Two Black Boys in Paradise has won the prestigious 2026 EE BAFTA Film Award for British Short Animation, which was presented during the glittering ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The beautifully crafted, stop motion animated short is based on a poem by award-winning writer Dean Atta (The Black Flamingo), directed by Baz Sells and narrated by Jordan Stephens.
The film’s makers – Ben Jackson, Baz Sells and Dean Atta – were presented with the BAFTA by actors Milly Alcock (Supergirl, House of the Dragon) and Miles Caton (Sinners), in front of an audience that included The Prince and Princess of Wales, Leonardo DiCaprico, Emma Stone, Ryan Coogler, Kate Hudson, Jessie Buckley, Timothée Chalamet, Michael B Jordan, Carey Mulligan, Glenn Close, Cillian Murphy and Benicio Del Toro, during the ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming.
Speaking of their win, poet and co-writer Dean Atta said: “I feel incredibly proud of our whole team. I’m glad we could bring so many people with us today to celebrate this journey which has been the ride of a lifetime and I’m really grateful to Baz and Ben for taking me on this journey with them.”
Producer Ben Jackson said: “This means absolutely everything beyond my wildest dreams. Obviously, when we set out to make it, it wasn’t with that in mind. We made the absolute best film we could and so many people gave so much to it over five years. So for everyone involved, I’m just really proud and really happy.”
Director Baz Sells added: The recognition is incredibly welcome because so many people worked so hard. There were a lot of tough challenges that were only overcome because we had such an extraordinary crew. I’m so proud of Ben and Dean for bringing their stories to the screen and allowing us collectively to share it with the world.”
The win seals a remarkable two years for the nine-minute film, which was over five years in the making. Included at screenings and nominations at over 60 international festivals, it has won an impressive tally of 22 international awards including top prizes at Portland Festival of Cinema, Big Fridge International Film Festival, Hollywood Queer Short Film Festival, Ealing Film Festival, the Oscar-qualifying Woodstock Film Festival, London Breeze Film Festival, Thessaloniki Animation Festival, Encounters Film Festival and Manchester Animation Festival.
Produced by Manchester-based One6th Animation, Two Black Boys in Paradise follows Edan (19) and Dula (18) – two young Black boys on a journey toward self-acceptance. Their love for each other, and their refusal to conceal it, transports them to a paradise free from shame and judgement. Inspired by Atta’s poem from his acclaimed collection There is (still) Love Here, the film explores the intersections of race, sexuality, and identity, tackling the realities of homophobia and racism through a tender, hopeful lens.
Two Black Boys in Paradise is directed by Baz Sells and written by Baz Sells, Dean Atta, and Ben Jackson. The film is produced by One6th Animation Studio, with support from the BFI Short Form Animation Fund, awarding National Lottery funding. A nationwide initiative, the competitive fund offers ambitious animation filmmakers the chance to access a higher level of funding, which is rarely accessible to short-form productions.
The project also received early development support from actor Ian McKellen and Partizan Films. It is currently available to view in the UK on Channel 4:
