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