Swindon Independent Film Festival
Our 2020 Selections
in order of entry, screening session details to follow.
Nothing to be Done
A man falls in love with a woman he sees through his kitchen window.
00:06:50
Better Off
When their mother ends up in the hospital, two brothers explore the uncertainty of their future.
00:03:46
Hard Shadow
00:03:20
Iran, Islamic Republic of
Still Young
Corporal James Shepard returns from Iraq, riddled with guilt from the death of his life long friend. Upon his return he meets a young boy named Ruben, the son of his departed friend and someone he hasn't seen in nearly six years. Tensions rise when Ruben begins to resent James for withholding the true nature of his father's death.
00:28:09
United Kingdom
Straight Outta Compton, Berkshire
Bertie Pinkerton-Smythe, alias "Whiskey Stone", struggles to make it as a grime rapper in the rural countryside.
00:12:51
United Kingdom
Old Skool
Oscar has a dark secret. Someone died. Will the truth be finally heard?
00:07:13
United Kingdom
Knock
Knock knock, who's there?
00:05:28
United Kingdom
Sunder
A moment of strength during a moment of weakness in a man's life.
00:00:60
Clementines
Clem is returning to her childhood home.
After almost seven years away, it is not only the funeral of her once stepfather that is bringing her back, but what she is running away from and who she is returning to; her old step-sister Clémentine.
The women haven’t seen each other since they were separated, but what tore them apart as teenagers is now pulling Clem back.
00:18:15
France
Needletail
A poignant not-quite-love story about three birdwatchers who cross the country in search of something extraordinary.
00:10:26
United Kingdom
Sav B- Dreams
A commissioned animation for an American client's song.
00:03:26
United Kingdom
Repeat
This animation represents the spiral into depression, isolation, routine and the need to escape. It examines modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.
00:03:00
United Kingdom
VOICE
00:02:38
Ukraine
KISS ME MALIBU
Horror-comedy film about the insecurities and overthinking that TV shows, religion, culture and belief systems create in us during male-female relationships and in courtship. It makes fun of us and the roles we take in that process, without making any moral judgements. The story is narrated through a song.
This is a personal and independent project where the director also created the music for the video.
00:04:18
Spain
Disco Dynamite
A washed up roller disco champion, who vouched to never put his skates on again, must overcome his fear of the rink to go on a roller skating date with the new girl at work.
00:09:45
United Kingdom
Seawolf
UK Midlands, early 90s. 16 year old Joe lives and works with his unyielding mother, at the family-owned gas station. When two best friends Danny and Rich visit the gas station to buy chewing gum, Joe sees an opportunity to break free. While being bullied by the two troublemakers, he hangs out with them at the local rave club Seawolf. Joe finds himself overtaken by the urge to join the young men’s brotherhood and feel part of something greater. The tension rises between the three main characters when Joe and Danny increasingly get closer.
00:17:04
United Kingdom
The Audition
Phil has an idea- he's going to put on a play.
00:15:00
United Kingdom
A Future Where No One Remembers You
Imagine you made a pact with a friend. A pact that stated if either of you ever invented time travel, you would go back to that exact place, that exact moment in time to prove to yourselves that you had done it. What would you expect to see? What would you hope to?
00:20:00
United Kingdom
Airshaft
The rhythmic derive: interpreting the landscape through percussion and movement
00:03:05
United Kingdom
Drawing the Light In
When clouds throw shade at you, how do you bring light into your day?
00:04:20
United States
Scotland Therapy
In order to escape his boring and meaningless existence, Mark applies for a new type of therapy that will take him on a journey into the unknown and bizarre.
00:11:00
United Kingdom
ELIAN
Elian Chali is an Argentinian artist who has created works of art in over 30 countries.
The documentary aims to portray the protagonist while exposing different areas in which he performs. The film not only accompanies him during the creation of murals, exhibits and curatorships in several countries, but also challenges the established social parameters since Elian, who was born with dissident body, has lived and lives outside both ideological and physical norms.
The director followed the artist for two years, this documentary is the result of that process.
00:53:00
Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain
It's Time for Tea
After the death of their young daughter, all that remains in Rebecca and Allen’s home is an extensive toy collection and profound grief. Both are attempting to process their loss: Rebecca chooses to repress her pain, while Allen regresses to their child's age in order to replace her. When an unconventional therapist visits with them, he assures Rebecca he can bring her husband back. But first, she must enter into Allen’s land of make-believe.
00:09:42
United States
Völuspá
A Seeress has a vision telling the end of the world, Ragnarök, and its second coming. She will do everything in her power to prevent it from happening but it comes at a cost.
00:12:48
United Kingdom
Stitches
As an outsider and a lonesome soul, Dr. Stitchfield resorts to science to create his soulmate...
00:03:14
United States
Light in Deep
This animation was inspired by a real story of one boy, who was the last survivor from a ferry disaster, he watched many of his friends falling into the dark with his real eyes. In this film, there is a girl who has a trauma from the memory of her past just like the boy went through. She is on board to follow her friend through where she lost her, the deep sea.
00:04:15
Korea, Republic of, United Kingdom
Glass Ceiling
We follow the progress as a woman competes against a man for a promotion and confronts the reality of male-biased fringe benefits. Her male counterpart builds success-promoting relationships through inclusion in male-biased social activities. This positively enhanced male-to-male bonding excludes her from gaining similar advantages, which is further depreciated when she decides to start a family. This broken system excludes her from further progression opportunities and hitting the ever-present glass ceiling.
00:02:36
United Kingdom
Can't Hide It
Kim and Richard face up to the fact that she has cancer - in their own words the treatment is just a process to get through before getting on with their lives. They didn't consider the challenge of having to relay the message time after time to their friends and family reliving the moment they were first made aware.
00:16:30
United Kingdom
Jordan - Country of Refugees
The non-profit crowdfunding-documentary 'Jordan - Country of Refugees' focuses on the particular situation in Jordan. The country in the Middle East belongs to the group of states which hosts the most refugees in the world. Thirty per cent of Jordan's inhabitants are refugees. Instead of concentrating on numbers and facts, in this movie, refugees tell their story. The documentary shows how they engage in their community - even though they are considered as the ones who need help.
01:07:18
Jordan
Sorry You Missed Me
A dark comedy featuring a cat called Quentin, owned by Brenda, a lonely film fan, who wreaks her - Tarantino-inspired - revenge on Derek, a delivery man who fails to deliver, with a few cheeky nods to cinema classics along the way...
00:07:57
United Kingdom
The Note
The man wakes up and finds himself on the bed in the sea ...
00:03:34
Iran, Islamic Republic of
HOLD ONTO THE TOP
A leading actress in a play facing the circumstances of her choices, while another actress decide to confront her, or perhaps take her down. She is standing in front of an hard decision if hurting her friend in order to achieve her own goals or change the loop she got herself into. A sensitive story, about the devil hiding inside each one of us, and the way one choose to deal with it. The moment of glory after stepping on other foots. The story is accompanying with a strong visual language letting us in the behind the scenes, show us the circle of our soul while getting in to the hidden life of the theater.
00:04:38
Israel
The Connection
Jodi is fairly young somewhat confident woman aspiring to be a stand-up comic. She is struggling to make a name for herself in the male dominated comedy club circuit. One night during her set she notices Tom, an audience member with a distinct laugh.
After a brief interaction between them during her set Jodi chats to Tom and takes a selfie. By the time Jodi returns home to her girlfriend Chloe a string of notifications ring out on Jodi's social media from Tom.
Gradually it becomes clear that Tom is infatuated with Jodi. Tom becomes a near constant presence in Jodi's life as he stalks her online and in person. It is left to Jodi to do something about it before Tom goes too far.
00:14:15
United Kingdom
Crossing Lines
"The Agency thanks you for your service."
Immediately after "Agent One" opens a wrong file on his laptop, he decides to quit his job. His agency contacts him with further instructions.
Crossing Lines, the latest film by director Leopold Hotz & Dennis Bahr. With award winning composer Christian Heschl, actors Nicolai Borger and Frank Habatsch.
00:05:19
Germany
Showdown
A young autistic boy named Sam, with a passion for Western films, must decide whether to stand down or stay his ground when a showdown for the soul of his village takes place in the local corner shop.
00:16:26
United Kingdom
Fire and Water
Opposites attract but the path to true love is never plain sailing.
00:02:00
United Kingdom
thoughts 141
Tom finds himself isolated and away from home, as his day goes by he reminisces on joyful times.
