2022 FESTIVAL: Award Winners
Congrats to all the Officially Selected, Nominated, and of course Award Winning filmmakers.
And that’s a wrap on the 2022 edition of Kino Short Film presents “The People’s Film Festival”. We hope you’ve had a great time over the past week, whether that be with us in the cinema or streaming online. Last night the festival came to its climax with our Awards Gala. Congrats to all the Officially Selected, Nominated, and of course Award Winning filmmakers.
Audience Awards
Grand Prize Winner
James Newman (Viskar I Vinden)
Recipient of our £1000 Film Fund
Best Micro-Budget Short
OUT OF ORBIT
directed by Jess Kay & Dann Emmons,
written by Jess Kay
produced by Jess Kay, Dann Emmons, Raghav Mukerji, & Charlotte Hardick
When Esme’s mum dies, her world falls apart. She struggles to navigate her day to day life until she gets an idea, fueled by their mutual love of space, which may lead to the relief she so longs for.
Best Low Budget Short
VISKAR I VINDEN
written & directed by James Newman
produced by Harry Newman & James Newman
A feisty forensic investigator is gathering evidence at the murder scene. Until the corpse posthumously communicates with the investigators through its decaying farts. They must conduct a most unusual interview to catch the killer.
Best Sponsored Short
STANDSTILL
written & directed by Katia Shannon
produced by Gareth Brown & Katia Shannon
A fight to get through the gridlock becomes a fight for survival for Amanda as her body comes to a standstill.
Audience Award
Myrtle
directed by Patricia McCormack
written by Megan Barker
produced by Shaheen Schleifer
Myrtle, a trailer park Mom from Indiana, cooks dinner for her son. But something's not quite right. This kitchen is anonymous, industrial, and Myrtle's working to a deadline. As her composure unravels, we realize that 21 grams is all that separates life from death.
Jury Awards
Best Drama Short
PORTRAIT
written & directed by Keir Siewert, produced by Alix Austin
'Based on real accounts, a model takes matters into her own hands
to expose a serial predator in the photography world.'
Rhetta, an industrious model, sets up a shoot with a predatory photographer, notorious for his coercion tactics and aggressive actions. However, little does he realise that Rhetta has orchestrated this meeting as a sting to expose his inappropriate behaviour on an online video live stream.
Winner of the Genera grant, Portrait is a tense drama built on research from interviews with 21 models about their experiences overcoming the abuse of power in the photography world.
Best Comedy Short
THANK YOU SO MUCH
written & directed by Tomasz Frymorgen
produced by Brianna Ferguson & Tomasz Frymorgen
During the UK's Thursday evening clap for healthcare workers, an over-virtuous neighbour is challenged by the nurse next door. His only way to avoid public humiliation is to crush the heretic before him.
This short satirical film searches for the line between encouraging virtue and enforcing submission in pandemic Britain. It’s about class divides, witch hunts and the darkness beneath our most righteous performances.
Best Horror Short
#NOFILTER
written & directed by Nathan Crooker
produced by Nathan Crooker & Maya Korn
#Nofilter addresses the ever-growing issue surrounding Body Dysmorphic Disorder through the eyes of Beth, an insecure twenty-something, who becomes obsessed with an insidious filter, leaving her to question true beauty. It is a cautionary tale for all those obsessed by "likes," being flawless, and thinking that somehow social media is the magical cure-all for happiness. The film stars Kelly Lamor Wilson and Misha Osherovich from Blumhouse's "Freaky."
Best Documentary Short
FINDING BEAST
written & directed by Olivia Accardo
produced by Will Mason, Sofia Snyder & Kristen Politis
Best Animated Short
MEMENTO MORI
directed by Paul O'Flanagan
written by Paul O'Flanagan & Laura O'Flanagan
produced by Louise Ní Chonchúir
A storm brews over Victorian Dublin as post-mortem photographer, Mr.Huxley, returns to his hallowed practice within the gloomy townhouse in which he resides. His latest subject is a recently-deceased young woman, whose presence conjures the demons of Huxley's character - compelling him to confront the narcissistic life he has chosen to lead.
Best Performance in a Drama
Olivia Dowd in EMBERS
Best Performance in a Comedy
Graham Dickson in THANK YOU SO MUCH
Best Director
Kier Siewert, PORTRAIT
Best Original Screenplay
Tom Ganley, EMBERS
Best Cinematography
Derek Branscombe, STANDSTILL
Best Editing
Keir Siewert, PORTRAIT
Best Original Score
Zac Mcfadzean, FISHWIFE
Best Production Design
Jess Kay & Dann Emmons, OUT OF ORBIT
Best First Time Filmmaker
Tom Ganley, EMBERS
2022 FESTIVAL - Opening Night Screenings & Party
Come watch 15 amazing short films, party & network with filmmakers.
April 2 | 8:00pm | Whirled Cinema, London
A torrid affair with the Moon… A Palestinian detainee on a hunger strike… A woman’s estranged cousin arrives unannounced after a breast cancer diagnosis…
Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouse for the opening night bash of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 15 amazing short films.
Afterwards, party with the filmmakers and industry professionals. And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
What’s On
NYC! SOUND (BACK) ON
directed by Gilad Avnat & Stav Nahum, produced by Hannah Janal
Celebrate New York's reopening with this audio-visual homage to the greatest city in the world.
900+ sounds sampled. 6 days of shooting. Countless days of editing. As New Yorkers eagerly await a full reopening, the Bonamaze directing duo celebrates the spirit of the city with the release of their new short, “NYC! Sound (back) On.” The goal of this creative, audio-visual homage is to capture the heartbeat of the Big Apple like never before, with a special emphasis on sound that brings the city’s diverse culture to vibrant life. Selected as Vimeo Staff Pick - Best of the Month and winner of Best Unscripted and Best Use of Sound & Music at Berlin Commercial 2021.
NYC! SOUND (BACK) ON is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
LIFE SKILLS
written, produced, & directed by Gino Evans
Life Skills tells the story of Nathan, a former soldier who is struggling with life after serving in the armed forces. When Nathan’s world is collapsing and he is at his lowest point, he seeks respite by taking a unique path to try to overcome his problems.
LIFE SKILLS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION
produced & directed by Angharad Gladding, written by Paula Harris
Full of excited anticipation, a poet plans to go to a book party. Then along comes depression. A film about yearning simply to be able to clean your teeth and leave the house.
Based on the poem "I was going to go to Dorothea Lasky’s book party in Brooklyn, but instead I stayed on the couch with my depression, not crying" by Paula Harris
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
JAHANNAM
written & directed by Hamza Pool, produced by Elena Queally & Daisy Ward
A victim of Israel’s use of administrative detention, a Palestinian detainee goes on a hunger strike after being separated from his daughter and incarcerated without trial or charge.
Inspired by recent cases, "Jahannam" tackles the issue of administrative detention and Israel's use of this practice to imprison thousands of Palestinians for lengthy periods of time. The film also explores the use of hunger strikes by detainees as a form of protest, and how the Israeli prison system punishes such resistance.
JAHANNAM is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
TINA AND PETER
directed by Dan Hodgson, written by Adam McNicol & Tracey Collins, produced by Brainwrap Comedy
Long-time Tina Turner enthusiast and tea expert, Tina T'urner Tea Lady, runs a greasy spoon café with Peter Longbody, Sheffield's disappointing answer to Alan Sugar. But in this brave new world of skinny macchiatti and pumpkin spiced lattes, how will these old school oddballs fare?
TINA AND PETER is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
MILK
written & directed by Celia Jaspers, produced by Celia Jaspers, Auriga Martin & Juanita Deely
When she sees an old man unable to pay for his milk, a young girl has a change of heart.
MILK is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
MORE JUICE
written & directed by Gabriel Thibodeau, produced by Colton Mooney & Gabriel Thibodeau
Tess avoids her breast cancer diagnosis while housesitting her childhood home. When her estranged cousin arrives unannounced to “comfort” her, it's clear he has unresolved issues of his own.
MORE JUICE is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
Intermission
YOSHI FUNABASHI
written & directed by Mattia Ramberti, produced by Martina Abbado
A stylised portrait surrounding Yoshi Funabashi, founder of Studio Ypsilon: a luxury atelier designing Italian classics with a Japanese touch. By mixing his sophisticated heritage with a fascination for Italian music, Yoshi’s character becomes the embodiment of the “Opera Connoisseur”.
YOSHI FUNABASHI is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
FEAST
directed by Gillian Harker, written by Brian Coyle & Gillian Harker, produced by Curzana Productions
A woman reverts into self-loathing and food abuse after her actions cause a relationship to fail - the fallout documented in voice notes and lack of responses.
FEAST is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME
directed by Harry Plowden
An animation sort of about nightclubs.
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
THE PITCH
written & directed by Eno Freedman Brodmann, produced by Gon Tarragona
The Pitch is a satirical short film that spoofs the advertising industry by imagining a potential collaboration between chicken nuggets and bluetooth speakers. Starring Lourdes Hernández, it follows a call between an agency creative and director trying to one up each other on the most important product of the year...vegan chicken nuggets. Ridiculous, absurd, yet only too real, The Pitch is a commentary on the agony of the creative process until it all becomes a mess.
THE PITCH is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
ALONE TOGETHER
written & directed by Aglaja Filipovic
produced by Alisa Radovanac
Returning home, under the strange circumstances, two strangers must share a hotel room for one night.
ALONE TOGETHER is an Official Selection in our Micro Budget Category.
MYRTLE
directed by Patricia McCormack, written by Megan Barker, produced by Shaheen Schleifer
Myrtle, a trailer park Mom from Indiana, cooks dinner for her son. But something's not quite right. This kitchen is anonymous, industrial, and Myrtle's working to a deadline. As her composure unravels, we realize that 21 grams is all that separates life from death.
MYRTLE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THE GOSSIP
written & directed by Rolfin Nyhus, produced by Tara Trangmar & Rolfin Nyhus
A young woman's self-esteem shatters when her best friend launches into a tirade.
Set in Margate, a coastal town in the South East of Britain, The Gossip explores the moral and interpersonal effects of gossip between two best friends.
Careless talk and gossip occur in all walks of life and can create rifts in the closest of relationships. Repairing this damage requires compassion and understanding. Traits that are often most needed when they are least accessible. Healing a once loving relationship can be the hardest task of all.
THE GOSSIP is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THE LAST DELIVERY
directed by Alessio Ciancianaini, written by Alessio Ciancianaini & Irene Fraschetti, produced by Rifugio Produzioni
Vera orders pizza for dinner, but her date doesn't show up. She asks Giulia, the delivery girl, to stay for dinner. Between mouthfuls, the two women talk about their lives.
THE LAST DELIVERY is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
Opening Night Networking Party
After the screenings stick around for the Afterparty and our Late Night Grindhouse which features our best Horror, Sci-Fi and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
2022 FESTIVAL - Late Night Grindhouse
After our Opening Night Party, stick around for our Late Night Grindhouse which features our best Horror and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
April 2 | 11:30pm I Whirled Cinema
A post-mortem photographer haunted in the night… A heroin addict pursued by a menacing figure… A selfie filter that isn’t all it seems…
After the official Opening Night Party, stick around for our Late Night Grindhouse which features our best Horror and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
Grindhouse-Only tickets available, but if you buy a ticket to the full Opening Night festivities the Grindhouse is included.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
What’s On
HUNGER
written, produced, & directed by Mark Dollard
A heroin addict is pursued by a menacing figure.
HUNGER is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
#NOFILTER
written & directed by Nathan Crooker, produced by Nathan Crooker & Maya Korn
#Nofilter addresses the ever-growing issue surrounding Body Dysmorphic Disorder through the eyes of Beth, an insecure twenty-something, who becomes obsessed with an insidious filter, leaving her to question true beauty. It is a cautionary tale for all those obsessed by "likes," being flawless, and thinking that somehow social media is the magical cure-all for happiness. The film stars Kelly Lamor Wilson and Misha Osherovich from Blumhouse's "Freaky."
