The first trailer for Mangrove, part of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe film series, has been released ahead of the film’s launch on BBC One in the UK on Sunday, August 9.

It marks the 50th anniversary of the Mangrove protests, which saw 150 protestors of West Indian, African, and South Asian heritage in Notting Hill, west London march to local police stations in protest of police harassment in their communities.

Nine protestors were arrested and charged with incitement to riot, with the group later becoming known as the Mangrove 9.

The film tells the story of their protest and subsequent trial, which was the first judicial acknowledgment of behaviour motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.

It was one of 56 titles selected for the Cannes 2020 Official Selection in June, alongside Lovers Rock, another part of the Small Axe series, which will open the New York Film Festival in September.

Screen Stars of Tomorrow Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Nathaniel Martello-White, and Jack Lowden lead the cast of Mangrove alongside Rochenda Sandall, Sam Spruell, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Richie Campbell, Jumayn Hunter, and Gary Beadle.

“[Mangrove] was a march necessitated by relentless police brutality in Notting Hill,” said McQueen. “I am sharing the trailer to commemorate the bravery of these community activists and the nine who went on to be acquitted of incitement to riot with the judge citing ‘evidence of racial hatred’.”

The film was co-written by McQueen and Alastair Siddons; with the whole Small Axe series produced by Mike Elliot for EMU Films with Turbine and Anita Overland.

BBC Studios is handling global television sales on the series, which will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer this autumn, and on Amazon Prime Video in the US.

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