00:02:33
Australia
MANUEL
Manuel lives far from his family, immersed in a routine from which he can´t escape.
00:08:23
Spain
I am a Tree
This animation is about the environment and conservation of trees...
Inside the class kids are playing.a boy an idea came to his mind and goes to the blackboard and began to draw a tree. Another boy is angry with this move and goes to the blackboard and erases his friend's painting. The boy again draws the tree This time also the bully boy erases the painting. Another boy is angry with this move goes to the blackboard and draws a tree and the bully boy erases his painting too.
Meanwhile, other kids go to the blackboard and start painting the tree. The bully boy begins to cough. When he is sad, he sees a chalk on the ground, he also draw a tree and eventually all the children are happy.
00:02:12
Iran, Islamic Republic of
The Flight
The psychological journey of a climate refugee who lost his house and his entire family during hurricane Maria. This is the story of his journey from the darkness back to the light.
00:04:10
France, Martinique
Her.
After Loss, Love Remains
00:10:37
United Kingdom
iRONY
A film that explores the relationship between man and technology...told from the perspective of a phone.
Variously described as an Animation, an Experimental Film, a Narrative, a Documentary or a Film-Poem depending on who you speak to, this hand drawn animated film is based on the poem 'Seven Billion' written by the film director that won 2 National poetry awards: The Young Australian Writer’s National Award for Poetry, selected out of a field of 30,000 and the Karen W Treanor Poetry Award (Youth).
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZUdUJdpuw&feature=youtu.be
00:04:00
Australia
The Quiet
When an astronaut ponders on the quietude of space, he comes upon a startling self-realisation.
The truth is written in the stars, but what will he uncover?
00:10:00
Australia
Cutting
Christian faces a long and intense night of physical suffering to get down to the weight limit for his fight, but is he ready for the emotional toll?
00:16:57
United Kingdom
ALTER EGO
Jules has visit from his double : coming from the future, he reveals that soon Jules'll fall in love with one of his male best friend. Unfortunately for the moment, Jules is quite homophobic...
00:05:57
France
Dead Air
Dead Air is a Comedy Horror about 'Monster Kitten' - an all female punk rock band - who get caught up in a fight with little gremlins in a plane at 30,000ft whilst heading to the last gig of their comeback tour.
00:16:25
United Kingdom
pacific roses
Inspired by a true WWII Pacific stories, two prisoners of war in Manila meet on both sides of an interview as part of a new war propaganda initiative directed by the Japanese. She was one of at least twelve American/Canadian Asian “roses” that ended up getting ”the job”.
00:02:00
United States
Scrable
The tale of Salif, a middle aged launderette owner and his fear that any day now, his sole employee, 77 year old Mary, might just stop showing up.
The third film in a trilogy of shorts exploring the themes of loneliness, old age and dementia.
The first film in the trilogy 'letters', was selected for several festivals including the Norwich Film Festival (2015), where it was also nominated for Best Short Film. It was a finalist in the FILMSshorts competition (2018) and was selected for the Purbeck Film Festival (2018), where it won the Audience Award for Best Short Feature.
While the second film in the trilogy 'waiting', was selected for several festivals including the the London Short Film Festival (2019), where it was also nominated for Best British Short Film.
00:13:30
United Kingdom
Air
"Aire" is a small cinematographic essay.
It deals with reflections on modern society and the individual, on the language and the cinematographic apparatus.
It tries and proposes to multiply the possible semantic relations of the audiovisual language.
It is a work with free and open interpretation.
00:05:13
Argentina
Horrorscope
An ordinary schoolgirl's life unravels after an evil creature takes over her body. Only her mother, with the help of a strange doctor, will be able to save her.
00:04:30
Spain
Astronaut ( by Jelly Bean )
Once upon a time, there was a broke guy who left the earth in a thrift store space suit
Astronaut is a no budget Space Odyssey, a voyage into the imaginary world of a hero who, night after night, explores the universe seeking for a safe haven.
00:05:21
France
Outcast
If you're weak in something, just try to be your own best! and never forget dreaming!
00:03:28
Iran, Islamic Republic of
Gone
A bickering family on a road trip stops at a gas station. Murielle, the mother, insists on having the car washed.
00:13:00
France
The Ice Knife
A woman attempts to commit the perfect murder in this murder mystery.
