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
TPFF: November 2020 Official Selections
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selection, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
Official Selections
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL
directed by Stephanie Upsall
Perry takes her best mate, Emma, to a rage room to smash the living hell out of inanimate objects. It's meant to be cathartic but after a recent heartbreak, Emma isn't convinced this will help realign her chakras.
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category.
HEAVENLY BORDERS
directed by Kamil Iwanowicz
Heaven? Hell? Not sure?
It’s Dimitri’s third week shadowing Alex at the gates of Heavenly Borders - where your fate is decided… for all eternity.
When their latest case is beamed in, the couple will learn the true cost of moral responsibility and career choices.
HEAVENLY BORDERS is an Official Selection in the Low-Budget Category.
DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD
directed by Mark van Heusden
Up and coming rock band Bad Penny are doing their first headline tour, but they have a problem. The support band French Kiss, fronted by the charming David French, is becoming more popular than them. In addition to that James, the singer/guitarist of Bad Penny, seems to have lost inspiration. Dean and Anthony, fraternal twin brothers and the two remaining band members of Bad Penny, devise an evil plan to help James find new inspiration and make their band gain popularity again.
DAVID FRENCH IS A PIECE OF SHIT AND I WANT HIM DEAD is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
HUGS by Harry Plowden
LIGHTS OUT by Ben Walden
MISTAKE by Julius Stakišaitis
Low-Budget Category
CHECK PLEASE! FIRST SHIFT by Elea Clair
WOODEN CHARACTER directed by Robert Duncan
YOURS SINCERELY by Craig Bingham
Sponsored Category
LITTLE THINGS by Tom Grace
URBAN OASIS by Hervé Bressaud
semi-finalists
THE END OF AN ERA by Alexander Vanegas Sus
FLUFFYPUNK by Thomas Harman
INFECTED by Alfonso "Cronopio" Moreno
THE MAGICAL TOY SHOP by AJ. Lamb
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: October 2020 Official Selections
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
official selections
THE PACKAGE
directed by Livio Bondi
A man’s life is at stake as he drives from obstacle to obstacle to bring back home a very important package.
THE PACKAGE is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
THE RAPE CLAUSE
directed by Jared Watmuff
In order to claim welfare support for her son, Angela is forced to reveal the harrowing story of how the child was conceived. Inspired by real events and based on current government legislation, The Rape Clause is a short film about “one of the most inhumane and barbaric policies ever to emanate from Whitehall” (MSP Alison Thewliss, 2017) and how it weaponises shame and trauma.
THE RAPE CLAUSE is an Official Selection in the Low Budget Category
THE WIDOW
directed by Ailish Castillo & Nicola Morris
Ireland, 1952, a young mother's cry for help in a man's world where silence is a virtue.
THE WIDOW is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
PARTING FRENZY directed by Ryan Freda
A PORTRAIT directed by Carlotta Beck Peccoz
Low-Budget Category
HEAVENLY BORDERS directed by Kamil Iwanowicz
NUCLEAR SEA directed by Joe Starrs
Sponsored Category
FATHER TIME directed by Thomas Pickering
HEART OF THE NATION directed by Tribambuka (Anastasia Beltyukova)
semi-finalists
11 MINUTES directed by FM Lemos
BOGEY directed by Iolo Edwards
FEVER directed by Clemily Martin
THE PERFORMING CHEF directed by William Oates
TO MY YOUNGER SELF directed by Owain Astles
WOODEN CHARACTER directed by Robert Duncan
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: September 2020 Official Selections
We are excited to announce our Finalists and Semi-Finalists from September’s edition of The People’s Film Festival.
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
Official Selections
S*!T
Directed by Simon Wegrzyn
Sleazeball 'Trevor' gets a second chance at life when a heavenly 'Cleric' makes him an offer he can't refuse. Just remember; read the T's and C's!
S*!T is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
NOT ALL IS WELL WITH JACK
directed by Luke Maund
Jack, a narcissistic businessman, finds his true self.
NOT ALL IS WELL WITH JACK is an Official Selection in the Low Budget Category
HOW TO GET $100 MILLION
directed by Ilya Polyakov
A disenchanted young woman ascribes to the get-rich-quick advice of self-help guru - only to learn the cost of getting exactly what you want.
HOW TO GET $100 MILLION is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category
finalists
Micro-Budget
DEEP FEARS directed by Ryan Chu
NEW YEAR’S KISS directed by DT Kofoed & Lee Ivy
REMEMBER THAT? directed by Aella Jordan-Edge
Low Budget
CAR KEYS directed by David Anderson
I’M FROM A PLACE directed by Samuel Rigal & Dominic Crisp
Sponsored
FENICE - MOMONI SS21 directed by Giulia Achenza
MCKINLEY directed by Ben Bloore
Semi-Finalists
6:59 directed by Vinstinct
CHECK, PLEASE! FIRST SHIFT directed by Elea Clair
DOLLS directed by Francesca Pazniokas
HI, STRANGER directed by Kristen Brookman
HOSTILE STATE directed by Lucy Velik & Jesse Velik
JANUARY 14TH directed by La'Chris Jordan
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: August 2020 Official Selections
We are excited to announce our Finalists and Semi-Finalists from August’s edition of The People’s Film Festival.
