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The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

Marvin Rees wants to run for mayor. Does it matter that he’s black or from the 'wrong' side of town?

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The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

The Mayor's Race - Documentary Film

Marvin Rees wants to run for mayor. Does it matter that he’s black or from the 'wrong' side of town?

Marvin Rees wants to run for mayor. Does it matter that he’s black or from the 'wrong' side of town?

Marvin Rees wants to run for mayor. Does it matter that he’s black or from the 'wrong' side of town?

Marvin Rees wants to run for mayor. Does it matter that he’s black or from the 'wrong' side of town?

Loraine Blumenthal
Loraine Blumenthal
Loraine Blumenthal
Loraine Blumenthal
1 Campaign |
Bristol/ Berlin, Germany
$12,263 USD $12,263 USD 83 backers
78% of $15,576 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Overview
Marvin Rees is a 'mixed race' man in his 40's. Having experienced poverty and racism in his life, he wants to shape the society he lives in and believes political office will give him the power to do so. In 2012 he runs for mayor in Bristol, UK. The journey into politics hits him with rejection, failure and an inner struggle that eventually leads to the biggest challenge of his life. THE MAYOR'S RACE is about the desire to overcome doubt and the boundaries between social background and power.

WHY THIS FILM?
THE MAYOR'S RACE is about one person’s desire to break the chains of his own background and  step forward against the odds.  It’s also about a city eager to write a different future in the shadow of a notorious past. 

THE MAYOR'S RACE is about how people with different ethnic and social backgrounds wish to participate - politically, socially and economically.  It is about the hopes and dreams of a new generation of Europeans. Still, these dreams are threatened by the rise in 'far-right' ideas, fear of migrants, Muslims, hatred of Otherness and the crushing impact of poverty.  It shows the search for new leaders in a world that feels fragile and insecure these days. 

The film also shows how the scars of racism take time to heal, with this inner battle being played out on a public battleground - in a city that has its own racial sensitivities. 

In 2016 London elects a Muslim mayor in an Islam-fearing world and Bristol elects an African-heritage man in a former slaving port. To some in our ‘post-race’ world these personal identities mean nothing, to others it means a lot.

We also hope that THE MAYOR'S RACE might encourage people who feel excluded by their society, to face to their doubt and learn to take an active part in the social processes that shape their own lives.
 

WHO ARE THE FILMMAKERS?

Loraine Blumenthal

I'm a documentary filmmaker from Berlin and I have always been very interested in the black power movement in the United States. To find out that something similar was going on in the UK came as a surprise to me.

I was excited to find out about the remarkable achievements of Paul Stephenson and a group of black activists who led the civil rights movement in Bristol. Then I found out about Marvin Rees' ambition to shape this city, through politics and I knew this needed to become a documentary film. 

Rob Mitchell

I am a Creative Media Producer who studied Drama in Bristol and then used media mainly as a tool for engaging people and communities, often with the aims of learning and civic participation.  Co-founder of Firstborn Creatives with Shawn Sobers and former of director Black Pyramid Film and Video Project, a lot of my work has looked at issues of representation, history and belonging.

I met Loraine while working on a community project, inspired by the Bristol Bus Boycott story. After discussing the idea of making a film, we agreed that the 1963 story could be brought up to date if we centred it on this fellow, with Jamaican heritage, who is thinking of running for Mayor one generation later.

 

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The main point of our Crowdfunding campaign is to raise the money and help with the last push to complete the film and get it out there. This goes toward, final editing, colouring and mixing, clearance for archives and music, festival entries and getting it into distribution.

So donations to this campaign, using this site will be of immense help to that goal. The beauty of the ‘Crowd’ is that many small donations can make a big difference, so please have a look at the perks and donations pages to see how you can contribute according to affordability. 

Of course not everyone has money to give away so easily and we're well aware of that. 
So, the other part is to make as many people as possible aware or our film and the goals of this campaign.

We only have 30 days from the start so please SHARE SHARE SHARE, LIKE LIKE LIKE and all that. If you think of people, groups, organisations or networks who would be particularly interested please direct your shares accordingly.

We would also like to hear about any recommendations about how we can reach our funding  goals for this campaign, so if a share or like simply won’t do it, please get in touch.

NOTES ON PERKS

1) Big thanks to Richard Jones and Tangent Books for partnering this campaign and making work available from this excellent publishing house, with a specialist interest in the city of Bristol.

2) Streaming Links and Collectors' DVD items will be available as pre-releases and therefore in advance of general release.  However, the actual dates announced here may change, subject to any deals struck with distributors that affect 'release windows'. 