00:07:45
United Kingdom
Keeping Up the Act
"As part of a promotional campaign, Avon Academy of Arts sent a documentary crew to follow a group of alumni to find out about life after graduation."
A co-production between Spare Time Productions and The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, "Keeping up the Act" brought together a group of graduates and current students from the theatre school to make this bitter-sweet mockumentary. Following three actors as they try and make their careers take off, it highlights the highs and lows that come with making your dreams come true.
00:22:24
United Kingdom
Grounding Short Film
Sarah, a shy 15-year-old girl, finds the courage to open up about the abuse she and her brother have faced at the hands of their mother and the psychological consequences of it while attending an appointment at a children's mental health facility.
00:07:00
Ireland
2018
After Sarah's husband dies she decides she can't
go on in the new world anymore without his support
and jumps off a building. After which she visits her fondest memories before joining him in the afterlife.
00:01:00
Australia
Cellfie
A scientist seeks answers by observing the world through the lens of her microscope.
00:03:10
Far Tides
Far Tides is a dual portrait of two women from very different backgrounds, who become friends as they navigate together through the depths of their fears.
Setareh, afraid of cold deep water since a traumatizing event that took place when she was 18 years old and freshly married to her cousin.
Sophie, going through a painful divorce and saying goodbye to her dream home and a decade of memories.
00:24:55
Belgium
Pliashka
A life story of a bottle that can express emotions, feel and dream.
00:03:44
Ukraine
LOST IN OBLIVION
Lost in oblivion is an extraordinary story about a man who was once told he had nothing to live for. Now an accidental addict, he fights a not so sober fight for his life and sanity.
00:02:48
United Kingdom
Osariya
‘‘Osariya’’ The Kandyan sari, also known as Osariya, is the national garment of many colours and textures worn by Sri Lankan women. It is a long-lasting tradition of modesty and fashion which is now facing the influence of modern social identity.
The Osariya is a two-piece attire, with one blouse that covers the midriff and is tucked into the waist. A key distinguishing feature of this style is that the saree is not pleated at the waist, but rather pleated at the shoulders. In comparison to the traditional saree draping style.
It is a blend of tradition and style; a simple cloth of six yards with a width of three feet with origins traced to the Kandyan Kingdom.
00:02:46
Sri Lanka
Edge
Husband and wife, Jean and Marie Kitoko, have resolved to disavow technology, following what they see as the avoidable death of their unborn child, and devote themselves to the teachings and philosophy of religious leader Isiah Cummings. However, Jean struggles to remain committed to their new beliefs in the face of his wife’s rapidly deteriorating health. ‘Edge’ is an intimate and psychological examination of the relationship between people and faith, explored through the lens of two extremely damaged individuals.
00:28:02
United Kingdom
rise
Music Video of Thea Gilmore song
00:05:00
Final Curtain
Oliver and Reese are putting on a two-man play. No-one will come to see it.
00:20:20
United Kingdom
The Man You're Not
Charlie is unlucky in love. After a string of failed relationships where he was told he is “too nice”, his friends decide to take action. They sign him up to a number of dating websites as different people and he has to go on dates pretending to be someone else. Charlie enters a whole new world of one night stands and begins to see what he has been missing. But will he lose who he really is, and fail to see what’s right in front of him? The Man You're Not is an ultra low budget rom-com with cameo performances from Joanna Lumley, Reece Shearsmith, Adam Hills and Mathew Wright.
01:25:00
United Kingdom
Life Story
Ballet solo showing a human life from birth to death, performed on the dancer's 80th birthday
00:08:05
Greece
ArchiPaper
ArchiPaper is a non-commercial, experimental, short animation that tells a story about architecture in an unconventional way. Physical model of a house has been transformed into an image that teems with life, creating a leisurely-paced, surrealist story immersed in an world built solely out of paper elements.
00:04:05
Poland
Overnight
In a search of success, a noisy cat is trying to impress its neighbours during the night.
00:03:26
Have You Seen Buster?
Spirited, determined 12-year-old Jacob embarks on a search for missing dog Buster, encountering wacky townsfolk along the way. A fun, bittersweet comedy with an unexpectedly heartfelt ending.
