Nickel Boys: On the red carpet with RaMell Ross, Aunjanue Ellis Taylor, Joslyn Barnes and Ethan Herrise at London Film Festival 2024

During LFF, Nickel Boys was one of the most anticipated films of the entire festival. Based on the novel written by the acclaimed novelist and essayist, Colson Whitehead, RaMell Ross’s feature debut tells the story of two young boys who must survive in an abusive reform school, a place called the Nickel Academy. It is set in the Jim Crow era in Tallahassee, where racism and animosity towards Black people were still visible on every street and in every social institution. Furthermore, the entire drama is shot in a first-person point-of-view, which allows the audience to see and feel what the film’s protagonists had to experience. 

We spoke to the director Ross about the novel, finding the right actors and choosing the POV perspective for the entire film. He shared with us what was it like to adapt such a masterful story. 

We also had the pleasure of talking to the legendary Aunjanue Ellis Taylor, who plays one of the secondary roles in the film.

The producer, Joslyn Barnes, spoke to us about the challenge of adapting such a complex novel.

One of the stars, Ethan Herrise, told us about the casting process and what was it like to act through his vocals and unseen gestures.

Jan Tracz

Nickel Boys is released nationwide on 8^th November 2024.

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the London Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Nickel Boys here: