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Manchester Animation Wins Prestigious BAFTA Award
24 Feb
Summary
- Animated film produced in Manchester received a BAFTA.
- The film is based on a poem by Dean Atta.
- It has won 22 international awards since its release.
A Manchester-produced animated film, "Two Black Boys in Paradise," has achieved a significant milestone by winning the 2026 BAFTA Film Award for British Short Animation. The nine-minute stop-motion film, shot in the Cheetham Hill area, centers on Edan and Dula, two young Black boys navigating a journey toward self-acceptance.
Inspired by Dean Atta's poem "There is (still) Love Here," the film tenderly explores complex themes such as race, sexuality, and identity. It addresses homophobia and racism through a hopeful lens, depicting the protagonists' love and refusal to conceal it as they seek a "paradise free from shame and judgement."
Filmmakers Ben Jackson, Baz Sells, and Dean Atta accepted the award in London last Sunday. Producer Ben Jackson described the win as beyond his wildest dreams, emphasizing the immense dedication from the team over five years. "Two Black Boys in Paradise" is a project by One6th Animation, a Manchester-based company founded in 2018. The film has garnered 22 international awards since its release in November 2025.