00:05:48
United Kingdom
LIFE(Y)
‘LIFE(y)’ is the silent short film of a middle-aged man encountering the solitary confinement and monotony of a modern existence.... He yearns for a human connection... however unusual or mysterious.
00:08:07
United Kingdom
The Glamorgan Strangler | A Case Study
In 2019 a local video production company gained unprecedented access to an active serial killer while filming a brand film.
The following footage has since surfaced.
The crew have not...
00:09:00
United Kingdom
The Hug Deal
An improvised short comedy.
A man in need of a pick-me-up approaches two dealers who deliver a slightly unexpected fix...
00:03:26
United Kingdom
Mother of Chernobyl
Mother of Chernobyl is a Russian-language student short film produced at UCSB in the Spring of 2019. The film takes place in 1987 Ukraine, a year after the Chernobyl disaster. It follows the story of a woman named Masha, who stayed behind in the radiation zone with her newborn baby. After deciding to trek back to Kiev to reunite with her family, she ventures into the forest and believes a soldier is chasing her to take away her child. Masha must fight for herself and her family to do the only thing anyone could after Chernobyl: survive amidst unimaginable tragedy.
00:30:00
United States
Property
A woman who dedicates her life to rehabilitating former slaves must take her work to the front line in order to free an enslaved girl.
00:27:30
United Kingdom
A Natural Code
This is a short wildlife documentary about the fascinating Turing patterns in nature and how they may help endangered species around the world.
The first half of the film introduces three characters - a science writer, Philip Ball and two mathematicians, Natasha Ellison and Philip Maini. They will take us on a quest to explain who Alan Turing was and what is his connection with patterns in nature. Alan Turing was able to explain, using two mathematical equations, how the patterns arise in nature, from zebra stripes and leopard spots to landscapes and even animal movements. This is quintessential for the story, as we will later show how this can help endangered species.
The second part of the film is showing how these patterns can help with conservation. The main example for this will be the beautiful patterns of a whale shark, as their spot point configuration forms a Turing pattern. The last person introduced will be Iru, the Lead Field Coordinator of the Maldives Whale Shark Research. Through her, viewers will discover how the team can identify individual whale sharks by their unique spots on their skin.
This film will take viewers on a fascinating journey, from the secret world of mathematical ecology to incredible Turing patterns in nature and beautiful underwater scenes.
00:09:50
Maldives, United Kingdom
PLAYGROUNDS
PLAYGROUNDS is a short film that travels back to the early '90s, lost deep in the suburbs, absent parents allow forgotten kids to escape to other worlds where they can't be found.
00:04:38
The Last
After being shot multiple times, mortally wounded Jess bursts back to life gasping for breath. The aftermath of a violent and bloody shoot out reveals Jess dragging herself through the house nervously checking room to room. To her shock Jess finds her husbands dead body. With limited time Jess makes her final call home, only to discover she is not not alone.
00:08:50
United Kingdom
Watermark
When Meg moves in with her longtime boyfriend, she is suddenly terrorized by memories of a past trauma from years earlier. Desperate to move forward with the life she wants, she constructs an imagined space in her mind to confront her ghosts and battle their grasp on her reality.
00:23:43
United States
The Stonemason
Stonemason Jonny Anderson describes how some lasting advice from his father motivated and drove him into his profession working with stone as a craft.
00:04:53
United Kingdom
Flight of the Dodo
A young boy who dreams of flying struggles to escape the confines of his difficult life.
00:10:27
Canada
The Voodoo Man
A mysterious man lives in the jungle and grants the wishes of people who have sought out his help. But his remedies come at a price.
00:05:31
United Kingdom
CHOKER
As a girl drops from the sky onto a crowded beach, a mysterious man drives at breakneck speed towards her.
CHOKER is a unique narrative take on one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. Due to its 'no dialogue' nature, it is a film that we hope will resonate with audiences around the world.
We believe that there needs to be more environmentally focused narrative fiction that will both entertain and educate in equal measure. CHOKER will be the first of a number we plan to make here in Cornwall... each with an unexpected twist.
00:04:07
United Kingdom
Toprak
Since the death of his parents, the teenage Burak lives with his uncle Cemil and grandmother in a remote Turkish village town. They try to make a living by selling pomegranates but while the religious Cemil is satisfied to live his life in poverty, Burak struggles to leave for the city and going to university. When the grandmother gets sick, both have to make tough decisions that will change their lives.
