UK short film Phoenix, released this week, shows the power of Hip-Hop to change lives.

Award winning short film, Phoenix, tells the powerful story of Kitch: an East London rapper with a stammer who found fluency and freedom in his extraordinary ability to rap.

Phoenix tells the story of Kitch who has struggled with a stammer his whole life: bullying, isolation and a loss of confidence. Through writing and rap he was able to come to terms with his stammer and turn his life around. Discovering a fluency he never knew he had and acceptance of a condition that is still widely misunderstood.

Kitch uses a blend of Hip-Hop, UK Rap, and Grime to tell stories about the complexities of life.

‘Writing and rap was an outlet for the frustrations I felt because of my stammer. But I noticed that the more I rapped, the more my stammer improved,’ says Kitch.

Currently, Kitch is working on his debut EP with the help of long-time collaborator FR3NCH, which is due to be released later this year.

Directed, shot and cut by London based filmmaker, Timur Bekir, Phoenix has screened at UK wide film festivals, winning multiple awards.

Shot on a shoe-string budget, Phoenix is a documentary that merges musical performance with a poetic, cinematic style to explore issues of identity, communication, mental health and the power of music.

Speaking on the project, director Timur Bekir say’s: ‘A lifelong stammerer myself, I was interested in exploring the relationship between stammering and music. Those who stammer often find they are fluent when rapping or singing, giving them a freedom they don't have when talking.

Stammering is still a misunderstood condition and stammerers face multiple challenges on a daily basis. I hope this short film will show that stammering doesn't have to be seen as a disability, and that those who stammer can achieve incredible things just like anyone else.’

Phoenix has won the following awards:

Winner Best Documentary, South London Film Festival 2022

Winner Best London Filmmaker, Wimbledon Film Festival 2022

Winner Best Documentary, Apex Film Festival 2022

And was part of the Official Selection for the 2 Short Nights Film Festival, Exeter 2023

Credits:

 Directed, shot and cut by Timur Bekir – timurbekir.com

Featuring Kitch – kitchofficial.co.uk

Animation by Owen Croom – croomo.uk