One Mile Away

TX: TBC

This Michael Powell Award-winning documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Penny Woolcock, charts the attempts by two warring gangs in inner city Birmingham, the Burger Bar Boys (B21) and the Johnson Crew (B6), to bring peace to their neighbourhoods.

One Mile Away was initiated by Shabba, a young man affiliated to the Johnson side who met Penny during her research for 1 Day. He saw her as someone who had built trust on both sides. Penny introduced Shabba to Dylan Duffus – the lead actor in 1 Day and affiliated to the Burger side.

The film follows their painstaking journey over two years to recruit supporters from both sides. Along the way, they get advice from Jonathan Powell, who oversaw the Good Friday Agreement, and the riots erupt in Birmingham in summer 2011, with surprising consequences.

One Mile Away shows how film and the determination of ordinary people can transform entrenched social problems. One Mile Away is now also a developing social enterprise, working with schools to reduce gang culture in the UK.

Penny Woolcock has been directing award-winning documentaries and feature films for 20 years. Her recent work includes 1 Day (2009) about a day in the life of an inner city hustler.

Prod co: Rare Day