Ruka Johnson* selected the director and writer Dionne Edwards:

I first worked with Dionne a couple of years ago when she was directing a short called Hi, Miss - I just really admired how vibrant and bright and dynamic she wanted to make it. Young black people are really starved of on screen representation and she is actively changing that. With Hi, Miss she really created a soft, hyper-real colourful bubble for the two main characters. She treated the young black people on screen with kindness, care and humour, which is a privilege they're not usually afforded - and I admire her for using her platform to do that.

Young black people are really starved of on screen representation and she is actively changing that.

I just recently worked with her again on her latest short We Love Moses which was an amazing experience! As soon as I read her script I was desperate to be involved & to help translate the characters' feelings & decisions through the costumes and clothing. It's a really beautiful and delicate story dealing with adolescence & sexuality, to me personally it's a very important "coming of age" narrative and one in which communites of colour are underrepresented. I also think Dionne's got a great eye for lighting and for mise en scene, every detail is considered. It's great working with a director like that - I also feel like at this point because we've worked together before, she trusts my judgement and so it's a dream to not feel restricted in terms of my creativity. I'm really excited to see how well We Love Moses does, there were a couple of shots that really took my breath away during the screening - I can't wait for other people to be able to see it as well.

*Photo of Ruka by Juno Calypso

Films by Dionne Edwards:

(L-R: We Love Moses, hi, miss!, We Love Moses)