#NOFILTER is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
MEMENTO MORI
directed by Paul O'Flanagan, written by Paul O'Flanagan & Laura O'Flanagan, produced by Louise Ní Chonchúir
A storm brews over Victorian Dublin as post-mortem photographer, Mr.Huxley, returns to his hallowed practice within the gloomy townhouse in which he resides. His latest subject is a recently-deceased young woman, whose presence conjures the demons of Huxley's character - compelling him to confront the narcissistic life he has chosen to lead.
MEMENTO MORI is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
PETER THE PENGUIN
written & directed by Andrew Rutter, produced by Joanna Caldwell & Ashley Gardiner
Nigel is on his way to meet his partner's daughter Emily for the first time. With high expectations in tow, he's hoping to make a great impression.
PETER THE PENGUIN is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
THIS IS ZOE
directed by Stephen Gallacher, written & produced by Hayley Reeve
Zoe's reserved nature speaks volumes when her familiar, unwanted inner critic comes out to play.
Off Competition Selection
2:15
written, produced, directed by Matteo Valentini
A girl running for her life finds out that the monster she is escaping from, could be closer than she thinks.
Off Competition Selection
THE LAST CONFESSION
directed by Dustin Curtis Murphy, written by Kev Hopgood, produced by Kev Hopgood and Marius Smuts
Franz – an old, dying man, and former Nazi, calls a priest to his bedside for his last confession. But Father Kramer finds him chillingly unafraid and unrepentant. The story Franz tells, and what happens next, will go beyond the darkest imaginings of his confessor.
Kino Original - Off Competition Selection
BAINNE
written & directed by Jack Reynor, produced by Lara Hickey & Emer O'Shea
In the last year of The Great Famine in Ireland, a stoic farmhand survives working for the local landlord. When he encounters a ghostly figure stealing milk his morality is questioned, and is beguiled on a journey of faith.
BAINNE is nominated in our Sponsored Category.
Show Up Early for More Great Films
(and to party with filmmakers)
Swing by earlier for the opening night bash of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 15 amazing short films. Afterwards, party with the filmmakers and industry professionals. And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
2022 FESTIVAL - Afternoon Screenings
Come watch 12 amazing short films and networking with filmmakers.
April 9 | Doors: 4:00 PM | Show Starts: 4:30 I Whirled Cinema
A Medieval soldier’s plea for peace… A mission to rescue the ghost of a cat… Neighbours attempting to one-up each other during the weekly lockdown clap…
Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouses for some afternoon film viewings as part of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 12 amazing short films.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
LINEUP
CLOUDS
written & directed by David Yorke, produced by Phil Beastall
A young boy struggling with depression navigates through his daily routine, while being followed by a grey cloud.
CLOUDS is an Official Selection in our Micro Budget Category.
SHALLOW
directed & produced by Paul Ashton, written by Joe Johnsey
Barry and Larry dig deep into society.
SHALLOW is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
PELICANS
directed by Ellie Heydon, written by Toto Bruin, produced by Lydia Bland & Ellie Heydon
Pelicans are a symbol of the process of letting go. They are birds who gather together in order to overcome struggle with the knowledge that they are most likely to succeed as a combined unit. Our story follows 5 grieving teenagers trying to comprehend and navigate their personal loss. The film is an aesthetically driven piece set against the vast expanse of the British coastline. It finds the friends in a slightly comedic limbo between denial and acceptance. The film is structured around the changing tide, moving in waves and healing our group of misfits until finally they are able to head from the bizarre purgatory of their seaside sadness back into the real world.
PELICANS is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
UNWRAPPED
written & directed by Eva Gauley, produced by Oli Falcon & Will Bradbury
An uncomfortable encounter during a video call.
UNWRAPPED is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
SHE
written & directed by Matt Greenhalgh, produced by Ryan Bennet
A frantic young woman struggles against an unforgiving inner voice that battles against all logic, rhyme or reason... Compelling her to endure a physical, mental journey that takes her right to the very edge.
SHE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
FINDING BEAST
written & directed by Olivia Accardo, produced by Will Mason, Sofia Snyder & Kristen Politis
While Olivia’s parents prepare to sell their NJ home and relocate to Florida, Olivia puts her life in LA on hold to embark upon an important mission – she must rescue the ghost of her childhood cat from her family’s home before it’s too late.
FINDING BEASTis an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
Intermission
BLINKERS
written & directed by Sophia Capasso, produced by TUTTI TUTTI Productions
Two young women, their lives meticulously intertwined, are each on a fast paced journey to very different destinations.
BLINKERS is a short film about the cracks we don’t see splitting in the rollercoaster that is modern life and how two experiences of one night can be drastically dissimilar.
BLINKERS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
DUNDERWHELP
directed & produced by Jasper Valentine, written by Mark Little & Jasper Valentine
Two soldiers have fled the field of a viscous and bloody battle, only to be confronted by each other in this clash of the cowards.
DUNDERWHELP is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
WANK
written, produced, & directed by Christian Gordine
A man is tortured by the memories of a relationship that ended as he spends his days alone during lockdown.
WANK is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
SOGGY BISCUIT
written & directed by Emma Jesse, produced by Oli Falcon
A group of soldiers travelling through a war torn British countryside take cover for the evening ... they decide to play a bizarre and unsettling game.
Soggy Biscuit is a short dark comedy exploring toxic masculinity, men's mental health and how so often peer pressure, humiliation and brutality acts as a substitute for emotional vulnerability and support.
SOGGY BISCUIT is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
EMBERS
written, produced, & directed by Tom Ganley
Alice sits alone at a restaurant, waiting for her date to arrive...
EMBERS is nominated in our Low Budget Category.
STICK AROUND FOR OUR AWARDS GALA & BEST OF SHOW SCREENING
Starting at 7:30 we’re screening the 9 Nominees of our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
2022 FESTIVAL - Awards Gala & Afterparty
Watch our 9 Nominees for our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
April 9 | 7:00pm | Whirled Cinema
We’re screening the 9 Nominees for our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
OUT OF ORBIT
directed by Jess Kay & Dann Emmons, written by Jess Kay, produced by Jess Kay, Dann Emmons, Raghav Mukerji, & Charlotte Hardick
When Esme’s mum dies, her world falls apart. She struggles to navigate her day to day life until she gets an idea, fueled by their mutual love of space, which may lead to the relief she so longs for.
OUT OF ORBIT is nominated in our Micro-Budget Category.
PORTRAIT
written & directed by Keir Siewert, produced by Alix Austin
'Based on real accounts, a model takes matters into her own hands
to expose a serial predator in the photography world.'
Rhetta, an industrious model, sets up a shoot with a predatory photographer, notorious for his coercion tactics and aggressive actions. However, little does he realise that Rhetta has orchestrated this meeting as a sting to expose his inappropriate behaviour on an online video live stream.
Winner of the Genera grant, Portrait is a tense drama built on research from interviews with 21 models about their experiences overcoming the abuse of power in the photography world.
PORTRAIT is nominated in our Micro-Budget Category.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
directed by Elliot Taylor & Liam Francis, written by Liam Francis, Elliot Taylor, Dann Cooper & Lucy Hilton-Jones, produced by Lucy Hilton-Jones
A listless Luna makes big life changes by leaving her boyfriend for the Moon. But when communication breaks down and the world is up in arms, she wonders how she can get him back into orbit, and her own life back on track.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
A TREE FELL TODAY
directed by Oliver Crawford, written by Oliver Crawford & Rob King, produced by Simone McIntyre
Elise revisits the traumatic memories of her lover Jessica committing suicide due to the catastrophic death of their child, struggling to escape the eternal circle of anguish and misery she tries to move forward but she is stuck in an endless loop.
A TREE FELL TODAY is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
LOVE YA LIKE POISON!
directed by Max Azulay & Rosie Yadid, written by Rosie Yadid, produced by Sarah Epstein & Rosie Yadid
Twenty-something Louise returns to NYC after university abroad. She is reunited with her firecracker of a Jewish mother, Nadine, and their relationship seems to pick up right where it left off.
While Nadine wants her back for good, Lou is desperately trying not to get too comfortable. When she reveals news of her engagement, old wounds are reopened as Nadine reveals secrets about her own failed marriage.
LOVE YA LIKE POISON! is nominated in our Low Budget Category.
VISKAR I VINDEN
written & directed by James Newman, produced by Harry Newman & James Newman
A feisty forensic investigator is gathering evidence at the murder scene. Until the corpse posthumously communicates with the investigators through its decaying farts. They must conduct a most unusual interview to catch the killer.
VISKAR I VINDEN is nominated in our Low Budget Category.
FISHWIFE
written, produced, & directed by Beth Park
In wild 18th century Britain a lonely woman discovers that her menstrual cycle is of interest to a stranger.
FISHWIFE is nominated in our Sponsored Category.
STANDSTILL
written & directed by Katia Shannon, produced by Gareth Brown & Katia Shannon
A fight to get through the gridlock becomes a fight for survival for Amanda as her body comes to a standstill.
STANDSTILL is nominated in our Sponsored Category.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
written & directed by Tomasz Frymorgen, produced by Brianna Ferguson & Tomasz Frymorgen
During the UK's Thursday evening clap for healthcare workers, an over-virtuous neighbour is challenged by the nurse next door. His only way to avoid public humiliation is to crush the heretic before him.
This short satirical film searches for the line between encouraging virtue and enforcing submission in pandemic Britain. It’s about class divides, witch hunts and the darkness beneath our most righteous performances.
THANK YOU SO MUCH is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
The Big Pitch
All 9 Nominees will each give a 1 minute pitch of their next short film project. The audience will then narrow it down to the top 3 films - 1 Micro Budget Film, 1 Low Budget Film, and 1 Sponsored film.
Intermission
Drink + Mingle
Awards
Presentation
Award Nominations are split into two categories:
Honorary Awards (which are decided by the festival jury)
Film Fund Qualifying Awards (which are decided by the audience)
Audience Choice Spoiler
Audience members will have voted at all previous screenings leading up to the Awards Gala. The film with the highest audience vote will be chosen to compete with the top 3 nominees. The audience will have a moment to chat with the filmmakers before making their final decision on who wins the £1000 film fund.
Afterparty
Network and drink! Nuff said.
2022 FESTIVAL - Award Nominations
Check out our award nominations for the 2022 edition of The People’s Film Festival!
Our jury has just announced our full lineup of 40 Official Selections for this year’s edition of The People’s Film Festival. Out of those films the following have been nominated for awards. Winners will be announced at our Awards Gala, April 9th at Whirled Cinema.
FILM FUND QUALIFYING NOMINEES
The following 9 films will compete for our £1000 Film Fund which is granted based on audience vote.
Best Micro Budget Short
OUT OF ORBIT directed by Jess Kay & Dann Emmons, written by Jess Kay, produced by Jess Kay, Dann Emmons, Raghav Mukerji, & Charlotte Hardick
PORTRAIT written & directed by Keir Siewert, produced by Alix Austin
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART directed by Elliot Taylor & Liam Francis, written by Liam Francis, Elliot Taylor, Dann Cooper & Lucy Hilton-Jones, produced by Lucy Hilton-Jones
Best Low Budget Short
A TREE FELL TODAY directed by Oliver Crawford, written by Oliver Crawford & Rob King, produced by Simone McIntyre
LOVE YA LIKE POISON! directed by Max Azulay & Rosie Yadid, written by Rosie Yadid, produced by Sarah Epstein & Rosie Yadid
VISKAR I VINDEN written & directed by James Newman, produced by Harry Newman & James Newman
Best Sponsored Short
THANK YOU SO MUCH written & directed by Tomasz Frymorgen, produced by Brianna Ferguson & Tomasz Frymorgen
FISHWIFE written, produced, & directed by Beth Park
STANDSTILL written & directed by Katia Shannon, produced by Gareth Brown & Katia Shannon
Each nominated filmmaker will create a 1-minute video pitching their next short film, explaining how they would spend the £1000 Film Fund if granted. The overall WINNER will be awarded the £1,000 Film Fund based on Audience Vote. Audience Vote will also decide one winner per category which will receive other prizes from our sponsors.
