With live performance by poets from the film and Q&A with the film makers.
Cinematic, honest and deeply personal, We Are Poets is a testament to the power of creativity, community and the dynamism of young people. Anyone tempted to dismiss today’s youth as politically apathetic better pay heed: here is electrifying evidence to the contrary.
It might be the age of Facebook and Twitter, but a group of Leeds teenagers have chosen to define themselves through one of the most ancient forms of culture out there: the spoken poem. These aren’t any old poems, but anguished, witty full-throated diatribes, voicing the concerns of a generation of multi-ethnic British teenagers. Brave New Voices, the most prestigious poetry slam competition in America, chose Leeds Young Authors to represent the UK at their competition in Washington DC. Sheffield-based filmmakers Alex Ramseyer-Bache and Daniel Lucchesi follow the group as they prepare for a transformational journey of a lifetime. With a mix of cinematically crafted lyrical sequences with raw, intimate documentary, We Are Poets challenges our understanding of youth by giving them the stage, allowing them the chance to speak for themselves.
There’s no trailer up for this, but a snippet from a recent Q&A with the directors at the BFI gives you some idea of the passion this documentary incites!
