Naked Acts (4K UK Premiere)

​​‘I don’t really know a woman who doesn’t hate a part of her body and I kept thinking: what does that mean for us as women, how we see ourselves?’

This was the first question which struck Bridgett M Davis when she embarked on her debut feature. She would end up writing, directing, producing and distributing the movie herself, at a time when Black women’s voices were virtually impossible to find in the cinema. Naked Acts had almost no release in this country back then, and so we’re delighted to present the UK premiere of a new 4K restoration of the film.

The second question which sparked the story was: ‘What if Pam Grier had a daughter who wanted to be an actress?’ Cece (Jake-Ann Jones) is back in her hometown making a low-budget independent movie. As the shoot progresses, she has to confront her feelings about her body image and an already strained relationship with her mother. Thoughtful and lyrical, Naked Acts also offers a dose of mid-90s nostalgia. Although it’s a sad loss that Davis never directed again, her film is enjoying a second life thanks to the work of the Black Film Archive and Milestone Films.