01:45:53
Turkey
Dichrome
A young man who tries to close his eyes to the problems in his life encounters a person who can see things others can't.
Weston Snider was 15 at the time of making this film.
00:10:00
Canada
Highland Home
A poignant tale of longing and loss is revealed when a timeworn journal transports a young girl to a place of enchanting wonders
00:04:59
United States
Dispatches from the Vietnam War: Beer, Bunkers and Typewriters
- follows the surreal and existential journey of a young soldier entering war for the first time.
Not long after I first met Lloyd I started hearing stories about his time in Vietnam during the war. Each one cut through the archetypes I had often heard about the war and wars in general. Each one insightful and nuanced. Each one led to a desire to hear more.
Details behind why he volunteered to join the Army; what it was like for him to fly on an airplane for the first time, let alone one heading to war; and his transition from Vietnam home were left out due to time constraints. So too were a few other stories. Perhaps those will be shared at a later date.
What remains are three stories that pull you into a world of a young man navigating the paradoxes of conflict at a pivotal time in his life.
00:04:18
United States
ANNA - Cannes Official Selection, BIFA winner for Best British Short, BAFTA shortlisted
Cannes Official Selection 19' - Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine, Anna is an aging single mother who is desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love. Nominated for a short Palme d'Or, TIFF, AFI Fest + dozens of selections and awards. Currently, BAFTA shortlisted. BIFA award for Best British Short Film.
00:14:59
Ukraine
The Rubik Cube
One Shot short
00:01:22
Masks
By PQA Swindon Red Group AM
00:02:14
100% Girl
The difference between men and women creates the most difficult battlefield in the world.
Magical kitchen appliances try to do a little magic to fight for peaceful and sweet life.
00:03:09
Taiwan
Eaglefriek
After the death of his partner, Sanson Eaglefriek sets out to continue with his work. With conservation in mind, Sanson soon comes across a perturbing sighting.
00:08:36
United Kingdom
5bucks. Case of Hamster
Hamster, the smart small-time crook, who is the main character of the movie together with his friends, the 5BAKSIV.NET start-up founders, are considered to be the prime murder suspects. Investigators must find some answers. However there is a mole in their crowd for whom this investigation is only a cover for another operation. The leading characters get in the midst of internal squabbles between the unknown security officials and a local old gangster, all after the main evidence - a memory stick containing a video evidence of a state crime. And when it seems it is all over, the Hamster stumbles on a daring idea.
01:20:00
Ukraine
Sidepiece
Dating is hard. Especially when you’re married. Nothing is what appears to be in this short romantic-comedy about two people who find each other on a very special dating app. You just can’t trust what you read anymore.
Married writing team Minsun Park and Teddy Tenenbaum took a break from their usual horror fare to tackle a comedy about romance in the age of apps, starring Emmy-nominated Michael Muhney. Teddy directs from a script written by the team.
00:09:58
United States
Mark at the Supermarket
Mark lives his waking hours during the night, only ever leaving his house to bulk buy the same 4 foods from a deserted 24-hour Thai supermarket. One night he notices a girl glancing over one of his favourite items, she wears almost identical clothing to him. Mark is compelled to find a way past his social anxiety and speak to her.
00:10:56
United Kingdom
Lavender
Emotional drama short film looking at how the lives of mother and daughter are affected by the mother's declining health, as a person living with dementia.
00:23:59
United Kingdom
The Wishing Bridge
A short film about a girl who, when her world becomes too complicated to deal with, there is only one place to go, the wishing bridge.
00:04:41
United Kingdom
One
When a lost soul enters a group living on the edge of society, hoping for acceptance she discovers acceptance comes at a cost.
This short film was written, directed, and performed by young people aged 14-19 alongside a professional crew, during a five day residential filmmaking week Summer 2019.
00:09:34
United Kingdom
New Girl
Have you ever been the new girl or boy at school? Lonely and struggling to make friends? ‘New Girl’ tells the story of a new student who just needs one person to believe in her in order to succeed.
Devised by and starring young people aged 8-10
Directed by an over 18 filmmaker
00:02:10
United Kingdom
The Bear Trap
On his way to school Mark discovers a treasure map and recruits his best friends, Bethany and Apollo, to follow the clues. They embark on an epic adventure across the playground to find the buried treasure. All is not what it seems however as they have to pass the scary teacher and escape from the formidable “Bear Trap”. Will the young adventurers find the treasure, or will they get caught?