HONORARY NOMINEES
Best Drama Short
EMBERS written, produced, & directed by Tom Ganley
PORTRAIT written & directed by Keir Siewert, produced by Alix Austin
STANDSTILL written & directed by Katia Shannon, produced by Gareth Brown & Katia Shannon
Best Comedy Short
DUNDERWHELP directed & produced by Jasper Valentine, written by Mark Little & Jasper Valentine
THANK YOU SO MUCH written & directed by Tomasz Frymorgen, produced by Brianna Ferguson & Tomasz Frymorgen
VISKAR I VINDEN written & directed by James Newman, produced by Harry Newman & James Newman
Best Horror Short
FISHWIFE written, produced, & directed by Beth Park
MEMENTO MORI directed by Paul O'Flanagan, written by Paul O'Flanagan & Laura O'Flanagan, produced by Louise Ní Chonchúir
#NOFILTER written & directed by Nathan Crooker, produced by Nathan Crooker & Maya Korn
Best Documentary Short
FINDING BEAST written & directed by Olivia Accardo, produced by Will Mason, Sofia Snyder & Kristen Politis
YOSHI FUNABASHI written & directed by Mattia Ramberti, produced by Martina Abbado
Best Animated Short
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME directed by Harry Plowden
MEMENTO MORI directed by Paul O'Flanagan, written by Paul O'Flanagan & Laura O'Flanagan, produced by Louise Ní Chonchúir
Best Performance in a Drama
Victoria Diamond in STANDSTILL
Olivia Dowd in EMBERS
Sorcha Groundsell in PORTRAIT
Best Performance in a Comedy
Graham Dickson in THANK YOU SO MUCH
Emma Fassler in MORE JUICE
Jasper Valentine in Dunderwhelp
Best Director
Tom Ganley, EMBERS
Katia Shannon, STANDSTILL
Kier Siewert, PORTRAIT
Best Original Screenplay
Tom Ganley, EMBERS
Rosie Yadid, LOVE YA LIKE POISON!
Tomasz Frymorgen, THANK YOU SO MUCH
Best Cinematography
Derek Branscombe, STANDSTILL
David Grennan, BAINNE
David Witchell, OUT OF ORBIT
Best Editing
Bonamaze, NYC - SOUND (BACK) ON
Fiorella Santaniello, BLINKERS
Keir Siewert, PORTRAIT
Best Original Score
Claire Batchelor, OUT OF ORBIT
BYFYN, BLINKERS
Zac Mcfadzean, FISHWIFE
Best Production Design
Pollyanna Elston, FISHWIFE
Jess Kay & Dann Emmons, OUT OF ORBIT
Padraig O’Neill, BAINNE
Best First Time Filmmaker
Tom Ganley, EMBERS
Beth Park, FISHWIFE
Jack Reynor, BAINNE
Congratulations to all the Nominees!
2022 FESTIVAL - 40 Official Selections
We're excited to announce our full lineup of 40 films for 2022's edition of The People's Film Festival.
After announcing 3 Official Selections per month (with a total of 27 Official Selections announced over the course of our open submission period in 2021), we're now excited to share with you 13 more Official Selections as we announce our full lineup for 2022's edition of The People's Film Festival happening April 2-9.
Official Selections
ALONE TOGETHER
written & directed by Aglaja Filipovic
produced by Alisa Radovanac
Returning home, under the strange circumstances, two strangers must share a hotel room for one night.
ALONE TOGETHER is an Official Selection in our Micro Budget Category.
BAINNE
written & directed by Jack Reynor
produced by Lara Hickey & Emer O'Shea
In the last year of The Great Famine in Ireland, a stoic farmhand survives working for the local landlord. When he encounters a ghostly figure stealing milk his morality is questioned, and is beguiled on a journey of faith.
BAINNE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
BLINKERS
written & directed by Sophia Capasso
produced by TUTTI TUTTI Productions
Two young women, their lives meticulously intertwined, are each on a fast paced journey to very different destinations.
BLINKERS is a short film about the cracks we don’t see splitting in the rollercoaster that is modern life and how two experiences of one night can be drastically dissimilar.
BLINKERS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
CLOUDS
written & directed by David Yorke
produced by Phil Beastall
A young boy struggling with depression navigates through his daily routine, while being followed by a grey cloud.
CLOUDS is an Official Selection in our Micro Budget Category.
DUNDERWHELP
directed & produced by Jasper Valentine
written by Mark Little & Jasper Valentine
Two soldiers have fled the field of a viscous and bloody battle, only to be confronted by each other in this clash of the cowards.
DUNDERWHELP is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
EMBERS
written, produced, & directed by Tom Ganley
Alice sits alone at a restaurant, waiting for her date to arrive...
EMBERS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
FEAST
directed by Gillian Harker
written by Brian Coyle & Gillian Harker
produced by Curzana Productions
A woman reverts into self-loathing and food abuse after her actions cause a relationship to fail - the fallout documented in voice notes and lack of responses.
FEAST is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
FINDING BEAST
written & directed by Olivia Accardo
produced by Will Mason, Sofia Snyder & Kristen Politis
While Olivia’s parents prepare to sell their NJ home and relocate to Florida, Olivia puts her life in LA on hold to embark upon an important mission – she must rescue the ghost of her childhood cat from her family’s home before it’s too late.
FINDING BEASTis an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
FISHWIFE
written, produced, & directed by Beth Park
In wild 18th century Britain a lonely woman discovers that her menstrual cycle is of interest to a stranger.
FISHWIFE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THE GOSSIP
written & directed by Rolfin Nyhus
produced by Tara Trangmar & Rolfin Nyhus
A young woman's self-esteem shatters when her best friend launches into a tirade.
Set in Margate, a coastal town in the South East of Britain, The Gossip explores the moral and interpersonal effects of gossip between two best friends.
Careless talk and gossip occur in all walks of life and can create rifts in the closest of relationships. Repairing this damage requires compassion and understanding. Traits that are often most needed when they are least accessible. Healing a once loving relationship can be the hardest task of all.
THE GOSSIP is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
HUNGER
written, produced, & directed by Mark Dollard
A heroin addict is pursued by a menacing figure.
HUNGER is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME
directed by Harry Plowden
An animation sort of about nightclubs.
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
JAHANNAM
written & directed by Hamza Pool
produced by Elena Queally & Daisy Ward
A victim of Israel’s use of administrative detention, a Palestinian detainee goes on a hunger strike after being separated from his daughter and incarcerated without trial or charge.
Inspired by recent cases, "Jahannam" tackles the issue of administrative detention and Israel's use of this practice to imprison thousands of Palestinians for lengthy periods of time. The film also explores the use of hunger strikes by detainees as a form of protest, and how the Israeli prison system punishes such resistance.
JAHANNAM is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
THE LAST DELIVERY
directed by Alessio Ciancianaini
written by Alessio Ciancianaini & Irene Fraschetti
produced by Rifugio Produzioni
Vera orders pizza for dinner, but her date doesn't show up. She asks Giulia, the delivery girl, to stay for dinner. Between mouthfuls, the two women talk about their lives.
THE LAST DELIVERY is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
LIFE SKILLS
directed by Gino Evans
Life Skills tells the story of Nathan, a former soldier who is struggling with life after serving in the armed forces. When Nathan’s world is collapsing and he is at his lowest point, he seeks respite by taking a unique path to try to overcome his problems.
LIFE SKILLS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
LOVE YA LIKE POISON!
directed by Max Azulay & Rosie Yadid
written by Rosie Yadid
produced by Sarah Epstein & Rosie Yadid
Twenty-something Louise returns to NYC after university abroad. She is reunited with her firecracker of a Jewish mother, Nadine, and their relationship seems to pick up right where it left off.
While Nadine wants her back for good, Lou is desperately trying not to get too comfortable. When she reveals news of her engagement, old wounds are reopened as Nadine reveals secrets about her own failed marriage.
LOVE YA LIKE POISON! is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
MEMENTO MORI
directed by Paul O'Flanagan
written by Paul O'Flanagan & Laura O'Flanagan
produced by Louise Ní Chonchúir
A storm brews over Victorian Dublin as post-mortem photographer, Mr.Huxley, returns to his hallowed practice within the gloomy townhouse in which he resides. His latest subject is a recently-deceased young woman, whose presence conjures the demons of Huxley's character - compelling him to confront the narcissistic life he has chosen to lead.
MEMENTO MORI is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
MILK
written & directed by Celia Jaspers
produced by Celia Jaspers, Auriga Martin & Juanita Deely
When she sees an old man unable to pay for his milk, a young girl has a change of heart.
MILK is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
MORE JUICE
written & directed by Gabriel Thibodeau
produced by Colton Mooney & Gabriel Thibodeau
Tess avoids her breast cancer diagnosis while housesitting her childhood home. When her estranged cousin arrives unannounced to “comfort” her, it's clear he has unresolved issues of his own.
MORE JUICE is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
MYRTLE
directed by Patricia McCormack
written by Megan Barker
produced by Shaheen Schleifer
Myrtle, a trailer park Mom from Indiana, cooks dinner for her son. But something's not quite right. This kitchen is anonymous, industrial, and Myrtle's working to a deadline. As her composure unravels, we realize that 21 grams is all that separates life from death.
MYRTLE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
#NOFILTER
written & directed by Nathan Crooker
produced by Nathan Crooker & Maya Korn
#Nofilter addresses the ever-growing issue surrounding Body Dysmorphic Disorder through the eyes of Beth, an insecure twenty-something, who becomes obsessed with an insidious filter, leaving her to question true beauty. It is a cautionary tale for all those obsessed by "likes," being flawless, and thinking that somehow social media is the magical cure-all for happiness. The film stars Kelly Lamor Wilson and Misha Osherovich from Blumhouse's "Freaky."
#NOFILTER is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
NYC! SOUND (BACK) ON
directed by Gilad Avnat & Stav Nahum
produced by Hannah Janal
Celebrate New York's reopening with this audio-visual homage to the greatest city in the world.
900+ sounds sampled. 6 days of shooting. Countless days of editing. As New Yorkers eagerly await a full reopening, the Bonamaze directing duo celebrates the spirit of the city with the release of their new short, “NYC! Sound (back) On.” The goal of this creative, audio-visual homage is to capture the heartbeat of the Big Apple like never before, with a special emphasis on sound that brings the city’s diverse culture to vibrant life. Selected as Vimeo Staff Pick - Best of the Month and winner of Best Unscripted and Best Use of Sound & Music at Berlin Commercial 2021.
NYC! SOUND (BACK) ON is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION
produced & directed by Angharad Gladding
written by Paula Harris
Full of excited anticipation, a poet plans to go to a book party. Then along comes depression. A film about yearning simply to be able to clean your teeth and leave the house.
Based on the poem "I was going to go to Dorothea Lasky’s book party in Brooklyn, but instead I stayed on the couch with my depression, not crying" by Paula Harris
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
OUT OF ORBIT
directed by Jess Kay & Dann Emmons
written by Jess Kay
produced by Jess Kay, Dann Emmons, Raghav Mukerji, & Charlotte Hardick
When Esme’s mum dies, her world falls apart. She struggles to navigate her day to day life until she gets an idea, fueled by their mutual love of space, which may lead to the relief she so longs for.
OUT OF ORBIT is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
PELICANS
directed by Ellie Heydon
written by Toto Bruin
produced by Lydia Bland & Ellie Heydon
Pelicans are a symbol of the process of letting go. They are birds who gather together in order to overcome struggle with the knowledge that they are most likely to succeed as a combined unit. Our story follows 5 grieving teenagers trying to comprehend and navigate their personal loss. The film is an aesthetically driven piece set against the vast expanse of the British coastline. It finds the friends in a slightly comedic limbo between denial and acceptance. The film is structured around the changing tide, moving in waves and healing our group of misfits until finally they are able to head from the bizarre purgatory of their seaside sadness back into the real world.
PELICANS is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
PETER THE PENGUIN
written & directed by Andrew Rutter
produced by Joanna Caldwell & Ashley Gardiner
Nigel is on his way to meet his partner's daughter Emily for the first time. With high expectations in tow, he's hoping to make a great impression.
