Aesthetica Short Film Festival Programme 2020 by Aesthetica Magazine

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL DISCOVER NEW CINEMA AT HOME

300 FILMS | 100 INDUSTRY EVENTS 50 MASTERCLASSES | 1 ONLINE PLATFORM

3-30 NOVEMBER 2020 1

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS PARTNERS & SPONSORS

GUEST PROGRAMMES & SHOWCASE SCREENINGS

DELEGATES

Welcome note Welcome to the 10 th Anniversary Edition of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival. I have so much that I’d like to say! Firstly, we need to look at the state of the world. We are left stunned and picking up the pieces from Covid-19, trying to understand how the unthinkable happened. Society shut down. Virtually overnight, our lives were altered forever. Beyond this, we are still living through the climate crisis. We must also look to the rise of populism and how bots are working hard to churn out propaganda and threaten the very idea of democracy. I’ve heard people shout, “freedom isn’t free” which falls in-line with Trump’s “make America great again.” We have to ask – great for who? We’re living in times akin to the 1930s. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to see the rise of fascism and the sense of powerlessness amongst violence and hate crimes. The death of George Floyd changed something in me. I have never been more sad, angry, ashamed and appalled all at once. Black Lives Matter

is one of the most significant movements of our times. We have to ask: why are so many black people dying at the hands of police? Why is it okay to stop and search someone because of the colour of their skin? I will fight for equality for all people from the very core of my being. We cannot let Donald Trump, or any other farright organisation, destroy true democracy. For me, running Aesthetica means that I’m in a position to use a magazine, film festival and art prize to promote equality. I am proud that we are an organisation that holds the BFI Diversity Standards and we will continue to ensure that we use every outlet we have to promote a fairer and more just society. This year, we celebrate 10 years of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival. When I look back at the past decade, it is rewarding to see the great work that we have done to promote new talent and independent film. In 2019, we had over 26,000 venue admissions. The festival is a place where careers are launched. This year, everything is different.

I willed this virus to go away, so we could deliver the live festival, and now, we understand what it means to live in a pandemic. It takes time and resolve, so we will hopefully be back with a live version in 2021. This year’s festival will take place 3-30 November. We will be screening 300 films in competition, as well as a number of guest programmes covering major issues through new perspectives. We invite the Transgender Media Lab, showcasing original works from trans communities, as well as indigenous practitioners from Native Spirit Festival and LGBTQ+ works from Iris Prize. This year’s industry programme welcomes renowned filmmaking talent from a huge range of practices, exploring motivations and expertise. We are proud to host 50 virtual masterclasses, as well as a variety of filmmaker spotlights and panel discussions as part of our most exciting edition of the festival to date. Our guest speakers include Oscar-Winning Director Andrea Arnold (Wasp, Fish Tank, American Honey),

BAFTA-winning filmmaker Sarah Gavron (This Little Life, Suffragette, Rocks), BIFA-winning and Emmy-nominated Documentarian Jeanie Finlay (Seahorse, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, Game of Thrones: The Last Watch), celebrated filmmaker Sam Feder (DISCLOSURE, Boy I Am), Oscar-winning Sound Designer Glenn Freemantle (Gravity, Annihilation), double Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin (Inception, Interstellar), as well as representatives from the likes of Film4, BBC, Framestore and many, many more. I wholeheartedly thank this year’s filmmakers. I must also extend this gratitude to my team, who have worked and developed this festival throughout the pandemic, so we can stand true to our convictions to support new talent. It is my aim that you leave this festival, reinvigorated and inspired by the power and craft of film. Cherie Federico, Director

contents Everything You Need to Know accessibility Festival tickets The Virtual Festival Explained Sustainability live schedule Events timetable Meet the Programmers Meet THE jury meet the festival team Special Events Screen School VR Lab vr panel discussions Showcase Screenings Filmmaker Insights Cover Image: UlaĹ&#x; Kesebir & Merve TĂźrkan, onb03.

8 9 10 12 15 16 24 32 34 40 42 49 50 52 56

Networking Sessions pitching sessions Industry Marketplace Masterclasses 360 Cinema Showcase Screenings (film listings) Guest Programmes: Perspectives Official Selection strand 1: Just Another Day on Earth strand 2: Humans and their Environment strand 3: Connections: People, Places and Identity strand 4: Breaking Down Barriers strand 5: Reclaiming Space: Personal and universal narratives strand 6: Keep on the Sunny Side of Life Filmmaker Index

58 60 64 66 93 99 117 156 162 174 186 198 210 222 257

Everything you need to know Booking and Collecting Passes and Tickets n

A SFF 2020 is taking place virtually, with daily content added to our platform between 3-8 November. This includes film screenings and live industry events.

F rom 9-30 November, all content â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including industry masterclasses, panel discussions and guest programmes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will be available On Demand through the festival platform.

Festival passes grant full access to the festival platform, film screenings, as well as live and recorded content, including masterclasses, panel discussions and the Industry Marketplace.

S creening Passes can be pre-booked at asff.co.uk/tickets.

T his programme is subject to change at any time and will be updated digitally. Keep in touch via asff.co.uk and social media sites.