Devised by and starring young people aged 8-10
Directed by an over 18 filmmaker
00:05:04
United Kingdom
The ADC
Imagine a world where no-one was ever disappointed, because no-one had ever had a dream in the first place, the ability to dream had been taken away…
Directed and devised by young people aged 14-18
00:05:18
United Kingdom
Safe With Me
Alex is partially sighted and has recently been paired up with a wonderful guide dog called Willow. However danger lies ahead when he begins to question her safety at school.
Directed and devised by young people aged 11-14.
00:06:29
United Kingdom
Stage Fright
A young girl hides in a theatre dressing room, locking herself in she has nowhere to escape. Outside someone, or something, is desperate to get in. But are those thuds at the door for real, or just a figment of her imagination?
The film was written, directed and stars young people aged 14-18.
00:03:08
United Kingdom
Peridot
Peridot is a girl who likes to stand out and be herself. But everyone is putting her down, including her mum and school mates. Even her sister/best friend is always telling her she’s not good enough. Peri must fight for who she is and prove them wrong!
The film was written by and starring young people aged 14-18. The film was directed by an adult filmmaker.
00:03:59
United Kingdom
Grandma's Supercharged Birthday
When Granny goes out to the café for her birthday treat, she ends up finding a new lease of life at the bottom of a flat white!
The film was devised by and starring students aged with teacher supervision.
00:03:48
United Kingdom
The Abyss
The Abyss chronicles the burden of our minds – the insecurities, anxieties and the incessant battle of the self.
The film was made by students aged between 14 and 18.
00:03:06
United Kingdom
The Silence
It’s the little things that help to go a long way.
This film was made by young people aged 14 - 18.
00:02:44
United Kingdom
The Quest for the Golden Pinecone
Three very different groups of adventures embark on an outdoor quest, each with their own agenda. They are forced to work together after an unexpected supernatural entity leads them astray. Will they make it out of the forest and complete their quest?
00:16:00
United Kingdom
Rescue
When revered knight Sir Tristan has travelled far and wide only to be redirected to a princess in another castle, his sense of duty is enflamed. Refusing to allow his quest to be delayed a second longer he storms the tall tower to save his destined love, Princess Theodora. However, this damsel is more ‘hard-to-impress’ rather than ‘in distress’ and believes that while romance & chivalry aren’t dead, they at least need evaluating before she even considers happily ever after.
Writer & director aged over 18
Cast & additional crew aged under 18
00:03:35
United Kingdom
Fairyocious
SIMON : ”I want to be a girl, mommy.” Alma freezes. She doesn’t know how to react: from now on, her 8-year-old son wants to dress up like a fairy to go to school. She asks for help from her neighbors. Soon the whole building is debating on Simon’s choice for gender orientation.
00:13:21
France
Hunting Wolves
Sam explores an abandoned house and finds more than she was looking for
00:07:13
United Kingdom
Limbo
An intelligence operative meets up with a conspiracy theorist to retrieve his lost personal handbook.
00:17:00
Canada
WITCH of the WOODS
A young man walks alone through the woods encountering a bloody Mary like spirit.
00:02:05
WINDOW SEAT
Window Seat is a journey of a dying young writer and his desire to write one last story. As his deathbed awaits, he goes on a journey in search of a soulful story made out of flesh and blood.
As the winds change the tides of his journey, he meets a spectrum of people, which leads him to self-realisation.
02:00:00
India
Benson
Benson's back, having spent the past seven years locked inside his creator's subconscious. He's been through it. He looks like shit. He's developed a penchant for reality TV and playground swings. He's also somewhat imaginary. A meditation on friendship and Bensons, this piece examines shared grief and the lost creations of childhood.
00:15:00
United Kingdom
Boy Genius
A boy grows up a genius and learns what life is all about.
00:02:03
United Kingdom
Scooter Boy
In this all-new drama by award-winning director Ewan Pipe, Ethan Bell (nicknamed "Scooter Boy") must deal with the harshness of life and the memories and grief that still haunts him from his past.
This is a story of being you, dealing with your feelings and dealing with your past.
Can Scooter Boy let go of his past and move one? And what is it that haunts Scooter Boy so much?