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
Official Selections
NO HARD SHELLS CRACK?
directed by Rich Mcafee
In the midst of lockdown, a man becomes unbalanced and loses his temper with a suitcase which leads to a surreal event.
NO HARD SHELLS CRACK? is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category.
FUCKING DOWN
directed by Amanda Lago
Set in a futuristic dystopian era with a strong retro aesthetic, Fucking Down presents us with several women of different ages surrounding the singer in a somber hotel room. Though similar in appearance, each reflects a unique trait spanning across the whole spectrum of human emotions. From playful and kind to brutal and fierce, the singer finds herself at their complete mercy with almost no control over their actions.
A carefully constructed and purposefully repetitive choreography illustrates this scenario, with each cycle featuring slightly different movements - some more exaggerated and violent and some more restrained and controlled. This reiteration gives the protagonist the chance to react differently each time and learn more about herself, leading her to predict patterns in her own behaviour and gradually accept herself.
FUCKING DOWN is an Official Selection in the Low Budget Category.
SOCKS & ROBBERS
directed by David Lilley
A gang of notorious sock-headed criminals commit the biggest bank heist of their careers. Things start to fall apart when they find out an undercover cop has infiltrated their ranks.
SOCKS & ROBBERS is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category.
finalists
Micro-Budget
A STRANGE SEASON directed by Burak Oguz Saguner
THE DEAL directed by Stuart Black & George Felner
Low Budget
2:40 TO LONDON directed by Gavin Irvine
BLACK BEAR directed by Peter Paton
PRECURSOR directed by Manolo Campos
Sponsored
ALEX directed by Luca Spreafico
TINDERBOX directed by Rickey Larke
Semi-Finalists
ALRIGHT directed by Jeremy Vella
ATOMS directed by Alex McPake
MR. ROBERTSON directed by Terry Blade
PARTING FRENZY directed by Ryan Freda
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: July 2020 Official Selections
We are excited to announce our Official Selections, Finalists and Semi-Finalists from July’s edition of The People’s Film Festival.
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2021!
official selections
STRANGE
"Strange" is an autobiographical story told in a visual journal style, a glimpse into an autistic author’s life exploring friendship, trails and the use of unique coping strategies.
STRANGE is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget category.
ROBERT THE ROBOT
In the near future, the problem of domestic chores will be solved by artificially intelligent cleaning droids. Every home will have at least one.
This short tells the story of an old cleaning droid - a ROB 9000 domestic model - as he passes a boring Tuesday alone in an empty house, waiting for his owners to return.
By focusing on the robot’s self-awareness, loneliness and dog-like love of his owners, we have created a beautiful tone poem that makes people feel sympathy for a humble hunk of metal.
ROBERT THE ROBOT is an Official Selection in the Low Budget category.
APPETITE
Steph is a predatory dater. She always insists on paying. When a large bill arrives, she’s nowhere to be seen, for Steph is a serial dine-and-dasher. Wearing elaborate guises, she believes she can slip away from the table and not suffer the consequences. But everyone has to pay the bill in the end.
APPETITE is an Official Selection in the Sponsored category.
finalists
Micro-Budget
SEND IN THE CLOWNS directed by Ben Ashton & James Hastings
SLEEPING ROUGH: CATHERINE’S STORY directed by Owain Astles
Low Budget
FUCKING DOWN directed by Amanda Lago
STOP & SEARCH directed by Harry Jackson
WELL MEANING PEOPLE directed by Charlie Brades-Price
Sponsored
LOST HORSE directed by Adi Halfin
TINDERBOX directed by Rickey Larke
Semi-Finalists
ANGEL ONE directed by Kevin Borger
BLACK BEAR directed by Peter Paton
CHASING directed by Steven Calvert & Thomas Blackburne
AN INSTA(NT) STORY directed by Matteo Valentini
NO HARD SHELLS CRACK? directed by Rich Mcafee
THE SPLIT directed by Josh Farrell
THE STORY OF ICE directed by Francoise Doherty
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: June 2020 Official Selections
We are excited to announce our Finalists and Semi-Finalists from June’s edition of The People’s Film Festival.
