September 2024 Programme
A Year to Life
A life-altering choice is made for a pre-teen boy on the anniversary of his mother’s death. Inspired by a true story, filmed in South Los Angeles, A YEAR TO LIFE is a captivating short film that shows how one moment can change a person’s life. It’s a unique story of one person’s selfless act to make sure that an underserved youth has a chance to rise and thrive. It pays homage to those street soldiers who unconditionally sacrifice themselves in order to give back to their communities, and make a difference for the next generation.
Cocoon
After receiving a gift from a mysterious stranger, 7-year old Alex begins to unravel his own sense of gender expression. Despite living in an unsafe household, Alex finds comfort in his blooming femininity and the confinement of his bedroom, his cocoon.
Cry Like a Guy
Why do we cry? What’s going on inside those little droplets of emotion, and why is it more stigmatised for men than women?
KIERAN BEW (HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’, Netflix’s ‘Warrior’) guides us on a mixed-media adventure through the senses. A feast for the feels.
Over the course of 4 and a half hectic minutes – we take a look at tears from 3 different angles; biologically, sociologically and historically. We discuss how crying has swung in and out of fashion and what has informed our current consensus on this intriguing bodily function.
Directed by Ant Rubinstein & written by Catherine Willoughby, the duo behind the award winning ‘There’s Something Going Around’.
DAYTRIP
A little fuzz creature wakes up one morning, deciding he’s finally climbing the mountain he’s always been afraid of climbing. He imagines himself being at the top, making it there all by himself. But as his journey continues, he soon finds that it’s better to be with friends than to be alone.
DOPAMINE
At the height of the pandemic, a young girl procrastinates by fantasizing of perfection, only to be interrupted by the specter of her own chaotic self-hatred.
Dusty Do Good
A young boy with Down’s syndrome escapes his troubled home life through an old cowboy TV show and models himself on the main character. He roams his estate as a righteous lawman, but things take a darker turn when he runs into a local gang.
Good Nightmare
In the music video Good Nightmare, the protagonist navigates the stages of his life within the setting of a theater. Guided by a young boy symbolizing his inner child, he transitions from the oppressive grip of religious constraints to a rebellious, drug-fueled youth. This chaotic phase ultimately gives way to a more balanced and healthy adulthood. The theater setting, with its shifting scenes, mirrors his emotional and psychological journey, illustrating the trials and transformations he experiences before reaching a place of inner peace and self-acceptance.
Over the Edge
Uche and Osaze are a young Nigerian couple living in London in the late 60s with their daughter, Iggy. On a quiet Sunday afternoon, they receive a worrying letter from home. Iggy decides to eavesdrop on her parents’ conversation, putting herself in a dangerous position.
Salt Line
As the counter-culture movement sweeps across the world, faith is fading, and society is undergoing a seismic shift. “Salt Line” tells the poignant story of Connolly and Tim, who must navigate their wavering connection in the midst of a world turned against faith.
SEXTOU
A party for college students awakens curiosity about different relationship and partnership options.
Space(s)
Space(s) is a short film centered around, Naira, a young man trying to find his place in the world. Feeling imprisoned by his surroundings he decides to take matters into his own hands, in an attempt to escape his reality. A moment of magic soon turns into a nightmare, when Naira bumps into two people from the world he is trying to break free from. As people we all move through different Space(s) each and every day. Space(s) is a film everyone can relate to, highlighting the importance of green spaces, intergenerational connection, role models and not letting anything stop you from being you.
The Bell
Life is good at Padre Pi’s town because of his magical bell. But what about the other towns? Society will crumble in our 11-minute short film
The Exhibit
An artist battling against his perception of reality while trying to maintain a connection to his family.
The Last Skiers
Many European nations in 2023 saw their warmest January day ever, with temperatures topping 20 °C in some areas of northern Italy. According to researchers, the amount of snowfall in the Alps has decreased by more than 53% as of 2023. These projections put the future of ski resorts located at low and medium altitudes, as well as those without artificial snow systems, in greater danger.
Exploring the topic from the perspective of Italian skiers who have seen the slopes they learnt to ski on turn into arid hills, the documentary becomes a touching statement on the fragility of nature.
The protagonists experienced locations in Italy where global warming occurred decades ago. They skied in the Como province in the 1990s for the last time before the ski resorts were eventually closed forever, together with the other 249 Italian ski resorts that were abandoned in recent years because of the climate crisis.
Topless
In 2022, Louise Butcher was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer. Six weeks after her double mastectomy, she ran the virtual Marathon. Determined to prove that not having breasts does not define you, nor your femininity. Louise now runs topless, daily. This April, Louise will embark on her biggest challenge yet, aiming to be the first woman to run the London Marathon topless.
Why?
Grandma has gone…to the great beyond. But where exactly is that?
Indie, her inquisitive 6-year-old grandchild is going to find out.
But no-one will tell her, and now she’s been left with a last minute alternative to a babysitter – the clueless manchild Liam from down the road at Number 5.
Indie’s imagination has run wild and she’s taking it upon herself to find Grandma. Enlisting Liam in her investigations and armed with a pair of binoculars, some hand drawn missing posters and reems of sellotape, Indie is about to make some big discoveries.
Why? is a hilariously disarming dark comedy tackling some of life’s big questions. With genuine laughs and unexpected insights it reveals our inabilitiy to confront our grief.