Essex Girls (2023) — A gripping drama short film by Yero Timi‑Biu. Watch now for heartfelt storytelling & powerful performances. Flipping the “Essex Girl” trope, this coming-of-age film explores Black British girlhood and magical female friendships in 2009 Essex.
💖 Essex Girls (2023) — Drama Short Film by Yero Timi‑Biu
A vibrant, heartfelt coming‑of‑age story, Essex Girls flips the tired “Essex Girl” stereotype on its head and replaces it with something magical, specific, and deeply authentic. Directed by Yero Timi‑Biu and written by Busayo Ige, this 15‑minute drama celebrates Black British girlhood, friendship, and self‑discovery in the late 2000s.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Drama / Coming‑of‑age
- Director: Yero Timi‑Biu
- Writer: Busayo Ige
- Producers: Angela Moneke, Simon Hatton
- Cast highlights: Busayo Ige (Bisola), Corinna Brown (Ashlee), Maisie Smith (Saffron), Adrianna Bertola (Charlie), Tomi Egbowon‑Ogunjobi (Ronke), Krysstina Frempong (Tiyah), Rebecca Dike (Aisha)
- Runtime: ~15 minutes
- Release: 6 October 2023 (USA)
- Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Production companies: Monegram, T A P E Collective, BFI NETWORK
- Festival circuit: Screened at BFI London Film Festival 2023 (Stories We Tell shorts programme), Seattle International Film Festival 2024
Watch full short:
Awards:
- Official Selection – Sundance Film Festival
- BAFTA Longlist – Best British Short Film
- BFI London Film Festival – Nominated, Best Short Film
- Official Selection – Hamptons International Film Festival
- Seattle International Film Festival – Special Jury Mention
- S.O.U.L Fest – Winner, Best Director
- Palm Springs Shortsfest – Nominated, Best International Short
📖 Story in Brief
It’s 2009 in Essex. Bisola, a Nigerian‑British teen, is navigating the usual minefield of high school — friendship groups, social awkwardness, and boys — when an incident at school draws her into the orbit of Ashlee, the only other Black girl in her year.
What starts as a tentative connection blossoms into a magical, affirming friendship that helps Bisola see herself in a new light. Together, they carve out a space where they can be unapologetically themselves, away from the stereotypes and microaggressions that surround them.
🛠️ Creative “Tools” & Style
- Trope reversal: Challenges the shallow “Essex Girl” cliché by centring Black British experiences.
- Period detail: 2009 fashion, slang, and music cues ground the story in a specific cultural moment.
- Magical realism: Friendship is framed as something transformative, almost enchanted.
- Warm cinematography: Nathalie Pitters’ lens bathes Essex in golden light, softening the edges of adolescence.
- Intimate POV: Keeps us close to Bisola’s perspective, making her emotional journey feel personal.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🌟 Representation: Centres voices and stories rarely seen in UK teen dramas.
- 💬 Relatable themes: Friendship, identity, and belonging resonate universally.
- 🎭 Strong performances: Busayo Ige and Corinna Brown have natural, lived‑in chemistry.
- 🎥 Visual nostalgia: Captures the late‑2000s vibe without caricature.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more time with these characters.
- 🌀 Open‑ended: Some viewers may crave a more definitive resolution.
🌟 Key Features
- Black British girlhood: Honest, joyful, and nuanced.
- Female creative team: Writer, director, and lead actor all women of colour.
- Festival recognition: Multiple screenings and positive critical reception.
- Cultural specificity: Essex setting and 2009 backdrop feel authentic, not generic.
🎯 Use Cases & Applications
- Education: Could be used in media studies to discuss representation and stereotype subversion.
- Community screenings: Sparks conversation about identity and belonging.
- Film craft study: Example of world‑building in a short runtime.
👥 Who Is It For?
- Teen drama fans: Especially those who loved Rocks or Chewing Gum.
- Representation advocates: Viewers seeking authentic Black British stories.
- Festival audiences: Looking for heartfelt, character‑driven shorts.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Essex Girls is about finding your reflection in someone else — and realising you’ve been whole all along. It’s a love letter to the friendships that shape us, the moments that free us, and the courage it takes to be seen for who we are.
🔍 Find More & Support
- BFI Player listing — overview and screening history.
- IMDb page for Essex Girls — full cast, crew, and production details.
- Seattle International Film Festival profile — synopsis and festival info.