ACP-EU cooperation support programme for the ACP cinema and audiovisual sectors (ACP FILMS)
KOLTON LEE - Writer/Director
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: Born in London, he was an international basketball player before an injury cut short his career. After graduating in English Literature from London University he entered journalism as a sports writer, moving up the ranks to become Editor of the THE VOICE, the UK’s biggest black newspaper, and the first black News Editor of a national tabloid, THE NEWS ON SUNDAY.
After a short stint at the BBC, he went on to study at the National Film School before making his mark writing scripts for the top-rating soap opera EASTENDERS, and the drama series BYKER GROVE and BROTHERS & SISTERS, as well as several feature film and TV commissions.
Working with Lenny Henry’s Crucial Films, he wrote and directed the short films A CHANCE TO DANCE, PHOENIX, THE ARRIVAL OF BRIGHTEYE and SERPENT’S TOOTH. After a brief period in the US, where he wrote and directed the cult short film AMERICAN MOD (which features the last ever screen performance of gay icon Quentin Crisp) and several plays, he returned to the UK to set up his own production company, Prophet Pictures. Through Prophet Kolton made his feature debut CHERPS, a multi award-winning indie comedy hailed by Variety as “a lively new spin for black British cinema”. CHERPS went on to become the first ever independently financed black, British film to be bought by the BBC. It played as part of the BBC’s British film season in the summer/autumn of 2007.
In 2007 Kolton had his first novel published, the crime fiction, THE LAST CARD. This is the first in a two book deal with publishing company, Maia Press.
Kolton has since completed the hard hitting short film BLOOD, picked up for distribution by MTV north America, and his second feature film, FREESTYLE. This is a teen movie, an urban romance set in the world of street basketball. It is being distributed by Revolver Entertainment and is scheduled to hit the cinemas in February 2010. .
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: Born in London, he was an international basketball player before an injury cut short his career. After graduating in English Literature from London University he entered journalism as a sports writer, moving up the ranks to become Editor of the THE VOICE, the UK’s biggest black newspaper, and the first black News Editor of a national tabloid, THE NEWS ON SUNDAY.
After a short stint at the BBC, he went on to study at the National Film School before making his mark writing scripts for the top-rating soap opera EASTENDERS, and the drama series BYKER GROVE and BROTHERS & SISTERS, as well as several feature film and TV commissions.
Working with Lenny Henry’s Crucial Films, he wrote and directed the short films A CHANCE TO DANCE, PHOENIX, THE ARRIVAL OF BRIGHTEYE and SERPENT’S TOOTH. After a brief period in the US, where he wrote and directed the cult short film AMERICAN MOD (which features the last ever screen performance of gay icon Quentin Crisp) and several plays, he returned to the UK to set up his own production company, Prophet Pictures. Through Prophet Kolton made his feature debut CHERPS, a multi award-winning indie comedy hailed by Variety as “a lively new spin for black British cinema”. CHERPS went on to become the first ever independently financed black, British film to be bought by the BBC. It played as part of the BBC’s British film season in the summer/autumn of 2007.
In 2007 Kolton had his first novel published, the crime fiction, THE LAST CARD. This is the first in a two book deal with publishing company, Maia Press.
Kolton has since completed the hard hitting short film BLOOD, picked up for distribution by MTV north America, and his second feature film, FREESTYLE. This is a teen movie, an urban romance set in the world of street basketball. It is being distributed by Revolver Entertainment and is scheduled to hit the cinemas in February 2010. .