00:06:21
Ireland
Ole, Benni und der Rest des Universums
Oles Freund Benni hat das Down-Syndrom. Doch das hat Ole nie gestört. Bis die große Schwimmfreizeit bevorsteht und die anderen Kinder im Verein nicht wollen, dass Benni mitkommt. Denn jetzt muss Ole sich für eine Seite entscheiden und lernen, zu sich und seinem Freund zu stehen. Dass Ole zum ersten Mal verliebt ist, macht die Sache auch nicht leichter...
That his friend Benni has the Down syndrome, Ole (11) has never disturbed so far. But now - on the threshold of childhood to youth - their friendship is changing. Ole is in love for the first time and suddenly it's no longer easy to stand by his friend ...
00:22:53
Germany
REFLECTION
‘𝑷𝒂𝒖𝒍 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓.. 𝑨 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔‘
Paul's life has crumbled around him and a deep depression has consumed him. He decides to do the unthinkable and end his own life but is interrupted by little Katie Ryan who is lost in the Forrest.
Together they set off on a journey in search of Katie's parents.
The innocence of Katie's questions forces Paul to reflect on his life and the act he almost committed moments earlier.
Katie has no recollection of which way she came from and many of Paul's questions go unanswered.
They both need each other right now but as they venture further and further into the woods dark secrets lurk in the shadows and the stench of a sordid history is ingrained in the soil they walk on
00:12:08
Ireland
The Mirror
When a young girl discovers a mysterious antique mirror in the basement of her ailing grandmother’s house, she accidentally opens a window between time that allows her to cross over into war-torn Nazi-occupied Poland.
00:21:42
Australia
Valmar - Nyakleves
Nyakleves/Wallop
"Dont do drugs, eat bananas!"
A song against drug-use, especially by youngsters.
00:03:19
Hungary
Fata Morgana
Three women living life as nomads. Christina travels the world, Anna takes her daughter wherever she goes, and Rachel has made her home under a branch roof, in a tent and in a cave .
What does each woman pack in her knapsack before she sets out on her own?
The movie confronts the conflict between the stability of motherhood and life at home, and the yearning to wander
00:11:04
O, My Friend
Two estranged best friends unexpectedly meet again after years apart, in a place close to their hearts. But a joyful reunion is disturbed by haunting memories and a past tragedy that can no longer be avoided.
A drama set in rural South Wales, O, My Friend is an exploration of love, loss, and the power of female friendship.
00:15:00
United Kingdom
FLUFFYPUNK
Fluffypunk documents the insecurities, instabilities, and conflicts that plague the life of a performer. Trying to balance the responsibilities of parenthood, artistic integrity, and personal happiness is anything but fluffy!
Starring Jonny Fluffypunk aka Jon Seagrave a comedy performance poet based in Stroud Gloucester UK.
00:10:33
United Kingdom
Autumn Never Dies
Danny is an ostrich living in Glasgow with his roommate, a monkey named Nelson. After a failed suicide attempt over the break up with his girlfriend, Danny seeks counselling to help him recover from his ordeal and get his life back on track. After meeting Lizzie during a pub quiz, friendship quickly turns into romance but when Danny’s former lover reaches out to him again, he finds his new relationship under threat. With his life at a crossroads, Danny reaches out to his psychiatrist for advice that would eventually help him decide whether to open past wounds or plan a new future with Lizzie.
00:25:16
United Kingdom
This is ME
'This is ME' is a short film exploring 'Spoon Theory' told through the eyes of a young woman struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ ME.
Ally struggles to get across town in time for a job interview that she can't afford to miss. With the burden of an invisible disability and the expectations of her Father weighing heavy, Ally just might be pushed to breaking point.
00:09:18
United Kingdom
the end of the heroes
A child, in her search for her father, discovers, by chance, that her new neighbour wears
an electronic bracelet on his ankle. Believing that she has befriended a super-hero, the child sets to
the task of gaining his confidence, so that he will help her to find her father.
01:16:00
France
The Least
The deterioration of a warm, innocent young heart through traumatic events in the Second World War. James Bailey fights for his country and his life behind enemy lines.
00:24:18
United Kingdom
The Odd
The effects of anxiety and depression create a sudden body paralysis.
00:01:57
United Kingdom