 We look forward to staying in touch with you as backers and keeping you up to date with developments in due course. 

Thank you again for your interest and attention at this point. There are many people to thank for helping us to this stage including the Rosa Luxembourg foundation for some valuable funding. We look forward to sharing the completed film with you all at the next stage.

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Choose your Perk

We say THANK YOU!

Currency Conversion $10 USD
€10 EUR
A big THANK YOU to you. We are forever grateful!!
Included Items
  • A big THANK YOU
5 claimed

THANK YOU on Film Credits

Currency Conversion $26 USD
€25 EUR
See your name in our THANK YOU credits in the film. Your donation is very much appreciated.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
12 claimed

Watch THE MAYOR'S RACE online

Currency Conversion $36 USD
€35 EUR
Sit back relax and watch THE MAYOR'S RACE online. Find a postcard in your letter box with the original design of Marvin's campaign poster from 2016. And of course a big thank you on the big screen.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
3 claimed

Discover Bristol's Slave Trade

Currency Conversion $52 USD
€50 EUR
Get to know more about the slave trade history of city with a digital form of "Myths, Facts and Feelings" on its dark heritage. On top, watch THE MAYOR'S RACE online and get everything from above.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
8 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Watch THE MAYOR'S RACE on DVD

Currency Conversion $104 USD
€100 EUR
Sit back, relax and watch THE MAYOR'S RACE on a shiny DVD and get all the perks from above. Enjoy!
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
3 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Memoirs of a Black Englishman

Currency Conversion $156 USD
€150 EUR
You want to find out more about Marvin's mentor and iconic civil rights campaigner Paul Stephenson? Here you get his autobiography "Memoirs of a Black Englishman" also covering the Bristol Bus Boycott and his friendship with Muhammed Ali. Of course all the perks from above are yours, too.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
1 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Art and Sound of Bristol

Currency Conversion $208 USD
€200 EUR
You want to be taken right back to Bristol's 80s when Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead were still underground? Get the classic book "The Art & Sound of Bristol's underground" OR choose "Memoires of a Black Englishman" Of course you still get everything above.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • The Art & Sound of Bristol
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
0 claimed
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Banksy's Bristol

Currency Conversion $363 USD
€350 EUR
In Bristol you find street art like nowhere else and its most prominent figure is Banksy himself. Choose two books from "Banksy's Bristol: Home sweet Home" (and dive into the world of this anonymous artist who's work is literally EVERYWHERE in the world.), "Memoirs of a Black Englishman" and "The Art & Sound of Bristol's underground.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Banksy: Home sweet Home
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • The Art & Sound of Bristol
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
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February 2018
0 claimed
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Talk to the Mayor himself

Currency Conversion $519 USD
€500 EUR
You want to talk to Marvin yourself? Yes, you can. Get a Skype chat with the mayor and ask all the pressing questions you have or simply talk about your day. Choose two books from "Banksy's Bristol: Home sweet Home", "Memoirs of a Black Englishman" and "The Art & Sound of Bristol's underground. The rest from above is yours, too.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Banksy: Home sweet Home
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • The Art & Sound of Bristol
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Skype with Marvin
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
0 out of 5 of claimed

Film premiere in Bristol

Currency Conversion $1,038 USD
€1,000 EUR
You want to join us for the Filmpremiere in Bristol. Be our guest. We are looking forward to see you. Choose two books from "Banksy's Bristol: Home sweet Home", "Memoirs of a Black Englishman" and "The Art & Sound of Bristol's underground. The rest from above is yours, too.
Included Items
  • THANK YOU on Film Credits
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Banksy: Home sweet Home
  • Film Premiere in Bristol
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • The Art & Sound of Bristol
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
1 out of 7 of claimed
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Associate Producer

Currency Conversion $2,077 USD
€2,000 EUR
The THANK YOU credits are not good enough for you? Get the highest perk possible: An Associate Producer credit and enjoy the Film Premiere with us. Also, choose two books from "Banksy's Bristol: Home sweet Home", "Memoirs of a Black Englishman" and "The Art & Sound of Bristol's underground. The rest from above is yours, too.
Included Items
  • Marvin4Mayor Postcard
  • Banksy: Home sweet Home
  • Film Premiere in Bristol
  • Myths, Facts & Feelings
  • Streaming Link THE MAYORS RACE
  • The Art & Sound of Bristol
  • THE MAYOR'S RACE DVD
  • Associate Producer credit
  • Memoirs of a Black Englishman
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
1 out of 4 of claimed
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