Colonial Gods

A gritty, realistic and poignant short drama about the challenges facing a changing community represented by Abdi and Izi’s two very different responses to a world of place and people in transition.

Genre: Drama

Location / Story: Butetown, Cardiff Bay
Production Company: Iris Productions

Written and Directed by: Dee Rees
Produced by: Nekisa Cooper
Cinematography: Bradford Young
Cast: Said Mohammed, Cornell John

Length: 29 minutes
Language: English, Hausa, Somali
Certificate: Uncertified
Format: VOD

Date: 2009

• October 2009: Iris Prize Festival, Cardiff, Wales (World Premiere)
• March 2010: London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, UK
• March 2010: Fusion, Outfest, LA, US
• June 2010: Palm Springs Shortfest, US
• October 2010: Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, US
• May 2011: Toronto LGBT Film Festival, Canada

‘Colonial Gods, written and directed by Dee Rees, was the first Iris Production made with a winner of the Iris Prize, in 2009. It was no surprise for those who remember her multi award-winning short Pariah, which won the first Iris Prize in 2007, that Dee Rees was nominated for an Oscar ten years later. Following a meeting with Team Iris at Sundance 2008, Dee returned to Cardiff in October to sit on the Iris Prize International Jury. During her stay in Cardiff, Dee was able to reach out to community members in Cardiff Bay and the story of Colonial Gods started taking shape…’