British Urban Film Festival to be held at London’s iconic BT Tower

The British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) has announced a partnership with leading telecommunications provider BT, a deal that will see its annual showpiece event held at the BT Tower in London. The sponsorship comes a year after the British Urban Film Festival came top in a global list of diverse film festivals to attend, to begin this September. BT will host every film festival event, including the BUFF Awards ceremony. “There’s nothing quite like going to the cinema to experience film, though we can now safely say that come September there will be nothing quite like going to the BT Tower to experience film. The BT British Urban Film Festival will enable BT to showcase the breadth of great creative talent from the leading film festival for diversity in the world”, commented Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, BUFF founder and CEO. BT Tower is an iconic landmark of London’s skyline, situated close to the London Eye. Traditionally it is off limits to members of the public, but from September they’ll have the opportunity to attend – and view a selection of films – for as little as £15. “We are delighted to be working with the British Urban Film Festival. It is leading the way in celebrating diversity in film, and as the UK’s fastest growing TV platform, this is a great festival we are proud to support. Our famous BT Tower, which has long been a part of TV broadcasting in the UK, will be the home of BUFF, and will allow film fans to enjoy the movies and experience the unique views across London”, adds Tony Singh, business affairs and business development director at BT TV. The British Urban Film Festival has been dubbed the leading film festival for diversity, attracting a large audience of BAME (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) filmmakers. Held annually in the United Kingdom, it has showcased more than 500 films since it began, with a selection having gone on to be broadcast on the BBC’s iPlayer, Channel 4, Community Channel and London Live. For additional information on the British Urban Film Festival, head over to the official website here; tickets are not currently available for purchase, but will be closer in time to the event.

Partnership and Venue Details

The 2017 partnership placed screenings inside the BT Tower from 6 to 12 September. That single run marked the only time the festival used the tower as its main venue. Subsequent editions returned to more conventional cinema spaces such as Genesis Cinema in east London.

Festival Background and Reach

By the close of the 2017 season the festival had already presented more than 500 titles. Films from later editions have qualified for BIFA consideration and have continued to appear on established British broadcast and streaming platforms.

Quotes and Leadership

The 2017 statements from Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe and Tony Singh remain on record as period commentary. Anyiam-Osigwe stepped down as festival director in 2021 yet stays active through BUFF Studios.

Recent Festival Innovations

For the 2026 program the festival introduced a revenue-sharing arrangement that covered seven selected features. A broader revenue participation model is scheduled to launch across the 2027 lineup, giving filmmakers a direct stake in ticket income from in-person screenings.

Industry Recognition and Qualifications

As of 2025, BUFF sits among sixty festivals worldwide whose selections confer BIFA eligibility. Forty-eight of those qualifying festivals are based in Britain, placing BUFF inside an established network of recognized events.

Leadership Evolution

Justin Chinyere took over day-to-day direction after Anyiam-Osigwe’s departure in 2021. The transition preserved the festival’s founding focus while bringing fresh operational oversight.

Milestone Anniversaries and Events

The BUFF Awards ceremony on 24 October 2025 served as the centerpiece of the festival’s twentieth-anniversary celebrations. Programming has continued without interruption, with the 2026 edition already under way.

The BT Tower partnership therefore stands as a notable but finite chapter in the festival’s longer history. BUFF has since expanded its reach, updated its filmmaker support structures, and secured formal industry recognition while maintaining its original commitment to diverse urban storytelling.