Events at this location

A young Rastafarian toaster (rapper) aims for success at a Reggae Sound System competition.

While hoping to win a Sound System competition, Blue (Brinsley Forde) looks to fight against the struggles he faces as a Black man in 1980s Britain. Set against the backdrop of a newly-installed Thatcher government, the end of punk and the rise of mod and ska, and featuring a raucous reggae soundtrack, Babylon is a potent mix of music and social realism. Screenwriter Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia) and director Rosso (Dread, Beat and Blood) present an uncompromising look at urban survival on the streets of South London, expertly shot by celebrated cinematographer Chris Menges (The Killing Fields).

Screening as part of Hackney’s Windrush Generations Festival honouring the contributions of the Windrush Generation across Hackney. To complement the film series, renowned photographer David Corio, famous for his iconic images of the jazz, reggae, rock, soul, hip hop, and blues scenes, has curated a special selection of photographs especially for Hackney Picturehouse. These works commemorate the 40th anniversary of the British Reggae Artist Famine Appeal (BRAFA), a landmark event known as Hackney’s own Live Aid in 1986.