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival!
official selections
I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL
Directed by Sam O'Mahony
London. Lockdown. With her partner missing (again) anxiety-prone Katharine hits a catastrophic low. Her mother tries to persuade her to use the time to re-engage with her art, a passion long-suppressed by Katharine’s controlling partner. Katharine tries but quickly gives up. Soon the claustrophobic nature of their flat coupled with an abundance of newly-arrived houseflies and her growing anxiety about post-lockdown life, forces Katharine to consider the fatal option. One night, at the point of no return, a lost dog forces its way into her home. Relenting to its demands, Katharine allows it to stay, forgoing, her previous plans. As the long lockdown days drag on, Katharine becomes intrigued by her strange new house guest. Spurred on by the needs of another, Katharine begins to taste something of life once more. But as lockdown comes to an end, and the houseflies begin buzzing once more, Katharine is forced to reckon with the one last obstacle standing in the way of her her freedom.
I Don’t Find Any Of This Very Peaceful is a low-key psychological thriller about the darkness we must embrace before we can truly accept who we are. With echoes of Haneke and Hitchcock the film’s heightened cinematic style attempts to draw the audience into Katharine’s small world and experience her journey out of the darkness.
I DON’T FIND ANY OF THIS VERY PEACEFUL is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
THE ANGEL OF HISTORY
Directed by Eric Esser
A border in Europe. A painting by Paul Klee. A poem by Walter Benjamin. A film about yesterday and today, and how difficult it is to recognize one behind the other.
THE ANGEL OF HISTORY is an Official Selection in the Low Budget Category
RUMORI
Directed by SÄMEN (Ludovico Amen Galletti & Sami Schinaia)
Visually exploring the emotional complexity of a breakup, Rumori has at its core how the lack of understanding and communication between two people can destroy a relationship. Introspective, subtle and beautifully melancholic, the short film stands as a summary of the endless conversations and sleepless nights experienced as two people gradually drift apart and disappear from each other's minds.
Set in a house in the Italian countryside, we find the characters in the film, played by Andrea Arcangeli and Matilda De Angelis, stuck in a loop of internal arguments. They share the same space, yet they are unable to see and perceive one another. They live for each other, yet they are blind to each other's needs. Feeling trapped and alone within this space, the house becomes a metaphor for their stagnant and decaying relationship.
As a true reflection of our world, Rumori argues that to stand still is to disappear. The only way out of a toxic dynamic is to embrace change, transform and move forward.
RUMORI is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category
finalists
Micro-Budget
HOMESTAY directed by Elliot Taylor
S*IT directed by Simon Wegrzyn
Low Budget
BRONAGH directed by Jessica Courtney Leen & Megan Haly
ROBERT THE ROBOT directed by Jonathan Irwin
Sponsored
APPETITE directed by Xuemeng Li & Katrin Larissa Kasper
SQUALL directed by Mark Brennan
Semi-Finalists
IT’S A WRAP directed by Brian Unwin
JUDAS directed by Adam Palmer
SAME TIME NEXT WEEK directed by Gigi Burgdorf
SO LONG directed by Jo Jo Lam
STOP AND SEARCH directed by Harry Jackson
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre
TPFF: May 2020 Official Selections
We are excited to announce our Finalists from May’s edition of The People’s Film Festival.
After receiving a record number of submissions in a single month, our jury has put forward the following films.
official selections
Home Stream
Directed by Giulia Gandini & Lily Blackham
Lily has been homeless for a year and a half. We gave her a phone to tell us her story.
HOME STREAM is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
BULL DOG
Directed by Kieran Stringfellow
After spending the night in a cell, a rough sleeper has a score to settle.
BULLDOG is an Official Selection in the Low Budget Category
SWITCH
Directed by Desiree Faust, Stefana D. Brancastle
A dark love letter to the critic, from the artist. ‘Switch’...the one who is both slave and master…(in BDSM), questions the limits imposed on filmmakers.
SWITCH is an Official Selection in the Sponsored Category
finalists
Micro-Budget
EXHAUSTED directed by Chester Briscall-Harvey
A PRESENT FOR A GOOD GIRL directed by Stephanie Upsall
Low Budget
MOONSHINE directed by Tom Sands
OUTSIDERS directed by Grace Parry
Sponsored
SILENT MOVIE directed by Melo Viana
TINDERBOX directed by Rickey Larke
Semi-Finalists
2:40 TO LONDON directed by Gavin Irvine
THE COSMONAUT directed by Sami Abdul-Razzak
THE DEAL directed by Stuart Black &George Felner
(DIS)CONNECTED directed by Sophia Dabizha & Boris Bosilkov
EXTRA directed by Kioumars Ahmadi
THE FERALS directed by Stefan Ruiz
HUGS directed by Harry Plowden
JITTERS directed by Sara Jordan
LIGHTS OUT directed by Ben Walden
PLAYING WITH FIRE directed by Kevin Tsai
STRANGE directed by Cameron Carr
THIRTY FOR AN EIGHT directed by Oliver Ward
WELL MEANING PEOPLE directed by Charlie Brades-Price
WHAT SETS THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL APART?
✔️ Win £1,000 in funding for your next short film
✔️ Free feedback w/ every submission
✔️ Categories based on budget vs genre