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
TPFF: January 2022 Finalists & Semi-Finalists
Our jury has put forward the following films as Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - April 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - April 2nd - 9th, 2022!
ALONE TOGETHER
directed by Aglaja Filipovic
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.
DUNDERWHELP
directed by 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.
FISHWIFE
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.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
CHAPEL OF REST directed by Iain Cash
OUT OF ORBIT directed by Jess Kay & Dann Emmons
Low-Budget Category
CUCKOO directed by Vanessa Hehir
FEAST directed by Gillian Harker
LOVE EXHAUSTION directed by Sam Janot
Sponsored Category
BAINNE directed by Jack Reynor
JACKDAW directed by Mac Nixon
semi-finalists
BLOOM directed by Paul De Cinque
DARK MOUNTAIN directed by Andrew Richardson
EVERYTHING’S FINE directed by Funke Alafiatayo
FORTRESS directed by Slawek Zalewski
JUDITH directed by Sarah Dutton
LOVE OF WORDS, WORDS OF LOVE directed by Fortis Simons
SHE directed by Matt Greenhalgh
SOGGY BISCUIT directed by Emma Jesse
THIS IS ZOE directed by Stephen Gallacher
VETO directed by George Coley
WHAT MAKES OUR FESTIVAL DIFFERENT?
Every filmmaker gets FEEDBACK included with the price of submission regardless if their film is selected or not.
Our CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON BUDGET so micro-budget shorts don't have to compete with fully funded films.
Winning filmmaker walks away with our £1,000 FILM FUND.
TPFF: December 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
Our jury has put forward the following films as Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - April 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selection, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - April 2nd - 9th, 2022!
Official Selections
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 the Micro-Budget category.
LOVE YA LIKE POISON!
directed by Max Azulay & 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 the Low Budget category.
MEMENTO MORI
directed by Paul O'Flanagan
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 the Sponsored category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
MAGIC OF SEDUCTION directed by JBJ
MĖXED directed by Lissi Simpson
Low-Budget Category
THE LAST DELIVERY directed by Alessio Ciancianaini
VISKAR I VINDEN directed by James Newman
Sponsored Category
FINDING BEAST directed by Olivia Accardo
STANDSTILL directed by Katia Shannon
semi-finalists
CUCKOO directed by Vanessa Hehir
DOG IN TRANSLATION directed by Ross McClure
FAMILY RECIPE directed by Kamari Bright
A FATHER’S JOB directed by Frank Christian Wagner
HEADLIGHTS directed by Nick Usher
JUNE directed by Dwayne Cameron
LATE directed by Alexander Mansfield Martinez
SAVING ELODIE directed by Jessica Hughes
SWINE directed by James Millar & Phil Chapman
WALLACE CHAN - THE ART OF MATERIALS directed by Martina Margaux Cozzi
WIMMELBUCH directed by Ali Gill
WHAT MAKES OUR FESTIVAL DIFFERENT?
Every filmmaker gets FEEDBACK included with the price of submission regardless if their film is selected or not.
Our CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON BUDGET so micro-budget shorts don't have to compete with fully funded films.
Winning filmmaker walks away with our £1,000 FILM FUND.
TPFF: November 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
Our jury has put forward the following films as Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - April 2022!
Official Selections
PETER THE PENGUIN
directed by Andrew Rutter
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 the Mirco-Budget category.
#NOFILTER
directed by Nathan Crooker
#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 the Low Budget category.
UNWRAPPED
directed by Eva Gauley
An uncomfortable encounter during a video call.
