Timely short tackling gender and cancel culture set to premiere at Raindance

Congratulations to Stern & Wild filmmaker Cherish 'Chez' Oteka whose thought-provoking short film FREE LYRIC will premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London this month. Shout out too to Stern & Wild’s Derren Lawford, one of the film’s Exec Producers.

Directed by BAFTA winner Chez, FREE LYRIC revisits one of rap culture’s earliest viral moments when 17-year-old female rapper Niki was publicly shamed and ‘cancelled’ after a sexual confession spread online. Following Niki’s story as she attempts a comeback, the film explores gender, consent and the early roots of online call-out culture.

FREE LYRIC is nominated for the festival’s Best Documentary Short award. It is produced by Chez and Charlie Phillips in association with Derren’s now shuttered Dare Pictures, Intermission Film and the InMaat Foundation. In addition to Derren, Exec Producers are Charlotte Cook, Rebecca Lichtenfeld and Sam Cryer.

The film debuts at the Vue Piccadilly on Thursday, 18 June at 2.45pm and will also screen at the same venue on Friday, 19 June at 1.00pm. For tickets, click here.