PETER THE PENGUIN is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
THE PITCH
written & directed by Eno Freedman Brodmann
produced by Gon Tarragona
The Pitch is a satirical short film that spoofs the advertising industry by imagining a potential collaboration between chicken nuggets and bluetooth speakers. Starring Lourdes Hernández, it follows a call between an agency creative and director trying to one up each other on the most important product of the year...vegan chicken nuggets. Ridiculous, absurd, yet only too real, The Pitch is a commentary on the agony of the creative process until it all becomes a mess.
THE PITCH is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
PORTRAIT
written & directed by Keir Siewert
produced by Alix Austin
'Based on real accounts, a model takes matters into her own hands
to expose a serial predator in the photography world.'
Rhetta, an industrious model, sets up a shoot with a predatory photographer, notorious for his coercion tactics and aggressive actions. However, little does he realise that Rhetta has orchestrated this meeting as a sting to expose his inappropriate behaviour on an online video live stream.
Winner of the Genera grant, Portrait is a tense drama built on research from interviews with 21 models about their experiences overcoming the abuse of power in the photography world.
PORTRAIT is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
SHALLOW
directed & produced by Paul Ashton
written by Joe Johnsey
Barry and Larry dig deep into society.
SHALLOW is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
SHE
written & directed by Matt Greenhalgh
produced by Ryan Bennet
A frantic young woman struggles against an unforgiving inner voice that battles against all logic, rhyme or reason... Compelling her to endure a physical, mental journey that takes her right to the very edge.
SHE is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
SOGGY BISCUIT
written & directed by Emma Jesse
produced by Oli Falcon
A group of soldiers travelling through a war torn British countryside take cover for the evening ... they decide to play a bizarre and unsettling game.
Soggy Biscuit is a short dark comedy exploring toxic masculinity, men's mental health and how so often peer pressure, humiliation and brutality acts as a substitute for emotional vulnerability and support.
SOGGY BISCUIT is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
STANDSTILL
written & directed by Katia Shannon
produced by Gareth Brown & Katia Shannon
A fight to get through the gridlock becomes a fight for survival for Amanda as her body comes to a standstill.
STANDSTILL is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
written & directed by Tomasz Frymorgen
produced by Brianna Ferguson & Tomasz Frymorgen
During the UK's Thursday evening clap for healthcare workers, an over-virtuous neighbour is challenged by the nurse next door. His only way to avoid public humiliation is to crush the heretic before him.
This short satirical film searches for the line between encouraging virtue and enforcing submission in pandemic Britain. It’s about class divides, witch hunts and the darkness beneath our most righteous performances.
THANK YOU SO MUCH is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
TINA AND PETER
directed by Dan Hodgson
written by Adam McNicol & Tracey Collins
produced by Brainwrap Comedy
Long-time Tina Turner enthusiast and tea expert, Tina T'urner Tea Lady, runs a greasy spoon café with Peter Longbody, Sheffield's disappointing answer to Alan Sugar. But in this brave new world of skinny macchiatti and pumpkin spiced lattes, how will these old school oddballs fare?
TINA AND PETER is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
directed by Elliot Taylor & Liam Francis
written by Liam Francis, Elliot Taylor, Dann Cooper & Lucy Hilton-Jones
produced by Lucy Hilton-Jones
A listless Luna makes big life changes by leaving her boyfriend for the Moon. But when communication breaks down and the world is up in arms, she wonders how she can get him back into orbit, and her own life back on track.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART is an Official Selection in our Mirco-Budget Category.
A TREE FELL TODAY
directed by Oliver Crawford
written by Oliver Crawford & Rob King
produced by Simone McIntyre
Elise revisits the traumatic memories of her lover Jessica committing suicide due to the catastrophic death of their child, struggling to escape the eternal circle of anguish and misery she tries to move forward but she is stuck in an endless loop.
A TREE FELL TODAY is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
UNWRAPPED
written & directed by Eva Gauley
produced by Oli Falcon & Will Bradbury
An uncomfortable encounter during a video call.
UNWRAPPED is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
VISKAR I VINDEN
written & directed by James Newman
produced by Harry Newman & James Newman
A feisty forensic investigator is gathering evidence at the murder scene. Until the corpse posthumously communicates with the investigators through its decaying farts. They must conduct a most unusual interview to catch the killer.
VISKAR I VINDEN is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
WANK
written, produced, & directed by Christian Gordine
A man is tortured by the memories of a relationship that ended as he spends his days alone during lockdown.
WANK is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
YOSHI FUNABASHI
written & directed by Mattia Ramberti
produced by Martina Abbado
A stylised portrait surrounding Yoshi Funabashi, founder of Studio Ypsilon: a luxury atelier designing Italian classics with a Japanese touch. By mixing his sophisticated heritage with a fascination for Italian music, Yoshi’s character becomes the embodiment of the “Opera Connoisseur”.
YOSHI FUNABASHI is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
Festival Passes are now on sale!
The People’s Film Festival will be April 2 - 9 as a hybrid event with both live events & an online component.
As a pass holder you’ll get access to:
40 short films
Networking events
Q&A’s with filmmakers
Industry panels
Opening Night Party
Late Night Grindhouse
Awards Gala (vote for your favourite film to win our £1000 Film Fund!)
Afterparty
Free glass of champagne!
Festival Passes are £29, but you can get £10 OFF until February 28th with promo code TPFF2022earlybird
Online only passes give you access to:
40 short films streaming
Q&A’s with filmmakers
Industry panels
2021 FESTIVAL - Award Winners
Congrats to our Award Winners from The People’s Film Festival 2021!
We are excited to announce the winning films from our 2021 season of The People’s Film Festival!
Recipient of our £1000 Film Fund
SEND IN THE CLOWNS directed by Ben Ashton
Best Micro Budget Short
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL directed by Stephanie Upsall, produced by Lucy Hilton-Jones
Best Low Budget Short
THE RAPE CLAUSE directed by Jared Watmuff, produced by Sashi Arnold, Maria Hildebrand & Jared Watmuff
Best Sponsored Short
RUMORI directed by SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinaia), produced by The Basement
HONORARY WINNERS
The following winners have been chosen by our Festival Jury.
Best Drama Short
RUMORI directed by SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinaia)
Best Comedy Short
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL directed by Stephanie Upsall
Best Horror Short
PARTING FRENZY directed by Ryan Freda
Best Documentary Short
HOME STREAM directed by Giulia Gandini
Best Animated Short
STRANGE directed by Cameron Carr
Best Lockdown Short
I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL directed by Sam O'Mahony
Best Performance in a Drama
Maria Hildebrand in THE RAPE CLAUSE
*Honourable Mention to Ailish Symons in THE WIDOW
Best Performance in a Comedy
Katrin Larissa Kasper in APPETITE
Best Director
SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinai), RUMORI
Best Original Screenplay
Sam O'Mahony, I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL
Best Cinematography
Luca Esposito, RUMORI
Best Editing
Amanda Lago, FUCKING DOWN
Kieran Stringfellow, BULLDOG
Best Original Score
Pablo Scopinaro, DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD
Best Production Design
Rowena Zoro, THE WIDOW
Honourable Mention to Xuemeng Li, Katrin Larissa Kasper, APPETITE
Best First Time Filmmaker
Pierre Niyongira, DINAH
2021 FESTIVAL - Award Nominations
Check out our award nominations for the 2021 edition of The People’s Film Festival.
Our jury has just announced our full lineup of 50 Official Selections for year two of The People’s Film Festival.
From our list of 50 Official Selections, the following films have been nominated for awards. Winners will be announced at our Awards Gala March 12th.
FILM FUND QUALIFYING NOMINEES
The following 9 films will compete for our £1000 Film Fund which is granted based on audience vote.
Best Micro Budget Short
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL directed by Stephanie Upsall, produced by Lucy Hilton-Jones
ELAINE directed and produced by Guillermo Quintanilla-Pinto
I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL directed and produced by Sam O'Mahony
Best Low Budget Short
BULLDOG directed by Kieran Stringfellow, produced by Tasha Williams & Malachy O'Neill
NOT ALL IS WELL WITH JACK directed by Luke Maund, produced by Rachel Bashford
THE RAPE CLAUSE directed by Jared Watmuff, produced by Sashi Arnold, Maria Hildebrand & Jared Watmuff
Best Sponsored Short
DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD directed by Mark van Heusden, produced by Shay Khelifa & Mark van Heusden
HOW TO GET $100 MILLION directed by Ilya Polyakov, produced by Jessica Wilde & Ilya Polyakov
RUMORI directed by SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinaia), produced by The Basement
Each nominated filmmaker will create a 1-minute video pitching their next short film, explaining how they would spend the £1000 Film Fund if granted. The overall WINNER will be awarded the £1,000 Film Fund based on Audience Vote. Audience Vote will also decide one winner per category which will receive other prizes from our sponsors.
HONORARY NOMINEES
Best Drama Short
THE RAPE CLAUSE directed by Jared Watmuff
RUMORI directed by SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinaia)
THE WIDOW directed by Ailish Castillo & Nicola Morris
Best Comedy Short
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL directed by Stephanie Upsall
DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD directed by Mark van Heusden
HEAVENLY BORDERS directed by Kamil Iwanowicz
Best Horror Short
(Award Sponsored by Fun Size Horror)
DARK LIGHTS directed by Deborah Richards
HOMESTAY directed by Elliot Taylor
PARTING FRENZY directed by Ryan Freda
Best Documentary Short
THE ANGEL OF HISTORY directed by Eric Esser
ELAINE directed by Guillermo Quintanilla-Pinto
HOME STREAM directed by Giulia Gandini
Best Animated Short
HEART OF THE NATION directed by Tribambuka (Anastasia Beltyukova)
HUGS directed by Harry Plowden
STRANGE directed by Cameron Car
Best Lockdown Short
HOMESTAY directed by Elliot Taylor
HUGS directed by Harry Plowden
I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL directed by Sam O'Mahony
Best Performance in a Drama
Christopher Dane in OUTSIDERS
Nicki Davy in PARTING FRENZY
Maria Hildebrand in THE RAPE CLAUSE
Harvey Quinn in NOT ALL IS WELL WITH JACK
Ailish Symons in THE WIDOW
Best Performance in a Comedy
Aaron Barschak in 2:40 TO LONDON
Katrin Larissa Kasper in APPETITE
Patrick O'Halloran in HEAVENLY BORDERS
Josie Towart in A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL
Lee West in DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD
Best Director
Luke Maund, NOT ALL IS WELL WITH JACK
Sam O'Mahony, I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL
SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinai), RUMORI
Kieran Stringfellow, BULLDOG
Jared Watmuff, THE RAPE CLAUSE
Best Original Screenplay
Sam O'Mahony, I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL
Ilya Polyakov, HOW TO GET $100 MILLION
Amy Rich, CAR KEYS
Mark van Heusden, DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD
Jared Watmuff, THE RAPE CLAUSE
Best Cinematography
Sally Low, THE WIDOW
Luca Esposito, RUMORI
Stephen Otosio, BULLDOG
Laurent Poulain, FUCKING DOWN
Aaron Reid, ROBERT THE ROBOT
Best Editing
Livio Bondi, THE PACKAGE
Simon Dymond, SOCKS & ROBBERS
Fluke Forenza, HOW TO GET $100 MILLION
Amanda Lago, FUCKING DOWN
Kieran Stringfellow, BULLDOG
Best Original Score
Gus Collins, YOURS SINCERELY
Pablo Scopinaro, DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD
Ben Warn, THE WIDOW
Daniel Whibley, I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL
Tiz McNamara, BRONAGH
Best Production Design
Prashanti Chakravarthy, MANASANAMAHA
Charlotte Glasgow & Julia Bull, SOCKS & ROBBERS
Xuemeng Li, Katrin Larissa Kasper, APPETITE
Karijn Nijmeijer, THE WICK
Rowena Zoro, THE WIDOW
Best First Time Filmmaker
Nico Amedeo, VIRTUOSO
Ryan Chu, DEEP FEARS
Jessica Courtney Leen & Megan Haly, BRONAGH
Xuemeng Li, Katrin Larissa Kasper, APPETITE
Pierre Niyongira, DINAH
Congratulations to all the Nominees!
2021 FESTIVAL - 50 Official Selections
We're excited to announce our full lineup of 50 films for 2021's edition of The People's Film Festival.
After announcing 3 Official Selections per month (with a total of 24 Official Selections announced over the course of our open submission period in 2020), we're now excited to share with you 26 more Official Selections as we announce our full lineup for 2021's edition of The People's Film Festival happening in March.
New official selections
BRONAGH
directed by Jessica Courtney Leen, Megan Haly
A grown-up Bronagh feels guilty for experiencing a delayed grief, having lost a female role model as a child. She stalks and ‘haunts’ an estranged family member to ensure she's not alone in being unable to move on.
BRONAGH is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
CAR KEYS
directed by David Anderson
Eating the same packed lunch everyday, holding down a desk job at the council, and caring for his dying mum might not be much of a life; but Keith has it worked out. He has, that is, until his car keys go missing. Now Keith's whole world order slips from under his feet to leave him floundering. Is this the end or just the beginning?
CAR KEYS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
CROSS
directed by Gillian Harker
Tom and Kelly have, on the surface, a passionate, loving relationship. But Tom has a shameful secret he is desperate to keep hidden from Kelly.
CROSS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
DARK LIGHTS
directed by Deborah Richards
A haunted, sexy Las Vegas penthouse dweller explores the darker side of the city and its many addictions.
DARK LIGHTS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
DEEP FEARS
directed by Ryan Chu
A sea otter who is afraid of the ocean is challenged to face his fears when he loses his precious pink shell necklace at sea.
DEEP FEARS is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
DENZEL
directed by Micheal Gamarano Singleton
Denzel follows the dating life of a young man and his journey to self-acceptance. He uses an alter ego to navigate his journey through his social issues and self worth until finally reaching the perfect conclusion.
DENZEL is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THE FERALS
directed by Stefan Ruiz
A horror/thriller short film that follows the story of a young man who has washed up on a desert island following a shark attack. He soon discovers that he is not alone but the occupants on the island are not there to help him.
THE FERALS is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
HEART OF THE NATION
directed by Tribambuka (Anastasia Beltyukova)
A short animation celebrating the role of migrants in the NHS, for the exhibition in Migration Museum, London
HEART OF THE NATION is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
HOMESTAY
directed by Elliot Taylor
Due to overcrowding in her building, April is given an empty holiday home to live in during the lockdown period. But after a discovery in the house, she's starts to believe there's more to this act of charity than meets the eye.
HOMESTAY is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
HUGS
directed by Harry Plowden
A little animation about a world without human touch, made during lockdown.
HUGS is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
INFECTED
directed by Alfonso Moreno
A dystopian glimpse into the fall of contemporary western society by Madrid punk band A.C.T., animated and directed by 21 year Minneapolis resident Alfonso Cronopio.
INFECTED is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
MANASANAMAHA
directed by Deepak Reddy
A young man muses on the nature of love, recounting three relationships from his past. The girls in his life resemble three different seasons, namely Chaitra (Spring), Varsha (Monsoon) & Seeta (Winter).
MANASANAMAHA is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
NUCLEAR SEA
directed by Joe Starrs
A young girl wanders through a post-apocalyptic Britain. Navigating the overgrown wasteland, she makes her way back home. Soon to discover that not everything is quite as she expected.
NUCLEAR SEA is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
OUTSIDERS
directed by Grace Parry
Charlotte is an aspiring actress desperate to uncover a life worth living. Her hope is stirred when the Director calls to see her. However, as their time together unfolds it becomes clear she must question the lengths she is willing to go to on her quest to be seen.
OUTSIDERS is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
PARTING FRENZY
directed by Ryan Freda
On an impromptu tour of boyfriend, Lee's, newly inherited warehouse and would-be photography studio, Cate makes a confession of infidelity. But it plunges her into a desperate fight for her life when Lee tells her he already knew...and the door’s locked.
PARTING FRENZY is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
PEOPLE SHOW 138: LAST DAY
directed by Gareth Brierley
A short dreamlike drama about power, loss and loyalty.
People Show 138: Last Day, follows HR manager Sidney, who after thirty years of working at an industrial sock factory faces a challenging dilemma that could affect the livelihood of his employees. We find him wandering around the now empty workplace haunted by the memories of his past colleagues, friends, and bosses. Throughout his journey he is confronted head on by the horrific consequences of his actions. Will he make the right choice at the end of his last day?
Starring Tyrone Huggins, George Khan and thirty young performers from the University of Roehampton’s Drama, Theatre and Performance department.
PEOPLE SHOW 138: LAST DAY is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
PRECURSOR
directed by Manolo Campos
What if we talked? What if we listened? Precursor is a film that confronts the uncomfortable conversations in relation to prejudice, power, and patriotism. It offers a vision of what could be if two individuals with opposing viewpoints decided to listen.
PRECURSOR is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
SCRIPT
directed by Piero Cannata
Two screenwriters, a ghost story, the night that goes on. Who will put an end to this?
SCRIPT is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS
directed by Ben Ashton
A clown struggling to make ends meet is faced with an opportunity he can't afford to miss.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
SLEEPING ROUGH: CATHERINE’S STORY
directed by Owain Astles
Sleeping Rough: Catherine’s Story follows Catherine, a young woman who moves straight out of care into a flat with her boyfriend; however it soon becomes clear that the relationship is emotionally abusive, and with no-one to turn to, she escapes onto the streets.
Sleeping Rough: Catherine’s Story is a community-based docudrama about female street homelessness. Based on real interviews conducted with women experiencing homelessness, the film follows a young woman and the circumstances that force her to sleep on the street. The film was produced in collaboration with The Big Issue Foundation and Cardboard Citizens, shot in real locations and entirely with actors with personal experience of homelessness. Sleeping Rough: Catherine’s Story encourages understanding of the issues that affect women experiencing homelessness and aims to empower people to take a stand.
SLEEPING ROUGH: CATHERINE’S STORY is an Official Selection in our Micro-Budget Category.
SQUALL
directed by Mark Brennan
Ben and Margaret, two strangers at rock bottom in their lives for very different reasons, meet in a hotel bar before going on to spend a night putting their respective broken worlds to rights.
The film is about how in even in our darkest moments keeping the company of a stranger, someone who doesn't know our story, can provide some diversion from our troubles - if only just for a few hours.
SQUALL is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
STOP AND SEARCH
directed by Harry Jackson
If you're black in the UK, the police are 10 times more likely to stop and search you. How would they feel if it was the other way around?
STOP AND SEARCH is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
URBAN OASIS
directed by Hervé Bressaud
Caught up in the pace of city life, a city dweller sees his daily routine shaken up when he meets a weird bird at the bottom of his building. Then he discovers the existence of an unexpected urban biodiversity and he shares his discovery with inhabitants of his district...
URBAN OASIS is an Official Selection in our Sponsored Category.
THE WICK
directed by Sabine Crossen
'A disturbing tale of deceit and persecution of a woman who fights for justice against a lawless witch hunter.'
A dark, period drama, set in the early 1800's in rural England, seventy-three years after witch hunts were banned. When Esther, a local herbal healer, witnesses her sister's murder at the hands of a lawless but influential religious leader, she realizes only she can put an end to the deceit, blind ignorance and barbarity of these outdated beliefs for good.
THE WICK is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
YOURS SINCERELY
directed by Craig Bingham
A very short film inspired by the letters between Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher during the second world War. Two men who were in love.
While on military training during World War Two, Gilbert Bradley was in love. He exchanged hundreds of letters with his sweetheart - who merely signed with the initial "G". More than 70 years later, it was discovered that G stood for Gordon.
At the time, not only was homosexuality illegal, but those in the armed forces could be shot for having gay sex. Some of Britain's gay soldiers after risking their lives for their country were persecuted and jailed by the military authorities.
This short piece has been made celebrate those men and women.
YOURS SINCERELY is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
2:40 TO LONDON
directed by Gavin Irvine
A surreal comedy that gives you spies, chilli, lumbersexuals and derrières!... A secret agent takes the 2:40 train to London where he is brainwashed by a wayward letch and an uppity snob into handing over the merchandise. Who are these men? Is the agent a traitor? And how do the grumpy lady in pink and the bearded women figure in all this? So many questions, so little certainty… and only the desperate survive in the murky world of espionage.
2:40 TO LONDON is an Official Selection in our Low Budget Category.
Explore our other 24 Official Selection announced over the past several months
While we would have once again loved to host our event at the Whirled Cinema in London, this year we will be hosting our festival online for obvious reasons. Because of the change we will expand our usual 2 day festival to span an entire week: March 5 - 12. More details on how you can watch coming soon.
Event Tickets on sale soon
2020 FESTIVAL - Award Winners
We at Kino Short Film are still reeling from the excitement of the first annual People’s Film Festival! If you were able to join us then you know just how amazing of an experience it was. We SOLD OUT both our Opening Night and Awards Gala, watched 44 amazing short films over the two days, listened to some amazing pitches about our filmmakers exciting next projects, networked, and drank into the wee hours at one of London’s vibe-iest arthouses.
We at Kino Short Film are still reeling from the excitement of the first annual People’s Film Festival! If you were able to join us then you know just how amazing of an experience it was. We SOLD OUT both our Opening Night and Awards Gala, watched 44 amazing short films over the two days, listened to some amazing pitches about our filmmakers exciting next projects, networked, and drank into the wee hours at one of London’s vibe-iest arthouses.
We’d like to take a moment to thank all who attended, our amazing volunteers, our sponsors, and of course the filmmakers themselves. Congrats to all the winners!
Photos by Tristan Kassam
AWARD WINNERS
BEST PICTURE
£1000 FILM FUND GRAND PRIZE
TMI
Directed by Ita Fitzgerald.
When a mother reads her teenage son’s texts it triggers an awkward conversation which is way too much information. A humorous and touching comedy about miscommunication.
The £1000 Film Fund was awarded by popular vote from the audience. As the recipient of the £1000 Film Fund, Ita’s next project will be supported by Kino Short Film with £1000, and Festival Jurors will help Ita stretch that £1000 by acting as Executive Producers on her project.
BEST MICRO BUDGET SHORT
HEY YOU
Directed by Jared Watmuff. Produced by George Hayward.
When two men arrange a hook-up, is who’s top or bottom all they should be worried about?
Hey You exposes how, with the convenience of social media and dating apps, our hard-fought rights and freedoms can be taken for granted -- and how, for many others, that fight isn’t over.
Best Micro Budget Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of under £1000. As a prize, Jared received a one-year subscription to Continuum (value $695) sponsored by BorisFX.
BEST LOW BUDGET SHORT
TMI
Directed by Ita Fitzgerald. Produced by Fiona Wright.
When a mother reads her teenage son’s texts it triggers an awkward conversation which is way too much information. A humorous and touching comedy about miscommunication.
Best Low Budget Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of £1000 - £5000. As a prize, Ita received a one-year subscription to Sapphire (value $895) sponsored by BorisFX.
BEST SPONSORED SHORT
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Best Sponsored Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of £1000 - £5000. As a prize, Simon received one-year subscription to the Boris FX Bundle (value $1195)
AUDIENCE AWARD
QUIET CARRIAGE
Directed by Ben S. Hyland
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
The Audience Award was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made that was not included in our 9 Jury Nominees for Best Picture. As a prize, Ben got a chance to be included in the The Big Pitch for his shot at winning the Best Picture £1000 Film Fund.
JURY HONORARY AWARDS
BEST DRAMA SHORT
SAFEKEEPING
Directed by David Yorke
Leaving their dangerous home life behind, Jessica and Charlie will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Best Drama Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, David received a one-year subscription to Mocha Pro (value $595) Sponsored by Boris FX.
BEST COMEDY SHORT
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Directed by Simon Ryninks
Best Comedy Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Simon received 2 Festival Passes to the 28th Raindance Film Festival sponsored by Raindance.
BEST DIRECTOR
David Yorke, SAFEKEEPING
David Yorke is an award-winning director with over 10 years of experience in short films, music videos and broadcast television. Since graduating in 2008 he has worked as a freelancer on a variety of productions, including feature films, music videos, adverts and both corporate and promotional projects.Acquiring these skills within production he now concentrates on writing and directing his own short films and music videos.
Best Director was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, David received a 1 Year Raindance Membership, and a £1,000 Voucher redeemable on Raindance courses. Sponsored by Raindance.
BEST PERFORMANCE (DRAMA)
Vivienne Bell in TROUBLED WATERS
Viv is struggling with motherhood after the birth of her second child. Convinced there’s something wrong with her newborn, she tries to confide in her absent husband Terry, but is met with disinterest. As she rapidly finds herself questioning her sanity she turns to medication and drink to ease her through this parental dystopia.
Her health quickly deteriorates and she begins to realise just how much she is slipping through the net when she lets her frustrations out on her children. She begins to question the risk she is putting both her children, and herself, in.
Best Performance (Drama) was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Vivienne received Free Entry into 6 UK Actor’s TweetUp Events sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp.
BEST PERFORMANCE (COMEDY)
Amit Shah in QUIET CARRIAGE
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
Best Performance (Comedy) was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Amit received Free Entry into 6 UK Actor’s TweetUp Events sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp.
BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
Remi Laudat, MI O LE KU
For some young black youths growing up on a crowded London council estate, survival is key.
These young men and women are often stifled by the pressures of navigating life in seemingly hostile spaces - struggling to develop a real understanding of and connectedness to a heritage passed and dismissed by repressive, Western systems. It is in this tense, urban environment that 21 year old Jakob must cultivate his own identity and status - a battle that takes place both on the streets and within his own subconscious.
A frustrated young man, who struggles to nurture his talent for art against the harsh realities of growing up in a single parent home within a working class area, Jakob abandons his creative passions to follow the easiest perceived path presented to him: becoming a small time “shotta” (drugs dealer) and hustler. We follow him through a usual day, handling ‘business’ with his ‘friends’. Yet things quickly become more complicated, spiralling into realms unknown as visions of his African ancestry push him in the direction to reach his full potential. To become the man he is destined to be.
Best First Time Filmmaker was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Remi received Free Submission to next year’s Kino London presents The People’s Film Festival.
BEST HORROR SHORT
RUPTURED Directed by James Mansell
Truly immerse yourself like never before.
Best Horror Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, James received a Distribution Opportunity on Fun Size Horror’s next Horror Short Film Anthology. Award Sponsored by Fun Size Horror.
Check out James Mansell’s portfolio www.james-mansell.com
BEST SCI-FI SHORT
MEMORY MAN
Directed by Christopher M Armstrong
In a future where psychic abilities are outlawed, the Memory Man makes a living dealing with uncomfortable memories for other people. Until the arrival of a hostile new client, finally forces him to confront unfinished business of his own.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
AMA
Directed by Georgie Yukiko Donovan
Filmmaker Georgie Yukiko Donovan explores the story of the Ama divers - the last of Japan's 'women of the sea' and their fight to preserve their 3,000 year old way of life.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Directed by Ido Hartmann
7 years ago Boaz has cut all ties with his parents, brother & sister, his friends, and his previous world. The film tracks the story of his disappearance and embarks in a surreal journey into the memories he left with his family.
Check out Ido Hartmann’s portfolio www.idoharti.com and fb.me/idoharti
BEST LGBTQ SHORT
HEY YOU
Directed by Jared Watmuff
When two men arrange a hook-up, is who’s top or bottom all they should be worried about?
Hey You exposes how, with the convenience of social media and dating apps, our hard-fought rights and freedoms can be taken for granted -- and how, for many others, that fight isn’t over.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SHORT
HELENE
Directed by Mathieu Nolhier
A young woman talks about her journey with Hélène. Passion then destruction, who is really Hélène?
BEST STUDENT SHORT
BABY
Directed by Vincent D'Alesandro
Baby (Alexa Swinton), a distracted, seven-year-old girl in a cheaply stitched princess dress, spends her days in and around the food court where her mother works. Baby and Ma, now quite used to this routine, are visited by an unwanted guest who changes the course of their tranquility.
Vincent D'Alessandro is a third year BFA Filmmaking student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (DRAMA)
Shea Whitehead in BABY
Baby (Alexa Swinton), a distracted, seven-year-old girl in a cheaply stitched princess dress, spends her days in and around the food court where her mother works. Baby and Ma, now quite used to this routine, are visited by an unwanted guest who changes the course of their tranquility.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (COMEDY)
Jessica Fostekew in DON’T SELL THE TIGER
When their father dies, three sisters return to the family home to pack up his belongings. But they can't agree on the fate of one family heirloom - a mysterious bronze tiger.
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (DRAMA)
SAFEKEEPING
Leaving their dangerous home life behind, Jessica and Charlie will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Jodie Price
Charlie Price
Bobbie Pidgeon
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (COMEDY)
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Lydia Wilson
Omar Khan
Sakuntala Ramanee
Tamsin Heatley
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Huw Brentnall, HARRY METCALF: BIG GAY MESS
In the wake of a sudden and unexpected breakup, Harry Metcalfe, a relatable bisexual idiot, has to deal not only with the emotional fallout of being newly alone, but also the social, financial, and existential horrors of being a human in his 20’s in the rural town of Norwich.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Joel Honeywell, MI O LE KU
For some young black youths growing up on a crowded London council estate, survival is key.
These young men and women are often stifled by the pressures of navigating life in seemingly hostile spaces - struggling to develop a real understanding of and connectedness to a heritage passed and dismissed by repressive, Western systems. It is in this tense, urban environment that 21 year old Jakob must cultivate his own identity and status - a battle that takes place both on the streets and within his own subconscious.
A frustrated young man, who struggles to nurture his talent for art against the harsh realities of growing up in a single parent home within a working class area, Jakob abandons his creative passions to follow the easiest perceived path presented to him: becoming a small time “shotta” (drugs dealer) and hustler. We follow him through a usual day, handling ‘business’ with his ‘friends’. Yet things quickly become more complicated, spiralling into realms unknown as visions of his African ancestry push him in the direction to reach his full potential. To become the man he is destined to be.
BEST EDITING
Tom Turner, A GLIMPSE
A blossoming relationship unfolds when two strangers have a chance encounter in a London cafe.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Thom Robson, FROM FRAGMENTS
FROM FRAGMENTS tells the story of an elderly couple that must battle through the grips of dementia to finish the swan-song of their lifelong love.
The film explores the burden ‘love’ places on us: to compromise, to sacrifice and (most of all) to cherish.
A true multi-disciplinary collaboration between a musician, two dancers and a filmmaker. The film combines these three artforms to envisage the devastating emotional reality of dementia.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Ruth Darling, PISTACHIO BOY
Pistachio Boy tells the story of Peter, a pistachio-obsessed newsagent cashier. After a special customer visits his shop, he finds himself caught up in fascination with the fleeting individual.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Karmjit Kalla, QUIET CARRIAGE
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Anthony Lynch, RUPTURED
Truly immerse yourself like never before.
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Beatrice Aliné
You can measure the light but you can’t measure the dark. In duality we see one as the opposite of the other. Yet darkness is the absence of light. And an absence is not a measurable thing. It simply does not exist.
Light protects us from our fundamental fear of the dark. But remember where there is light, there must be shadow. We live in a technological era where our dependence on energy is greater than ever before. It became an irreplaceable commodity.
So one question arises quickly. What's left to do if the sun pulls the plug on you? The answer lies within the perception of the viewer.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
KISS ME MALIBU Directed by Mikael Arriz
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.
Check out Mikel Arriz’s portfolio valledelcielofilms.com & www.instagram.com/valledelcielofilms
2020 FESTIVAL - Awards Gala & Afterparty
We’re screening the 9 Nominees of our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening (and a Q&A), the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
MARCH 7
SHOWTIME: 7:30 pm
We’re screening the 9 Nominees of our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening (and a Q&A), the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
HEY YOU
Directed by Jared Watmuff
When two men arrange a hook-up, is who’s top or bottom all they should be worried about?
Hey You exposes how, with the convenience of social media and dating apps, our hard-fought rights and freedoms can be taken for granted -- and how, for many others, that fight isn’t over.
NOMINATIONS: Best Micro Budget Short, Best LGBTQ Short, Best Editing, Best Sound Design
HELENE
Directed by Mathieu Nolhier
A young woman talks about her journey with Hélène. Passion then destruction, who is really Hélène?
NOMINATIONS: Best Micro Budget Short, Best Foreign Language Short
TROUBLED WATERS
Directed by Gemma Norton
Viv is struggling with motherhood after the birth of her second child. Convinced there’s something wrong with her newborn, she tries to confide in her absent husband Terry, but is met with disinterest. As she rapidly finds herself questioning her sanity she turns to medication and drink to ease her through this parental dystopia.
Her health quickly deteriorates and she begins to realise just how much she is slipping through the net when she lets her frustrations out on her children. She begins to question the risk she is putting both her children, and herself, in.
NOMINATIONS: Best Micro Budget Short, Best Drama Short, Best Performance in a Drama (Vivienne Bell), Best Supporting Performance in a Drama (Terry Sweeney), Best Director
PISTACHIO BOY
Directed by Gabriel de Bruin & Katy Wang
Pistachio Boy tells the story of Peter, a pistachio-obsessed newsagent cashier. After a special customer visits his shop, he finds himself caught up in fascination with the fleeting individual.
NOMINATIONS: Best Low Budget Short, Best LGBTQ Short, Best Original Score, Best Production Design
TMI
Directed by Ita Fitzgerald
When a mother reads her teenage son’s texts it triggers an awkward conversation which is way too much information. A humorous and touching comedy about miscommunication.
NOMINATIONS: Best Low Budget Short, Best Performance in a Comedy (Sarah Malin), Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy (Kai Medford), Best Original Screenplay
SAFEKEEPING
by David Yorke
Leaving their dangerous home life behind, Jessica and Charlie will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
NOMINATIONS: Best Low Budget Short, Best Drama Short, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Ensemble Cast (Drama)
MY TIME
Directed by Giulia Gandini
A 12-year-old girl has her first period in class. Her skirt is stained red. She is up next to present her final paper in front of all her peers. Will she find a way out of the 'uncomfortable' situation?
NOMINATIONS: Best Sponsored Short
THE PLUNGE
Directed by Simon Ryninks
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
NOMINATIONS: Best Sponsored Short, Best Comedy Short, Best Ensemble Cast (Comedy)
A GLIMPSE
by Tom Turner
A blossoming relationship unfolds when two strangers have a chance encounter in a London cafe.
NOMINATIONS: Best Sponsored Short, Best Drama Short, Best Ensemble Cast (Drama), Best Director, Best Editing
The Big Pitch
All 9 Nominees will each give a 1 minute pitch of their next short film project. The audience will then narrow it down to the top 3 films - 1 Micro Budget Film, 1 Low Budget Film, and 1 Sponsored film.
Intermission
Drink + Mingle
Awards
Presentation
Award Nominations are split into two categories:
Honorary Awards (which are decided by the festival jury)
Film Fund Qualifying Awards (which are decided by the audience)
Audience Choice Spoiler
Audience members will have voted at all previous screenings leading up to the Awards Gala. The film with the highest audience vote will be chosen to compete with the top 3 nominees. The audience will have a moment to chat with the filmmakers before making their final decision on who wins the £1000 film fund.
Afterparty
Network and drink! Nuff said.
BUY ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS
All Access Pass Gives You:
Saturday Afternoon Screenings
Afterparty
Festival Passholder Perks:
A complimentary glass of champagne!
Extra raffle tickets, so more chances to win a prize!
Help choose the winners of the festival, including who gets the £1000 film fund!
