Black Stroke: Netflix releases Nottingham filmmaker's powerful new documentary to millions

An up-and-coming Nottingham filmmaker has had her short documentary film aired to millions by Netflix. 

Olivia Smart was chosen ahead of thousands of other applicants to receive £30,000 in funding from the streaming giant to create a short documentary on the theme of “connection”. 

Olivia’s 12-minute-long film, Black Stroke, focuses on the staggering statistic that 87% of black adults in the UK do not swim. 

The film follows the stories of three people from different walks of life, who each break down racial stereotypes to learn to swim for the first time. 

Revealing the inspiration behind the film, she told Nottingham World: “I knew that it was going to be my directorial debut, so I wanted it to be something that I was happy to stick my name to for the rest of my life. 

“I wanted to tell black stories because that’s the heritage I’m from. There’s a huge Jamaican community in Nottingham and that was what I was brought up with. 

“When I started looking at statistics and realised that 87% of black adults in the UK do not swim, it felt so obvious to tell that story. 

“If I look at my childhood in Nottingham, a lot of the swimming baths that I went to have closed down now. 

“Swimming was a huge part of life in Nottingham. My dad would take me every weekend and my parents really prioritised it.

“So for me it was a real opportunity to go back to my roots and chronicle that journey of three people to make a real impact and a change, so that at the end of the three minutes viewers would leave with a life-saving skill.”

Olivia’s film is one of five that will be streamed on Netflix’s YouTube channel today (Thursday, February 1) following a premiere at London’s Ham Yard Hotel yesterday evening. 

The Netflix Documentary Talent Fund was created in 2020 to break down barriers of access for emerging filmmakers. 

The initiative also provides filmmakers with a foundation of knowledge and hands-on training to allow them to flourish within their careers.

Due to budgeting constraints, Black Stroke was filmed in London instead of Nottingham. 

Despite this, Olivia hopes to work on further projects in her home city. 

“I’m really hoping that in the future I can work with Nottingham City Council and a lot of people within Nottingham’s swimming community.

“Nottingham will always be home. For me, one thing I really miss about Nottingham when I’m in London is the sense of community. 

“London is a very fast-paced city, so it’s nice to come back home and escape that!”

You can watch Olivia’s film here.