection