Michaela Coel On Moshpits And Mentoring The Next Generation Of Filmmakers

Micheala Coel is arguably one of the most important filmmakers of her generation. Back in 2020, her TV show I May Destroy You aired just as the world began to slip into lockdown. Powerful and unsettling, the conversations it started around power and consent would go on to change the TV landscape forever, and cement Coel’s status as a Hollywood power player.

Her story doesn’t stop there. A champion of new voices in cinema, she wants to make sure that previously unshared stories – much like her own – continue making it to the screen.

Which is why she joined the BMW Filmmaking Challenge in partnership with the BFI, as a mentor. The competition tasked five filmmakers with bringing their unique stories to life in just 90 seconds, through their own creative interpretation of the theme 'Evolving Perspectives'.

Last night at the closing of the London Film Festival, the winning film, WE COLLIDE was chosen by a stellar panel of judges including recent ELLE UK cover star, actor Ncuti Gatwa and director Asif Kapadia. The film premiered alongside filmmakerKibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s, The Kitchen.

‘I found myself in Germany, in the middle of a mosh pit, and it was all because of this film,’ says Coel of the winning entry, which is set against the backdrop of the queer punk mosh pit scene. ‘I’d never heard of that kind of space,' she adds. ‘It’s typically kind of like white nationals and skinheads, but it's just bringing everybody into that space. The film really inspired me.’

For Coel, initiatives like these aren’t just about providing valuable opportunities. In today’s economic climate, they are a necessity for emerging filmmakers. ‘I often get calls from young writers who can't seem to get things greenlit, they're in this state of perpetual development with TV executives flirting with them a little bit, but nothing ever comes of it. Things seem really difficult when I talk with young, black and queer writers. It's really tough.’

For the BMW Filmmaking challenge, each team received mentorship from Coel, as well as a £10,000 production budget, access to 8K camera technology and support from BFI Executive Producer, Caragh Davison.

‘I think it helps people carry on. With new filmmakers, often they have stories that are not anywhere in the tapestry of film and television’ she says. ‘Competitions like this are really encouraging. It helps them to know that they are being seen and heard, it motivates them to keep working.’

Michaela Coel with the winning team, Cheri Darbon and Jason Bradbury

Throughout the process, Coel has been mentoring the applicants, offering advice at every stage. 'In this industry, I think the best advice I ever got is to trust my instincts – that's a common thing I’ve been sharing throughout,' she notes.

Another important lesson? ‘Pick your battles. There might be one little thing that you're unhappy with. But to solve this, you kind of have to, like, do a huge upheaval, and knock an entirely beautiful thing down. Sometimes, it was about letting things go.’

For Coel, the mentoring relationship goes both ways. ‘I get to meet people that I would love to work with in some capacity. That's what the challenge did for me. I've now made contacts with young, fresh talent with very unique perspectives and stories to tell that.’

As for the theme, the idea of ‘evolving perspective’ is one that continues to inform her own work. ‘I can't make work without feeling uncomfortable. When you challenge yourself and question yourself, and see things from another angle, that’s when I often arrive at the thought that make me uncomfortable - and the best work.’

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