Two twenty-somethings navigate their past struggles and growing feelings for one another in this intimate, impressive debut feature from British writer-director Aki Omoshaybi, and in which he also stars.

In inner-city Portsmouth, an unremarkable newsagent’s sits between a courthouse and a business centre. It’s here that sparks fly between well-dressed Kyle (Aki Omoshaybi) and equally poised Jamie (Pippa Bennett-Warner). Yet despite their outward appearances, both are struggling to move on from hardship they’d rather keep hidden. As their feelings for one another blossom, their pasts resurface, threatening to break them apart before their relationship has even begun.

An authentic and touching love story, Real takes an honest look at the highs and lows of black love and marks Omoshaybi out as an exciting new voice in British filmmaking.

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