INDIANAPOLIS — Daniel Kaluuya is best known for his award-winning performances in "Get Out" and "Judas and the Black Messiah," but his next role takes him behind the scenes.
In "The Kitchen," Izi (Kane Robinson) is close to escaping one of London's last remaining housing estates when young Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) enters his life.
"Perseverance. Putting your head down, overcoming obstacles, overcoming limitations," said Kaluuya, who co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced the film that was nearly 10 years in the making. "Failing a lot — failing way more than you succeed — and moving through it."
Aside from his co-starring role in British crime drama series, "Top Boy," Robinson — aka British rapper Kano — hadn't taken on any acting roles in more than a decade.
"I couldn't see myself really acting again. I didn't think I would do it for a long time," Robinson said. "I've never seen anything like this before in British cinema, so I was intrigued by that."
Bannerman, 14, makes his acting debut in "The Kitchen," sharing nearly all of his scenes with Robinson.
"When I watched the film back, it was lovely watching that build and that relationship grow and Izi slowly starting to soften," Robinson said of his on-screen chemistry with Bannerman. "We did build a bond, but we naturally let that happen in the right moments on camera."
And in a remarkable accolade, "The Kitchen" had its world premiere as the closing film of the 67th BFI London Film Festival, joining a list of previous closing-night films like "Slumdog Millionaire," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and "The Irishman."
"What I personally loved the most about it, we felt comfortable. It felt like it was a reflection of us," Kaluuya said. "Credit to the BFI, who allowed us to be completely ourselves in the space."
"The Kitchen" begins streaming Friday, Jan. 19 on Netflix.