Poet and former Twyford High School student Dean Atta has been awarded the BAFTA for British Short Animation for Two Black Boys in Paradise, an animated short film adaptation of his poetry.
Developed over five years with a dedicated team of more than 100 collaborators, lead by director Baz Sells, producer Ben Jackson, and narrator Jordan Stephens, the film explores the “dreamlike paradise” imagined by two young men seeking sanctuary from systemic marginalisation and homophobia.
Supported by the BFI and Sir Ian McKellen, the project has been widely celebrated for its striking visuals and its rare, vital portrayal of Black queer love and resilience.
During his acceptance speech, Atta reflected on the significance of depicting Black queer lives through a lens other than tragedy, thanking the production team at One6th Animation Studio for their painstaking commitment to his vision.
By contrasting an imagined sanctuary with the harsh realities of scrutiny and societal judgement, the film serves as a powerful testament to the importance of inclusive storytelling.
“As a Black gay man, I rarely get to see myself onscreen in something that isn’t a tragedy, so thank you to our director Baz Sells and our producer Ben Jackson for leading a team of over 100 people for five years to bring my poem to life as a beautiful nine minute stop motion animation.”- Dean Atta