£29 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£35 AT THE DOOR
Buy tickets
Afternoon Screening Ticket Gives You
Afternoon Screening Only
(upgrade for full evening’s event for £8)
£7 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£10 AT THE DOOR
2020 FESTIVAL - Saturday Afternoon Screenings
A smitten fuzz ball… Bickering sisters fighting over a family heirloom… Climate Crisis protestors shutting down the Waterloo Bridge… Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouse for a little afternoon film viewing as part of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 9 amazing short films curated down from over 300 submissions.
MARCH 7
SHOWTIME: 4:30 PM
DOORS: 4:00
A smitten fuzz ball…
Bickering sisters fighting over a family heirloom…
Climate Crisis protestors shutting down the Waterloo Bridge…
Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouses for some afternoon film viewings as part of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 9 amazing short films curated down from over 300 submissions.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
LINEUP
HERPY AND BOBO IN SPAGHETTI LOVE
Directed by Andy Biddle & Jonathan Hearn
Bobo is memorised by a girl across the room but Herpy wants Bobo's full attention.
NOMINATIONS: Best Animated Short
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO
Directed by Max E. Fisher
In April 2019 a group of environmental activists occupied Waterloo Bridge. Their numbers quickly grew, and soon their important message was being heard across the globe.
The Government sought to swiftly stamp out the rebellion, and ordered Police to clear the streets of rebells by Easter at the latest.
Our story takes place on Easter Sunday, and follows the protestors in their final attempts to hold down the bridge...
NOMINATIONS: Best Documentary Short
BABY
Directed by Vincent D'Alessandro
Baby (Alexa Swinton), a distracted, seven-year-old girl in a cheaply stitched princess dress, spends her days in and around the food court where her mother works. Baby and Ma, now quite used to this routine, are visited by an unwanted guest who changes the course of their tranquility.
NOMINATIONS: Best Student Short, Best Supporting Performance in a Drama (Shea Whitehead)
THE STRANGERS’ CASE
Directed by Peter Trifunovic
This new film based on a four hundred year old speech shows fear of immigration is nothing new.
In 1517 anti-immigrant riots broke out in London. Thomas More, then a deputy Sheriff of the city, intervened.
Decades later William Shakespeare wrote a speech for the play 'Sir Thomas More', in which More defended asylum seekers - 'the strangers'.
NOMINATIONS: Best Ensemble Cast (Drama)
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Directed by Robert Hackett
A weary postman trudges through the February snow, delivering brightly coloured envelopes decorated with hearts and cupids – making deliveries to all but one door.
Intermission
PUT YOUR HEART INTO TO
Directed by Cory Kerr
After a struggling artist pours his heart into his book, he sells the rights, but the deal isn't what he expected. This animated short is about the disparity of what creators earn compared to those who distribute the creators' work.
HOLLOW POND
Directed by Rolfin Nyhus
After being abandoned by his brothers, a young Maasai boy must outwit a mysterious force to be reunited with his family.
NOMINATIONS: Best Foreign Language Short, Best Costume Design
BUS STOP
Directed by Vanessa Bailey
Two very different people find themselves waiting together at a bus stop, late at night. Reluctantly forced into conversation by circumstance Rachel and Liam embark on a journey neither of them could have foreseen.
DON’T SELL THE TIGER
Directed by Ben Wylson
When their father dies, three sisters return to the family home to pack up his belongings. But they can't agree on the fate of one family heirloom - a mysterious bronze tiger.
NOMINATIONS: Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy (Jessica Fostekew)
STICK AROUND FOR OUR AWARDS GALA & BEST OF SHOW SCREENING
Starting at 7:30 we’re screening the 9 Nominees of our £1000 Film Fund. After the screening and a Q&A, the filmmakers will pitch their next short film to the audience. Then the audience gets to decide who wins!
BUY ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS
All Access Pass Gives You:
Saturday Afternoon Screenings
Afterparty
Festival Passholder Perks:
A complimentary glass of champagne!
Extra raffle tickets, so more chances to win a prize!
Help choose the winners of the festival, including who gets the £1000 film fund!
£29 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£35 AT THE DOOR
Buy tickets
Afternoon Screening Ticket Gives You
Afternoon Screening Only
(upgrade for full evening’s event for £8)
£7 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£10 AT THE DOOR
2020 FESTIVAL - Late Night Grindhouse
Killer nuns, fitness culture gone wrong, a predatory Father Christmas… After the official Opening Night Party, stick around for our Late Night Grindhouse which feature our best Horror, Sci-Fi and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
MARCH 6
showtime: 11:30 pm
DOORS: 11:00
Killer nuns, fitness culture gone wrong, a predatory Father Christmas…
After the official Opening Night Party, stick around for our Late Night Grindhouse which features our best Horror, Sci-Fi and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
Grindhouse-Only tickets available, but if you bought a ticket to the full Opening Night festivities the Grindhouse is included.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
Lineup
IT CRAWLED THROUGH THE WINDOW
Directed by Isaac Ruth & Ali Petre
A couple has horrifying pillow-talk.
NOMINATIONS: Best Horror Short
NO GUARANTEE
Directed by Stuart Black & Nick Mather
London 2056 - the city is dying and those living in the smog-clogged ruins live by their wits. Those who can afford to opt out of the desperation upload their consciousnesses to Cloud 9. This is advertised as a one way ticket to virtual heaven - but can the Company who run it really be trusted? Virgil and Mary have different attitudes: she wants to go, he doesn't. Can she persuade him to 'ascend' before he dies from terminal illness?
NOMINATIONS: Best SciFi Short
RUPTURED
by James Mansell
Truly immerse yourself like never before.
NOMINATIONS: Best SciFi Short, Best Horror Short, Best Sound Design
YOU KILLED US
Directed by Tom Hughes
A man must confront his dark past when his basement shows signs of the paranormal.
YOU KILLED US is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
EJECT
Directed by David Yorke
After discovering a USB port in her wrist, Kate uncovers a world where she has the ability to change herself for the better. But she will slowly discover that greed will come at a cost.
NOMINATIONS: Best Horror Short, Best Production Design
COOKED
Directed by Patrick Chamberlain
A dark film about a guy who forces his girlfriend into a fitness regime with dire consequences.
DONA & VIXEN
Directed by Alasdair C. Melrose
A teenage girl discovers the truth about Father Christmas.
NOMINATIONS: Best Cinematography, Best First Time Filmmaker, Best Production Design
GOTH’S OWN COUNTRY
Directed by Ferdie Simon
Every year the North Yorkshire town of Whitby floods with goths. Tens of thousands from the subculture descend on the seaside community to listen to music, convene in pubs and – so rare for many of them – be a goth among goths. Given unique access to tell a story deeper than the usual puff pieces, shock docs or sensationalist photo journalism, Goths' Own Country presents a snapshot of a vital date in the goth calendar, delving into what Whitby means to the scene.
NOMINATIONS: Best Documentary Short
Show Up Early for More Great Films
(and to party with filmmakers)
Swing by earlier for the opening night bash of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 10 amazing short films curated down from over 300 submissions, including the London premier of Two Dum Micks starring Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things) and DB Sweeney (Garden of Stone, The Cutting Edge).
Afterwards, party with the filmmakers and industry professionals.
And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
BUY ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS
All Access Pass Gives You:
Late Night Grindhouse
Afterparty
Festival Passholder Perks:
A complimentary glass of champagne!
Extra raffle tickets, so more chances to win a prize!
Help choose the winners of the festival, including who gets the £1000 film fund!
£29 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£35 AT THE DOOR
Buy tickets
Late Night Grindhouse Ticket Gives You:
Access to Late Night Grindhouse Only
(upgrade for full evening’s event for £5)
£7 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£10 AT THE DOOR
2020 FESTIVAL - Opening Night Party
Stick around after our opening night screenings to party with the filmmakers and industry professionals. And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
MARCH 6
PARTY-time: 10:00 pm
DOORS: 7:00
Stick around after our opening night screenings to party with the filmmakers and industry professionals. And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
Also, this is your opportunity to dip into our screening room to watch the best Music Videos, Experimental and Animated Official Selections.
Plus we’re hosting a raffle where anyone can win a prize.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
Lineup
RED
Directed by Alexander Stephens
Lucy Daydream and Alpha 5 soar into space on a rocket ship to find something new. Their journey into the unknown brings them face to face with a man from the stars. The journey in "RED" revolves around the idea of soaring to new heights.
NOMINATIONS: Best Music Video
ABSENCE OF LIGHT
Directed by Beatrice Aliné
You can measure the light but you can’t measure the dark. In duality we see one as the opposite of the other. Yet darkness is the absence of light. And an absence is not a measurable thing. It simply does not exist.
Light protects us from our fundamental fear of the dark. But remember where there is light, there must be shadow. We live in a technological era where our dependence on energy is greater than ever before. It became an irreplaceable commodity.
So one question arises quickly. What's left to do if the sun pulls the plug on you?
The answer lies within the perception of the viewer.
NOMINATIONS: Best Experimental Short Film, Best Student Short
OUTSIDE
Directed by Jeffrey Palmer
Touching on salient themes of gun violence, psychological trauma, and racial identity, OUTSIDE is a “nightmarish mirror reflecting our troubled times.” Fueled by powerful lyrics, provocative imagery, a meaningful message, and a hopeful ending, OUTSIDE will stir emotions and light a fire within.
We must break the seemingly endless cycle of gun violence in our society. The power of music is one way to make this happen. Please join us in our campaign to promote and foster a positive and uplifting environment for today's urban youth. They are our future. Lead by example. Let's go.
NOMINATIONS: Best Music Video
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Directed by Ido Hartmann
7 years ago Boaz has cut all ties with his parents, brother & sister, his friends, and his previous world. The film tracks the story of his disappearance and embarks in a surreal journey into the memories he left with his family.
NOMINATIONS: Best Animated Short, Best Foreign Language Short, Best First Time Filmmaker
DARE 2 DISTURB
Directed by Paul Rees
Onlookers observed, “You two are joined at the hip”. But the tensions were there. He was dazzled and intimidated by her — a model of the successful, determined and independent career woman. It felt like a fight to gain her respect.
Meanwhile, her body clock was ticking. He just didn’t seem to be listening.
“It’s okay for you, you’re a man. You will always be able to be a father.” They were locked in a cycle, going nowhere.
Bright lights. Big city. Her words, “We will both . . . ”, “We will both . . . ” Replayed on a loop in his head as he plunged back into the beating heart of central London. What did she mean?
He felt like a stranger pacing these familiar streets. People rushing by with their wallets open and their hearts closed. He might as well have been invisible. Perhaps her words weren’t meant as a bitter epitaph on their relationship. He’d always loved her, but somehow his own failing career had stepped in the way.
The talking was over. The silence was deafening. Was this the end? A new plan was needed to win her back.
He’d always known what he needed to do. But was this the right time and the right place?
This is a true story.
NOMINATIONS: Best Experimental Short Film
KISS ME MALIBU
Directed by Mikel Arraiz
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.
NOMINATIONS: Best Music Video, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design
WHEN NIGHT FALLS
Directed by Alexandre Lechasseur-Dubé
As night falls, creatures with pearl and lace ornaments gather at the center of the forest where is laying an inanimate body.
NOMINATIONS: Best Experimental Short Film
BLACK CHAMPAGNE
Directed by Jeremiah Williams
Priestess Queen Suraya and Priest King Jamari are the leaders of the magical Nemanyo civilization and derive their powers from an ancient lotus flower that was brought to earth from their ancestors thousands of years ago. Envious of their sacred power and magic, the Nemanyo fall under siege by the Czar of Chezidak and his horde of militants. Left for dead, Suraya and Jamari rise from their war-torn sunken city to reclaim their power and set their beloved people free.
Black Champagne is the first episode of an animated music video series titled "The Osirika Legacy". Parts II and III are currently in production and titled "Dispel The Darkness" and "Heaven", respectively.
NOMINATIONS: Best Animated Short
raffle
Each event ticket = 1 raffle ticket. Festival Pass holders receive 5 tickets!
The Party Doesn’t Have to Stop
After the official Opening Night Party, stick around for our Late Night Grindhouse which feature our best Horror, Sci-Fi and flat-out freaky Official Selections. This is included in the price of admission to the Party - no additional charge!