UNWRAPPED is an Official Selection in the Sponsored category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
LOOPHOLE directed by Ethan Jahan
LUCID directed by Stephen Maddox
NYC! SOUND (BACK) ON directed by Gilad Avnat & Stav Nahum
Low-Budget Category
THE BLACK WATCH directed by Cameron Cobb
WANK directed by Christian Gordine
Sponsored Category
COME FIND ME directed by Nela Wagman
COPY THAT directed by Margaret McGoldrick
semi-finalists
ANOTHER DAY directed by Daniel Topic
FINE directed by Ed Edwards
JERONIKIN directed by Indigo Knox Thompson
THE MAGIC OF SEDUCTION directed by JBJ
WTF - WHAT THE FUTURE directed by Gabrielle Cornish
2020 directed by Heléna Antonio
WHAT MAKES OUR FESTIVAL DIFFERENT?
Every filmmaker gets FEEDBACK included with the price of submission regardless if their film is selected or not.
Our CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON BUDGET so micro-budget shorts don't have to compete with fully funded films.
Winning filmmaker walks away with our £1,000 FILM FUND.
TPFF: October 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
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 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Official Selections
MILK
directed by Celia Jaspers
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 the Micro-Budget Category.
BLINKERS
directed by Sophia Capasso
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 the Low Budget Category.
THE PITCH
directed by Eno Freedman Brodmann
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 the Sponsored Category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
AN ARTISTS REALITY directed by Adam John Davis
LAST ORDERS directed by Katie Harriman
PETER THE PENGUIN directed by Andrew Rutter
Low-Budget Category
THE LUCKIEST MAN ON EARTH directed by Muhammad Exsell
DUNDERWHELP directed by Jasper Valentine
JOURNEY directed by Panji Kaonga
Sponsored Category
TAKE THE VAX directed by Edsta
WHY WOULDN’T I BE? directed by Ella Greenwood
semi-finalists
THE BOY WHO GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTED directed by Karl Falconer
CAUGHT directed by Fred Kelley
CAVEMAN directed by Patrick Nathan Murray
NOSEBLEED directed by Andrew Jonathan Smith
PRANK directed by Robert Duncan
SPIN CYCLE directed by Gigi Nettles
WHAT MAKES OUR FESTIVAL DIFFERENT?
Every filmmaker gets FEEDBACK included with the price of submission regardless if their film is selected or not.
Our CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON BUDGET so micro-budget shorts don't have to compete with fully funded films.
Winning filmmaker walks away with our £1,000 FILM FUND.
TPFF: September 2021 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 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Official Selections
TINA AND PETER
directed by Dan Hodgson
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 the Micro Budget category
EMBERS
directed by Tom Ganley
Alice sits alone at a restaurant, waiting for her date to arrive...
EMBERS is an Official Selection in the Low Budget category
HUNGER
directed by Mark Dollard
A heroin addict is pursued by a menacing figure.
HUNGER is an Official Selection in the Sponsored category
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
CONVALESCENCE directed by Zébulon Youra Goriely
TORN directed by Ron Sonedecker
Low-Budget Category
BLINKERS directed by Sophia Capasso
MORE JUICE directed by Gabriel Thibodeau
Sponsored Category
STING LIKE A BEE directed by Leone
TAKE THE VAX directed by Edsta
semi-finalists
A QUARK’S LOOKING GLASS directed by Adam Loxley
DISCONNECTED directed by Daniel Sheahan
THE FLOWER SELLER directed by Yasha Strongin
LUCKIEST MAN ON EARTH directed by Muhammad Exsell
LOVE EXHAUSTION directed by Sam Janot
THE PLAN directed by Gigi Burgdorf
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 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
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 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
official Selections
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
directed by Elliot Taylor & Liam Francis
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 the Micro-Budget Category.
YOSHI FUNABASHI
directed by Mattia Ramberti
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 the Low Budget Category.
