The Breakdancing Championship (BC) One Battle is the world competition for breakdancers or b-boys. An annual fixture on the international scene, the contest consists of sixteen young men being pitted against each other in sudden death one-on-one dance-offs. As this film points out, there are fifteen losers in the BC One. Turn It Loose follows the fortunes of six of the BC One 2007 participants and their journeys to this apex. The Battle shortlists the very best b-boys from around the world who have learnt their talent anywhere they have found enough space on the street. To be acknowledged and to be representing their country alongside some of the greats in breakdancing is an honour for them, their families and their crews back home. By interweaving the lives of each very different competitor with the incredible competition showdowns held in a derelict power station in Soweto, Turn It Loose skilfully highlights the privilege felt in being recognised for excelling in an activity based upon hard-earned street cred and absolute dedication – whatever country you come from. And excel they do. There are some dazzling displays of athleticism, talent, grace, style, and – perhaps unusually – humility. Supreme confidence is shown on the dancefloor, but the respect between these chosen few is palpable: from Hong 10 – the reigning champion from South Korea – who feels everyone is better and he was just lucky last year, through to the first-time Senegalese contender Ben’J who seeks spiritual guidance in his battle preparations. British director Alastair Siddons is known for his narrative-driven music videos with artists such as The Streets and Roots Manuva. In Turn It Loose, he achieves a fine balance between competition dance footage and the background stories of his subjects. The pace is kept moving to the pulsating beats of a soundtrack featuring vintage hip hop and funk/disco tracks such as Man Parrish’s Hip Hop Be Bop Don’t Stop and Apache as interpreted by Incredible Bongo Band. The music wraps naturally around the words in this definitive breakdancing documentary. B-boys, we salute you.

Screening with:

Heaven (Fully Flared Intro Video Remix)

• Spike Jonze, Ty Evans /
• USA /
• 2008 /
• 7 mins

Legends Spike Jonze and Ty Evans strike again. Revel in some explosive skateboarding remixed from the epic skate movie Fully Flared to the elegiac tune Heaven by James Lavelle’s UNKLE.

Directors: Spike Jonze, Ty Evans
Producer: Emma Wilcockson
Exec Producers: Kevin Dunlap, Brian Dunlap, Tim Gavin, Rick Howard, Mike CarrollEric Koston, Megan Baltimore, Spike Jonze
Scriptwriters: Spike Jonze, Ty Evans
Editor: Ty Evans
DoP: Mark Williams
Music: 'Heaven' UNKLE (Featuring Gavin Clark)