ACP-EU cooperation support programme for the ACP cinema and audiovisual sectors (ACP FILMS)
LAWRENCE COKE - Writer/Director
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: In 1997 Lawrence took the plunge and decided to put his efforts into making his own films. This culminated in his first film, ‘MC’, which was loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. This was followed in early 2002 by the award winning short ‘Run Richie Run’ which went on to win best script and people’s choice award in the 23:59 short film competition.
In 2003 this was followed by ‘Melvin: Portrait of a Player’, which went on to win best film and best actress awards in the 5th annual BFM short film competition. Melvin proved very popular with audiences and went on to spawn a sequel ‘Melvin: Still a Player’, which featured a cameo from among others Angie LeMar. Then in 2005, Lawrence and his band of collaborators (Stolen Souls) produced the most successful short to date ‘mOrally Speaking’, which has gone on to win five awards which include best film, best actress and best cinematography at the 7th annual BFM awards, best film at the Buffalo Black and Asian awards, 2nd annual Images of Black Women award.
In 2006 Lawrence made ‘One Day at a Time’ an emotive and personal piece which won best script and best actress awards at the 8th annual BFM awards as went on to win best film at the Birmingham International Film Festival (MVSA). The short film ‘Win, Lose or Draw followed in 2007 which has won 3 best film awards at the Birmingham International Film Festival 2007, the Jamaica international film festival 2007 and the BFM awards in 2008.
Recently Lawrence started work on the much anticipated and long-awaited feature length film based on the award winning short ‘Melvin: Portrait of a Player’. The pre-screener cut of this film has already won the Independent Spirit award at the 2008 Screen Nation Awards.
In addition to film-making, Lawrence is also involved in other creative mediums, having written the first draft of the libretto which the opera ‘Cry of Innocence’ is based on .
ACP LOCATION: United Kingdom
Bio: In 1997 Lawrence took the plunge and decided to put his efforts into making his own films. This culminated in his first film, ‘MC’, which was loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. This was followed in early 2002 by the award winning short ‘Run Richie Run’ which went on to win best script and people’s choice award in the 23:59 short film competition.
In 2003 this was followed by ‘Melvin: Portrait of a Player’, which went on to win best film and best actress awards in the 5th annual BFM short film competition. Melvin proved very popular with audiences and went on to spawn a sequel ‘Melvin: Still a Player’, which featured a cameo from among others Angie LeMar. Then in 2005, Lawrence and his band of collaborators (Stolen Souls) produced the most successful short to date ‘mOrally Speaking’, which has gone on to win five awards which include best film, best actress and best cinematography at the 7th annual BFM awards, best film at the Buffalo Black and Asian awards, 2nd annual Images of Black Women award.
In 2006 Lawrence made ‘One Day at a Time’ an emotive and personal piece which won best script and best actress awards at the 8th annual BFM awards as went on to win best film at the Birmingham International Film Festival (MVSA). The short film ‘Win, Lose or Draw followed in 2007 which has won 3 best film awards at the Birmingham International Film Festival 2007, the Jamaica international film festival 2007 and the BFM awards in 2008.
Recently Lawrence started work on the much anticipated and long-awaited feature length film based on the award winning short ‘Melvin: Portrait of a Player’. The pre-screener cut of this film has already won the Independent Spirit award at the 2008 Screen Nation Awards.
In addition to film-making, Lawrence is also involved in other creative mediums, having written the first draft of the libretto which the opera ‘Cry of Innocence’ is based on .