Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen has dedicated his two films selected for Cannes Film Festival to the memory of George Floyd.
Mangrove and Lovers Rock would have featured at the festival before it was cancelled due to coronavirus.
McQueen said: “I dedicate these films to George Floyd and all the other black people that have been murdered, seen or unseen, because of who they are, in the US, UK and elsewhere.”
Mr Floyd died in US police custody.
He died on 25 May in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting murder.
The death has caused protests and sporadic rioting in America, along with global mass demonstrations.
Quoting the legendary Jamaican protest singer and reggae star Bob Marley, McQueen added: “‘If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.’ Black Lives Matter.”
Both of his listed films are part of his BBC Small Axe anthology, consisting of five feature-length stories, which are all now in honour of Mr Floyd.
