Molly Dineen is one of Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary documentary filmmakers, known for her intimate and probing portraits of British individuals and institutions, and recipient of numerous accolades, including Bafta, Grierson and RTS awards for documentary. The fourth volume in the BFI DVD series, The Molly Dineen Collection, released on 8 August, contains two films, Being Blacker (2018) and Sound Business (1981). Extras include a Q&A filmed at regional cinemas and interviews with Molly and Blacker Dread.

When Being Blacker was released in cinemas in January 2018, itwas Molly Dineen’s first film in a decade, following on from her acclaimed accounts of subjects as varied as Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell, London Zoo, Angel tube station and the House of Lords. It tells the story of the renowned Brixton record shop owner and music producer Blacker Dread, his extended family, his friends and the wider Brixton community. With unprecedented access granted by her old friend Blacker, Dineen shines a spotlight on the struggles faced by the film’s subjects on a daily basis. It’s about immigration and generational differences; it’s about music and culture; it’s about being Black in Britain in the 1960s and in 2018.

Sound Business was made when Molly Dineen was still a student. This cult documentary follows two British sound systems, the legendary Sir Coxsone Sound System (featuring a young Blacker Dread) and Young Lion, both based in southwest London. Sound Business offers a rare and fascinating insight into the workings of sound systems back in the 1980s, while documenting the history of Black British music.

The Molly Dineen Collection Volume 4: Being Blacker / Sound Business will be released on UK DVD on 8 August 2022 by the BFI at the RRP of £19.99. Being Blacker only will be released on iTunes and Amazon Prime on 22 August 2022.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Being Blacker Q&A (2018, 31 mins): Blacker Dread, Naptali and Molly take a UK road trip and answer audience questions along the way
• Interview with Blacker Dread (2017, 40 mins): Blacker talks about life before and during his 27 years on Sir Coxsone Sound System
• Interview with Blacker Dread and Molly Dineen (2017, 38 mins): Blacker and Molly discuss their friendship and the business of Sound Business
• Interview with Molly Dineen (2017, 27 mins): Molly talks about her early career and how a white woman came to document Black British culture
• Sugar Minott (2010, 11 mins): a short film dedicated to the memory of Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator Sugar Minott for family, friends, fans and all the youths he inspired, by Molly Dineen
• TV trailer (2018)
• First pressing only: Illustrated booklet featuring a Director’s Statement, an essay by the BFI’s Arike Oke, reflections on Sound System by Paul Bradshaw, credits and notes on the special features

Order from the BFI Shop here:
https://shop.bfi.org.uk/molly-dineen-collection-volume-4-being-blacker-sound-business-dvd.htm

BEING BLACKER SCREENING + Q&A WITH MOLLY DINEEN, BLACKER DREAD AND NAPTALI

Tuesday 9 August, NFT3, BFI Southhank, 8.30pm

The DVD release coincides with BFI Southbank’s month-long reggae season, From Jamaica to the World: Reggae on Film. Running from 1-30 August, it celebrates reggae music and culture and explores its relationship to cinema.Being Blacker will be screened as part of the season on Tue 9 August followed by a Q&A with Molly Dineen, Blacker Dread and Naptali.