Eastleigh Film Festival will have one of the first screenings in the country of Dear White People

Eastleigh Film Festival will have one of the first screenings in the country of ‘Dear White People’ on September 23.

The film based on American race relations sees Tessa Thompson star as a black film production major who causes a stir by criticising racist practises at her American university – the fictional Winchester University.

Her witty radio show Dear White People is the catalyst for much of the satire in the film; questioning perceptions of race and culture through a darkly comic lens.

Director of The New Black Film Collective, which secured the UK distribution rights to the film, Priscilla Igwe will be at the Eastleigh Film Festival.

Priscilla had to go head-to-head with industry chiefs, who decided against distributing the award-winning movie in the UK, despite its commercial and critical success in the states.

She managed to secure the UK rights with a crowdfunding scheme, and later got support from the British Film Industry (BFI).

Priscilla said: “This film is not bashing white people. It is holding up a mirror to intolerance between races, gender, sexual orientation and class."

It will be at The Point in Eastleigh at 7pm. Tickets are £8 and can be booked via the website eastleighfilmfestival.com or by calling the box office on 02380 652333.