A feature film conceived and largely produced in Birmingham has broken into the UK streaming top 10 within days of its release on Amazon Prime, underscoring how small-scale local projects can reach national audiences.
From a YouTube idea to a feature on a major platform
This is Birmingham, written and produced by Kay S. Ubhi, is a crime drama that charts tensions after a London gang moves into a local drug trade. The film began life as the concept for a YouTube short but grew over five years into a full-length feature. After securing a distributor, it is now available on Amazon Prime and has already attracted a large viewer response.
"We've had a massive response to it… it's been amazing, honestly"
Ubhi, who grew up in the city and also appears in the film, described the project as a self-made endeavour. Rather than seeking outside investment, he worked incrementally on the film — "one scene at a time" — honing his craft through short films and drawing on his own experiences and observations of the city.
Local roots and authentic perspective
The director has spoken about how growing up in areas including Sparkhill and Hall Green informed both characters and themes. His research into the criminal underworld and the people he encountered during school and college shaped the dialogue and the story’s atmosphere. Ubhi said he aimed to portray Birmingham as a city of contrasts — the "beautiful landscapes and gritty areas" and its diverse cultures.
- Format: Feature-length drama
- Creator: Kay S. Ubhi — writer, producer and actor
- Platform: Amazon Prime (UK)
- Production time: Five years from conception to release
What this means for Birmingham's creative scene
The film’s quick rise on a major streaming service highlights opportunities for independent filmmakers in the city to reach larger audiences without conventional financing or studio backing. It also feeds into a broader appetite for gritty, localised crime dramas from independent talent, where authentic voices and settings can provide a competitive edge.
For residents and aspiring creators, the story is a reminder that small projects and self-driven development can lead to national exposure. Those interested in following the film can find it on Amazon Prime; details about screenings or further distribution were not disclosed in the material available.
| Title | Director/Producer | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| This is Birmingham | Kay S. Ubhi | Amazon Prime (UK) | Originally a YouTube short; five years in development |
As Birmingham continues to nurture film and creative industries, success stories like this could encourage more local filmmakers to pursue independent routes. The growing visibility of home-grown projects also contributes to how the city is represented on screen, capturing both its cultural variety and its tougher realities.