BUY ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS
All Access Pass Gives You:
Opening Night Screening & Party
Afterparty
Festival Passholder Perks:
A complimentary glass of champagne!
Extra raffle tickets, so more chances to win a prize!
Help choose the winners of the festival, including who gets the £1000 film fund!
£29 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£35 AT THE DOOR
Buy tickets
Opening Night Ticket Gives You
Opening Night Screening
Party
Late Night Grindhouse
£12 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£15 AT THE DOOR
2020 FESTIVAL - Opening Night Screening
Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouse for the opening night bash of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 10 amazing short films curated down from over 300 submissions
MARCH 6
showtime: 7:30 pm
DOORS: 7:00
An outlaw that can erase your memories…
A bisexual man back on the market after a terrible heartbreak…
An ancient Japanese culture of women divers on the verge of extinction…
Join us at one of London's coolest indie film arthouse for the opening night bash of The People's Film Festival. Come watch 10 amazing short films curated down from over 300 submissions, including the London premier of Two Dum Micks starring Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things) and DB Sweeney (Garden of Stone, The Cutting Edge).
Afterwards, party with the filmmakers and industry professionals.
And who knows… you may just find your next collaborator.
Location: Whirled Cinema
259-260 HARDESS ST
LOUGHBOROUGH JCTN
LONDON SE24 OHN
Lineup
TWO DUM MICKS
Directed by D.B. Sweeney / Starring Sean Astin
Two unlucky guys meet in the drunk tank and hatch a plan.
NOMINATIONS: Best Ensemble Cast (Comedy)
FROM FRAGMENTS
Directed by James Quinn
FROM FRAGMENTS tells the story of an elderly couple that must battle through the grips of dementia to finish the swan-song of their lifelong love.
The film explores the burden ‘love’ places on us: to compromise, to sacrifice and (most of all) to cherish.
A true multi-disciplinary collaboration between a musician, two dancers and a filmmaker. The film combines these three artforms to envisage the devastating emotional reality of dementia.
NOMINATIONS: Best Original Score
QUIET CARRIAGE
Directed by Ben S. Hyland
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
NOMINATIONS: Best Comedy Short, Best Performance in a Comedy (Amit Shah), Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy (Emma Sidi), Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design
MEMORY MAN
Directed by Christopher M Armstrong
In a future where psychic abilities are outlawed, the Memory Man makes a living dealing with uncomfortable memories for other people. Until the arrival of a hostile new client, finally forces him to confront unfinished business of his own.
NOMINATIONS: Best SciFi Short, Best Editing, Best Sound Design
IT’S BEEN TOO LONG
Directed by Amber Schaefer
Two ex-lovers meet at a rarely-used Aspen lodge to reignite their passions, but first they must confess their past sins. Written by & starring Krista Jensen (UCB) & David Ebert (Master of None, Ghost Story Club).
NOMINATIONS: Best Comedy Short, Best Ensemble Cast (Comedy)
AMA
Directed by Georgie Yukiko Donovan
Filmmaker Georgie Yukiko Donovan explores the story of the Ama divers - the last of Japan's 'women of the sea' and their fight to preserve their 3,000 year old way of life.
NOMINATIONS: Best Documentary Short
Intermission
THE MANY FACES OF BETH JONES
Directed by Harvey Puttock
Off the back of a successful stint on a television show, Beth's agent has been hard at work finding her new roles to make her a star. Beth excitedly arrives to meet her agent but the parts found for her might not be exactly what she was hoping for...
NOMINATIONS: Best Performance in a Comedy (Lucy Hilton-Jones)
COWER
Directed by Jo Hewer
Haunted by their troubled childhood and desperate to reconnect, siblings Benny and Karen become closer than ever. But as past resentments boil over, Benny allows his frustrations to take a dark turn.
NOMINATIONS: Best Performance in a Drama (Tom Lewin), Best Supporting Performance in a Drama (Maddy Hill)
HARY METCALFE: BIG GAY MESS
Directed by Alexandros Tsilifonis
In the wake of a sudden and unexpected breakup, Harry Metcalfe, a relatable bisexual idiot, has to deal not only with the emotional fallout of being newly alone, but also the social, financial, and existential horrors of being a human in his 20’s in the rural town of Norwich.
NOMINATIONS: Best Original Screenplay, Best LGBTQ Short
MI O LE KU
Directed by Remi Laudat
For some young black youths growing up on a crowded London council estate, survival is key.
These young men and women are often stifled by the pressures of navigating life in seemingly hostile spaces - struggling to develop a real understanding of and connectedness to a heritage passed and dismissed by repressive, Western systems. It is in this tense, urban environment that 21 year old Jakob must cultivate his own identity and status - a battle that takes place both on the streets and within his own subconscious.
A frustrated young man, who struggles to nurture his talent for art against the harsh realities of growing up in a single parent home within a working class area, Jakob abandons his creative passions to follow the easiest perceived path presented to him: becoming a small time “shotta” (drugs dealer) and hustler. We follow him through a usual day, handling ‘business’ with his ‘friends’. Yet things quickly become more complicated, spiralling into realms unknown as visions of his African ancestry push him in the direction to reach his full potential. To become the man he is destined to be.
NOMINATIONS: Best Performance in a Drama, Best Cinematography, Best First Time Filmmaker
FILMMAKER Q&A
Get to know the faces behind the films.
Opening Night Networking Party
After the screenings stick around for the Afterparty and our Late Night Grindhouse which feature our best Horror, Sci-Fi and flat-out freaky Official Selections.
BUY ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS
All Access Pass Gives You:
Opening Night Screening & Party
Afterparty
Festival Passholder Perks:
A complimentary glass of champagne!
Extra raffle tickets, so more chances to win a prize!
Help choose the winners of the festival, including who gets the £1000 film fund!
£29 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£35 AT THE DOOR
Buy tickets
Opening Night Ticket Gives You
Opening Night Screening
Party
Late Night Grindhouse
£12 ADVANCE PURCHASE
£15 AT THE DOOR
2020 FESTIVAL - Award Nominations
Our jury has curated 300+ films down to just 44 Official Selections. From those 44 films the following films have been nominated for awards. Winners will be announced at our Awards Gala March 7 at Whirled Cinema.
Our jury has curated 300+ films down to just 44 Official Selections. See the full list here. From those 44, the following films have been nominated for awards. Winners will be announced at our Awards Gala March 7 at Whirled Cinema.
Award Nominations are split into two categories: Film Fund Qualifying Awards and Honorary Awards.
FILM FUND QUALIFYING NOMINEES
Best Micro Budget Short
HELENE Directed & Produced by Mathieu Nolhier.
HEY YOU Directed by Jared Watmuff. Produced by George Hayward.
TROUBLED WATERS Directed & Produced by Gemma Norton.
Best Low Budget Short
PISTACHIO BOY Directed & Produced by Gabriel de Bruin & Katy Wang.
SAFEKEEPING Directed by David Yorke. Produced by David Yorke & Phil Beastall.
TMI Directed by Ita Fitzgerald. Produced by Fiona Wright.
Best Sponsored Short
A GLIMPSE Directed by Tom Turner. Produced by Rebecca Harris.
MY TIME Directed by Giulia Gandini. Produced by Abby Mizon.
THE PLUNGE Directed by Simon Ryninks. Produced by Tibo Travers.
The WINNER of each category will be decided by Audience Vote. Those 3 winners will then go on to The Big Pitch - where each will present a 1-minute elevator pitch of their next film, explaining how they would spend the £1000 Film Fund if granted. The overall WINNER of The Big Pitch will be awarded the £1,000 Film Fund based on Audience Vote.
HONORARY NOMINEES
Best Drama Short
A GLIMPSE Directed by Tom Turner
SAFEKEEPING Directed by David Yorke
TROUBLED WATERS Directed by Gemma Norton
Best Comedy Short
IT’S BEEN TOO LONG Directed by Amber Schaefer
THE PLUNGE Directed by Simon Ryninks
QUIET CARRIAGE Directed by Ben S. Hyland
Best SciFi Short
MEMORY MAN Directed by Christopher M Armstrong
NO GUARANTEE Directed by Stuart Black & Nick Mather
RUPTURED Directed by James Mansell
Best Horror Short
(Award Sponsored by Fun Size Horror)
EJECT Directed by David Yorke
IT CRAWLED THROUGH THE WINDOW Directed by Isaac Ruth & Ali Petre
RUPTURED Directed by James Mansell
Best Documentary Short
AMA by Georgie Yukiko Donovan
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO Directed by Max E. Fisher
GOTH’S OWN COUNTRY Directed by Ferdie Simon
Best Animated Short
HERPY AND BOBO IN SPAGHETTI LOVE by Andy Biddle
OSIRIKA - BLACK CHAMPAGNE Directed by Jeremiah Williams
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN by Ido Hartmann
Best Experimental Short Film
ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Beatrice Aliné
DARE 2 DISTURB by Paul Rees
WHEN NIGHT FALLS by Alexandre Lechasseur-Dubé
Best Music Video
KISS ME MALIBU Directed by Mikael Arriz
OUTSIDE Directed by Jeffrey Palmer
RED Directed by Alexander Stephens
Best LGBTQ Short
HARRY METCALF: BIG GAY MESS Directed by Alexandros Tsilifonis
HEY YOU Directed by Jared Watmuff
PISTACHIO BOY Directed by Gabriel de Bruin & Katy Wang
Best Foreign Language Short
HELENE Directed by Mathieu Nolhier
HOLLOW POND Directed by Rolfin Nyhus
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN by Ido Hartmann
Best Student Short
BABY Directed by Vincent D'Alesandro
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN Directed by Ido Hartmann
ABSENCE OF LIGHT Directed by Beatrice Aliné
Best Performance in a Drama
(Award Sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp)
Hayden Mclean in MI O LE KU
Tom Lewin in COWER
Vivienne Bell in TROUBLED WATERS
Best Performance in a Comedy
(Award Sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp)
Amit Shah in QUIET CARRIAGE
Lucy Hilton-Jones in THE MANY FACES OF BETH JONES
Sarah Malin in TMI
Best Supporting Performance in a Drama
Maddy Hill in COWER
Shea Whitehead in BABY
Terry Sweeney in TROUBLED WATERS
Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy
Emma Sidi in QUIET CARRIAGE
Jessica Fostekew in DON’T SELL THE TIGER
Kai Medford in TMI
Best Ensemble Cast (Drama)
A GLIMPSE
SAFEKEEPING
THE STRANGERS’ CASE
Best Ensemble Cast (Comedy)
IT’S BEEN TOO LONG
THE PLUNGE
TWO DUM MICKS
Best Director
Tom Turner, A GLIMPSE
Gemma Norton, TROUBLED WATERS
David Yorke, SAFEKEEPING
Best Original Screenplay
Huw Brentnall, HARRY METCALF: BIG GAY MESS
Ben S. Hyland, QUIET CARRIAGE
Ita Fitzgerald, TMI
Best Cinematography
Kamil Iwanowicz, DONA & VIXEN
Jorge Roig, KISS ME MALIBU
Joel Honeywell, MI O LE KU
Best Editing
Tom Turner, A GLIMPSE
Jared Watmuff, HEY YOU
Christopher M Armstrong, MEMORY MAN
Best Original Score
Thom Robson, FROM FRAGMENTS
Ivan P. McCormick & Daniel McCormick, PISTACHIO BOY
Roma Yagnik, SAFEKEEPING
Best Production Design
Amy Mitchell, DONA & VIXEN
Jeanie Gelling, EJECT
Ruth Darling, PISTACHIO BOY
Best Costume Design
Adriana Eransus, KISS ME MALIBU
Ksenia Vashchenko, HOLLOW POND
Karmjit Kalla, QUIET CARRIAGE
Best Sound Design
George Hayward, HEY YOU
Mark Webster & Soren Andersen, MEMORY MAN
Anthony Lynch, RUPTURED
Best First Time Filmmaker
Alasdair Melrose, DONA & VIXEN
Remi Laudat, MI O LE KU
Ido Hartmann, THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Congratulations to all the Nominees!