Naked Acts

+ extended season intro by Rógan Graham

Naked Acts explores the complex relationship between the camera and the naked body.

  • Director

    Bridgett M. Davis

  • With

    Jake-Ann Jones, Ron Cephus Jones

  • USA 1996. 87min

  • Digital 4K (restoration)

  • Certificate

    18

Bridgett M. Davis’ first and only feature sees aspiring actor Cicely get her big break as a lead in an indie movie, only to find her success complicated by the fact that it involves a nude scene. Davis sensitively explores the fraught journey of a Black woman attempting to reclaim her sexuality and her past.

Black Debutantes: A Collection of Early Works by Black Women Directors season curator Rógan Graham is a south London-based writer, film critic, and programmer with a focus on Black and female filmmakers. They curated the upcoming BFI season Black Debutantes, which celebrates early works by Black women directors. Since 2019, Rógan has written for Little White Lies, i-D, Curzon Journal, New York Magazine’s The Cut, and Polyester Zine. They also edited the Clio Award-winning The Underground Railroad campaign book for Barry Jenkins. Beyond writing and hosting, Rógan is passionate about discussing pop divas -particularly Mariah Carey-through their Divas Do Film screenings.

Contains strong violence, language, drug content and some sexuality.

See other screenings of Naked Acts.

Also available on BFI Player