A black movie producer who clashed with Matt Damon over the lack of diversity within the industry is coming to London to encourage female and ethnic minority film-makers.
Damon apologised after telling Effie Brown that diversity behind the camera was not an issue on HBO’s reality show Project Greenlight in September last year.
The incident, which was much discussed in the US, took place before the Oscars race row again put the spotlight on discrimination and the difficulties faced by marginalised groups. Brown, who produced the award-winning satire Dear White People, said the film industry risked losing talent to TV and streaming services unless it embraced change.
She said: “The ball is not entirely in the other court. We can do something. It’s about empowerment, getting over the mindset we have to ask permission. We can invest, hire, mentor women and people of colour. The biggest obstacle is finance. Independent film-makers are adaptable and nimble, always looking out for the next thing on the horizon.”
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Brown, who advises the Oscars on how to promote equality, will take part in a BFI-backed diversity event on Saturday at Picturehouse Central as part of Sundance Film Festival London, which runs from today until Sunday.
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