Power to Change
Real stories of Londoners,
from loss and violence to resilience and hope.
Power to Change
In a time where youth violence is on the rise across the country, and with the poverty gap only increasing, Power to Change is a unique film that looks at the simplest solution: the innate goodness of a human being, who will make the right choices given the tools and encouragement to do so.
Sometimes all it takes is one person, one act, one choice, to change the trajectory of a lifetime.
The film tells the stories of several people: Lorraine a grieving mother who lost her son to knife-crime as he saved another boy; Gerald, founder of Impact Brixton, who learned to navigate one of London’s most dangerous areas after emigrating from Ghana as a child; Errol a repeat offender with 74 previous convictions; and Nate a former gang-member who was brutally stabbed by a childhood friend. The stories are woven together by Kaysen, a teacher, who passionately believes in supporting young people.
Adding a unique perspective to this mix we hear from author and peace-educator Prem Rawat whose work in prisons in the UK and around the world has had a remarkable impact.
Power to change was crowdfunded by the community and came together with the support and collaboration of many.
More information:
IMDB entry: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19862408/
Film Freeway: https://filmfreeway.com/PowertoChange
You can watch the trailer below along with 3 short videos of guest comments after Power to Change screenings.
IMPACT
Power to Change has been shown at a number of select screenings in London, and across the UK and Ireland. The Premiere screening was held at the iconic Ritzy Cinema in 2021 in the heart of Brixton, one of England’s earliest purpose-built cinemas. The audience included the High Sheriff of Greater London who represented the Queen, the Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, Alex Murray MET Police Violence Lead, and Lib Peck, head of London’s Violence Reduction Unit. There were also local councillors and representatives from a host of organisations working to prevent knife crime in Lambeth.
The screening led to further showings of the film including Scotland Yard to senior officers, and London’s Violence Reduction Unit to their Youth Ambassadors aged between 15-20 years old.
Power to Change has also been taken to the communities most affected by the themes in the film, with screenings in the Marcus Lipton Centre on Loughborough Estate, Longfield Hall in Myatt’s Fields, Dwaynamic’s Community Centre and Brixton Police Station.
The Front Line Club, champion of independent journalism, screened Power to Change with a panel moderated by journalist and filmmaker Sahar Zand, and more recently the Houses of Parliament hosted a packed screening led by MP Bell Riberio-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham and Mike Kane, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East.
“This film was very easy to watch;
even though it touches upon uncomfortable topics, it does so with grace and humility, so it is digestible and compelling.
It's a story of the human spirit - the people in it are authentic and passionate, but I didn't feel that I was being 'sold' a solution.
It left me with a tremendous feeling of hope.”
— Teacher
What People Are Saying
“It’s a powerful message, it needs to be more widely shared. I think it’s something that will help young people in the community, enrich the community, and I think it will really help in preventing crime, especially around serious youth violence.”
— MET Police, Superintendent, Brixton
“From sadness and tragedy came inspiration and I felt empowered rather than hopeless.
It was really inspiring and it kept me on the edge of my seat!
It’s a call to action.”
— Youth Worker
“This film has taught me a lot, it’s opened my eyes. One thing about this world is that it’s a lifelong learning process. No one is born a criminal. We need to tell our children they can reach the highest, and to believe in themselves.”
— Mayor of Lambeth, Cllr Pauline George
“I thought the film was incredible, it was extremely powerful. It was a story of hope and redemption and no matter how desperate our circumstances there is a light if you are willing to see it.
I want to say that if there is a film that you watch this year, make it this one.”
— Lambeth Councillor