NETFLIX'S GRENFELL FILMMAKER DETAILS HEARTBREAKING PERSONAL CONNECTION TO TRAGEDY

Filmmaker Olaide Sadiq, who has directed upcoming Netflix documentary Grenfell: Uncovered, opened up about her own personal connection to the tragedy.

The feature film, which covers the events leading up to the Grenfell Tower Fire, the disaster itself and the huge public outcry it caused, drops on the streaming giant this week.

The Netflix synopsis reads: "The film will forensically connect the long and disturbing chain of events that led to the disastrous Grenfell Tower fire that claimed the lives of 72 people in west London in 2017.

"As well as giving a voice to survivors, bereaved families and firefighters, the documentary will unravel and document a series of events that took place in the years before the fire."

Addressing Reach and other publications at a recent screening of the documentary, Sadiq explained that she had known one of the 72 victims of the fire.

Asked about what difficulties this created for her as a filmmaker, she elaborated: "I knew Khadija Saye, who was an artist.

"We both got into our fields through a company called Creative Access, who get people into the creative industries.

"I met her a number of times - she was in the arts field and I obviously was in TV. I actually didn't know she lived in Grenfell.

"I didn't know she lived in Grenfell until she was reported missing," she elaborated. "I just knew she lived in West London.

"I was on holiday and I was [on] group chats and I saw her picture, and sometimes when these things happen and someone's missing, you sort of know what it is.

"So that's how I know... Obviously it made it difficult, but it's difficult regardless of whether I knew someone.

"I think it was very much not making it about myself, but making it about the community and the people it affected," she clarified.

Khadija Saye, who was 24 years old at the time of her death, was on the cusp of widespread recognition for her art work, which was exhibited at the Venice Biennale.

A total of 72 people, including 18 children, died in the fire at Grenfell Tower, which is still being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.

At the weekend, these victims were remembered with a silent walk through the streets of north Kensington.

It comes two months before the tower is set to be slowly taken down, with former residents gathering to "say goodbye to their homes".

Netflix documentary Grenfell: Uncovered is a standalone film with a runtime of 100 minutes, directed by Sadiq and produced by James Rogan, Sandy Smith and Soleta Rogan.

The film also addresses the Grenfell Inquiry and subsequent cladding scandal, highlighting the failures across both the government and private sector in the run-up to the tragedy.

Grenfell: Uncovered is coming to Netflix on Friday, June 20.

2025-06-19T05:06:02Z