The award-winning short film CROWN premiered at Rich Mix London on May 22, 2025, drawing attention to the growing national conversation around hair discrimination in the UK. Following an acclaimed international festival run, the film continues to spark critical discussions about race, identity, natural hair, and the urgent need for legal protections against hair-based bias.
Written and directed by Dash Kolos, CROWN is a powerful exploration of the emotional and social impact of natural hair discrimination. The film highlights how hair, particularly Black hair, intersects with identity and self-expression, an issue often overlooked in both media and legislation.
CROWN has received significant recognition, including winning Best Short Film at the World Culture Film Festival (featured in Deadline), the Impact Award for Diversity and Equity at the Ethos Film Awards, and multiple honourable mentions. The film stars Brandon Middleton and features a standout creative team, including Emmy-winning hair stylist Lavette Slater. Presented in the UK by associate producer Kallure and Minute Shorts, the film continues to make a global impact.
UK Hair Discrimination and the Law
Though CROWN is inspired by the US C.R.O.W.N. Act, its themes are urgently relevant in the UK. While the Equality Act 2010 prohibits race discrimination, it does not explicitly address hair-based discrimination, leaving a significant legal gap.
Recent high profile cases in UK schools and workplaces have prompted growing public demand for legislation that protects natural hairstyles such as afros, locs, braids, twists, and protective styles, especially for Black and mixed-race individuals.
“In support of the C.R.O.W.N. Act, the film CROWN is a call to action for audiences who do not understand the impact of hair-based discrimination,” said Dash Kolos, the film’s writer and director. “I want to speak directly to an audience that hasn’t had a chance or a need to acknowledge hair-based discrimination. It’s my hope that anyone who doesn’t know about the C.R.O.W.N. Act and these stories can connect with the main character and is moved enough by the experience to become an accomplice.”
Following the screening, a live Q&A session with Kolos and Associate Producer Shanice Hoo Mills delved into the film’s creative development and its cultural importance. The event also marked a milestone for Kolos as a female filmmaker amplifying underrepresented voices in independent cinema.
With its timely UK debut, CROWN reinforces the critical role the hair and beauty industry can play in challenging discrimination and celebrating diversity in hair textures and styles. The film serves as a reminder that hairstylists, salons, and industry leaders have a platform, and a responsibility, to advocate for inclusive practices and support broader legislative change.
For professionals in the hairdressing industry, CROWN is more than a film - it’s a conversation starter, a learning tool, and a cultural landmark in the fight for hair justice.
