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Green Party Campaign Film: Zack Polanski Reads Benjamin Zephaniah's Poem

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In October 2025, Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, commissioned a 90-second social media film in direct response to Conservative MP Robert Jenrick’s claim that Handsworth in Birmingham was ‘close to a slum’. Rather than issue a press statement, Polanski chose to respond through poetry: a reading of a work by the late, great Benjamin Zephaniah, one of Handsworth’s most celebrated sons.

I directed, shot, and edited the film, handling the project end to end.

The Brief

The Green Party needed a film that could cut through online noise and respond to Jenrick’s remarks in a way that was emotionally resonant, shareable, and true to Polanski’s voice. A conventional talking-head rebuttal wasn’t going to do it. The answer was poetry, and specifically, the words of Benjamin Zephaniah, whose connection to Handsworth gave the film an authenticity that no press release could match.

The deliverable was a single 90-second film optimised for social media platforms, primarily X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

The Approach

From the outset, I worked closely with Zack to understand his vision and build on it. Political filmmaking at this level demands more than technical skill, it requires an instinctive understanding of the message, the audience, and the moment. I brought both creative energy and political nous to the shoot, ensuring the final film was as powerful visually as it was lyrically.

The combination of Polanski’s delivery, Zephaniah’s words, and the visual storytelling created something that felt genuinely moving, not manufactured outrage, but a considered, human response to a political slight against a community.

Results

The film generated extraordinary organic reach across social media:

  • 8 million views on X (Twitter)
  • 1.2 million views on Instagram
  • Millions more across other platforms
  • National press coverage

“Matt was such a pleasure to work with. He really understood the vision for the film and was full of ideas and energy to create a beautiful video together!” – Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party, UK

Expertise

This film demonstrates what’s possible when political filmmaking is mixed with poetry and art. A real badge of honour for me is that Zack still has this film pinned in first place on his Instagram profile, meaning the film is still seen by everyone who visits his page. With 15 years of experience directing content for progressive movements political parties, trade unions, charities, and activist organisations, I understand what makes a campaign film land. I don’t just point a camera; I help shape the story.