THE GOSSIP
directed by 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 the Sponsored Category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
COVID TALES directed by Ryan Ackland
MILK directed by Celia Jaspers
Low-Budget Category
A BONE IN THE FISH directed by Lucrezia Camera
IN DREAMS directed byWilliam Cho
MIJO directed by Mazdey Snob
Sponsored Category
COPY THAT directed by Margaret McGoldrick
HANK directed by Michael Pedley
semi-finalists
AN ARTIST’S REALITY directed by Adam John Davis
FEAST directed by Gillian Harker
I HOPE THIS FILM ISN’T ABOUT ME directed by Harry Plowden
SHAHIYA LAHORIYA - THE ACCOUNT OF AN ANTI-HERO directed by Muhammad Razi
SUNWORSHIPPER directed by Darin Caudle
UP-AND-COMING directed by Doug James Berwick
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 2021 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 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
PORTRAIT
directed by Keir Siewert
'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 the Micro-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 the Low Budget Category.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
directed by 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 the Sponsored Category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
SLIGHTLY RED HANDED directed by James Hastings
THE SOCIAL DOCTOR directed by Matteo Valentini
Low-Budget Category
SHALLOW directed by Paul Ashton
YOSHI FUNABASHI directed by Mattia Ramberti
Sponsored Category
COME FIND ME directed by Nela Wagman
DEAD MAN WALKING directed by Ryan Marcus
semi-finalists
BEAST OF BURDEN directed by Christopher Deakin
COVID TALES directed by Ryan Ackland
MILK directed by Celia Jaspers
PASSING BY directed by Pheline Hanke, Duc Quang Le, Lisa Jane Albrecht, & Johanna Geimer
SUCTION directed by Rachel Tillotson
THE SUBTERRANE directed by Seán Staab
THERE IS A SCRATCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT KNEE directed by William Cho
TINA AND PETER directed by Dan Hodgson
2:15 directed by Matteo Valentini
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 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
Our jury has put forward the following films as Finalists & Semi-Finalists for this month’s edition of The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Official Selections
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION
directed by Angharad Gladding
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 the Sponsored category.
JAHANNAM
directed by Hamza Pool
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 the Sponsored category.
MYRTLE
directed by Patricia McCormack
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 the Sponsored category.
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
LIFE’S A SHOW directed by Harvey Puttock
THE TROLL directed by Yennis Cheung
Low-Budget Category
I WANT TO LOVE YOU IN ANALOGUE directed by April Lampre
THE END OF AN ERA directed by Alexander Vanegas Sus
Sponsored Category
BACK TO US directed by Gabriele Rossi
T.A.N. directed by Adrian Younge
semi-finalists
BELIEVE directed by Peter Stead
MAYA directed by Jacquile Kambo
TO START OF NOTHING directed by Nico Pimparé
TWO GHOSTS WATCHING EACH OTHER directed by Malindi Kindrachuk & George Moore Chadwick
UNDO directed by Katie Harriman
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 2021 Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists
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 2022!
Our jury has put forward the following films as Official Selections, Finalists & Semi-Finalists for last month’s submission to The People’s Film Festival which culminates at our annual gala - March 2022!
Official Selections
Clouds
directed by David Yorke
A young boy struggling with depression navigates through his daily routine, while being followed by a grey cloud.
CLOUDS is an Official Selection in the Micro-Budget Category
A Tree Fell Today
directed by Oliver Crawford
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 the Low Budget Category
Pelicans
directed by 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 the Low Budget Category
finalists
Micro-Budget Category
BEST FOOT FORWARD directed by Lewis Carter
IN ISOLATION directed by Edmund C. Short
Low-Budget Category
I WANT TO LOVE YOU IN ANALOGUE directed by April Lampre
THE END OF AN ERA directed by Alexander Vanegas Sus
Sponsored Category
HUNGER directed by Mark Dollard
STING LIKE A BEE directed by Leone
semi-finalists
BACK TO US directed by Gabriele Rossi
HANK directed by Michael Pedley
LAST ORDERS directed by Katie Harriman
LIFELINE directed by Lewis Carter
ON THE COUCH WITH MY DEPRESSION directed by Angharad Gladding
PERPETUAL directed by Alexander Vanegas Sus
THE TROLL directed by Yennis Cheung
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