New documentary spotlights Brixton’s community in the face of gentrification

A new film, Beyond Brix & Mortar, which chronicles the impact of gentrification in South London neighbourhood Brixton, has been announced. The filmmakers, who describe the documentary as ​“a love letter to Brixton”, are currently crowdfunding to help bring it across the finish line. 

The film spotlights the area’s Black community, the rich cultural history of the area, and the threat they face as development and rising prices threaten to push them out. Beyond Brix & Mortar is currently in post-production, meaning that the bulk of the interviews, filming and editing have been completed. Now, the production team is seeking £30,000 to help cover the costs of ​“final stage edits”, like voiceover and archive licensing for materials like historical photos and film footage. 

The project’s co-directors and executive producer have created a short trailer of the documentary showcasing the progress that’s been made so far. In the campaign video, Brixton-born co-director Daniyal Harris-Vajda says, ​“We’re currently in a period of time where it’s so easy to feel powerless. A story like this one reminds us that actually, if we move collectively, we can create change.”

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Current and former residents of Brixton share their stories in the documentary, having watched gentrification change the fabric of the area. Since the 1980s, property prices in the borough have risen by 1,700% according to research from the filmmakers, while UCL and Trust for London have found 10,000 fewer Black residents were living in low-income, ​‘gentrified’ areas in 2020 compared to 2012 . 

Beyond Brix & Mortar explores the impact on the local area via interviews with local legends including DJ Don Letts, and Race Today Collective founding member Leila Hassan, while looking at Brixton Market in particular. Brixton’s history of activism and culture is also lensed – from the music that has come out of the area, to the food and its sporting stars – as well as political watershed moments including the uprisings of the ​’80s and ​’90s, and the Windrush Scandal.

“Every time I go to Brixton I notice that another black store or another Asian stall has gone and another trendy boutique has replaced it,” says one interviewee in the film’s trailer. When you talk about gentrification, he says, ​“you’re probably talking about moving non-white people out and moving white people in.”

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Co-directors Charlie Rollins and Harris-Vajda, co-producer East St. Studio and executive producer Katherine Nathan – whose production company RATCHET funded the rest of the project – explain that they feel a duty to tell this story, which, at its core, envisions a future where sustainable neighbourhoods are not only necessary, but possible.

“Independent filmmakers document important stories like this when politicians seek to divide us, providing a counterpoint to their narratives,” says Harris-Vajda. ​“The need to document a multi-ethnic, working class community under threat, is vital.”

Watch the trailer for Beyond Brix & Mortar below, and contribute to the film’s crowdfunder.

Sydney Lobe is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Instagram.

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