Film Ratings, family friendly & introduced screenings n

Films are PG, 12A or 15, but some may be 18. Please see the programme for details.

A ll screenings suitable for children aged 4-12 will be classified as Family Friendly. Please see the festival programme for details of Family Friendly screenings.

content warnings n

A Ab ed

Some films contain themes viewers may find upsetting or distressing. These will be clearly indicated on each film listing, using the below key. Email asff@aestheticamagazine.com if you have any questions.

Abuse Abortion Eating disorders

f mh s

Flashing lights Mental health issues Explicit nudity / sex

sh v D

Self harm / suicide Extreme violence / language Discrimination

Accessibility The Aesthetica Short Film Festival is committed to providing a safe and all-inclusive environment for each and every attendee.

Carers, personal assistants & interpreters Complimentary passes are available to all Carers, Personal Assistants and Sign-Language Interpreters, but must be booked in advance. A proof of DLA or a valid CEA card is required. For more information, please email asff@aestheticamagazine.com.

Online Platform In 2020, ASFF will take place virtually, allowing On Demand access to audiences worldwide. The platform can be accessed on computers, smart TVs, smart phones and tablet devices.

Subtitled screenings ASFF is dedicated to ensuring that screenings are as accessible as possible. All foreign language films will include English subtitles. In addition, films in the English language will have the option to be viewed with subtitles / closed captions where possible. Look out for the symbol for films with subtitle options.

Speech to Text In order to make our industry events (panel discussions, masterclasses and industry spotlights) inclusive and available to all audiences, we will be implementing speech to text captioning across all live activity.

Family Friendly Content As part of our commitment to engage with younger audiences, ASFF presents a selection of diverse Family Friendly screenings, which will be released daily. See the daily programme for further details.

Further information For accessibility enquiries, please email asff@aestheticamagazine.com.

Festival tickets Buying your pass.

ASFF 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the festival, celebrating filmmaking talent alongside industry insights from renowned guests. In light of the ongoing pandemic, ASFF is going virtual, bringing the best in independent cinema direct to your home. Screening Passes and Events Tickets can be pre-booked online at asff.co.uk/tickets. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re streaming for one day, a full week or opting for unlimited access to film and industry events for the entire month, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got your household covered. Festival pass holders will receive access to all screenings, live activity, masterclasses and industry events. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need to pre-book industry tickets with our virtual festival. See the full programme and timetable for details of screenings and events. Films will be released daily from 3-8 November as part of 6 themed strands. These run alongside live events including panel discussions, masterclasses and spotlights. All content is available On Demand until 30 November with an Unlimited Pass.

TICKETS: FESTIVAL PASSES

Day Tripper Pass Looking for a taste of ASFF? Or perhaps you have a specific masterclass you’d like to tune in to? The Day Tripper pass grants 24 hours of access to the festival platform and includes daily film programmes, access to our extensive film library, Industry Marketplace, live industry events and recorded discussions. Valid for 24 hours from first login.

Dates Valid 24-hour login Household £25

Festival Week Pass Looking for an authentic festival experience? The Festival Week pass allows instant access to daily film screenings, live industry events, the Industry Marketplace, 360 cinema and extensive video library. Enjoy a full seven days of access to the festival, as if you were there in person. Log on to live events as they happen and enjoy a week of film.

Dates Valid 3-9 November 2020 Household £50

Unlimited Access Pass Unlimited means unlimited. This all-inclusive pass grants the holder complete freedom within the ASFF platform from 3-8 November, including film screenings, all live industry events and the Industry Marketplace. From 9-30 November, Unlimited pass holders will have continued access, to film screenings and industry events available On Demand.

Dates Valid 3-30 November 2020 Household £75

FIlm Fan Access Pass For audiences who are attending purely for a love of cinema, the Film Fan Pass allows unlimited access to all of our daily film programmes, guest screenings and our extensive film library allowing viewers to discover new and exciting cinema from the comfort of home. The Film Fan pass excludes live and recorded industry events.

Dates Valid 3-30 November 2020 Household £40

The virtual Format explained Navigate this year’s programme with ease.

Audiences are offered the festival experience from home. This year’s Official Selection Film Programme will be organised through 6 daily strands, curated by theme. These will be released at 8am each morning from 3-8 November. Each strand addresses key themes, encouraging wider conversations about the world in which we live, and our relationships with one another. •

Just Another Day on Earth (Released 3 November)

•

Humans and their Environment (Released 4 November)

•

Connections: People, Places and Identity (Released 5 November)

•

Breaking Down Barriers (Released 6 November)

•

Reclaiming Space: Personal & Universal Narratives (Released 7 November)

•

Keep on the Sunny Side of Life (Released 8 November)

For full information on film programmes, please refer to the relevant strand in the programme. Each day offers multiple genres for a unique experience. Live events, including Showcase Screenings, masterclasses and special events take place in the Industry Live Channels. These are recorded and are then available On Demand until 30 November. Access live or watch in your own time.

How does the Festival work? Get ready to log in.

•

Once you have purchased your Digital Festival Pass, you will be given a unique link which will take you to the ASFF 2020 Platform.

•

Inside the Platform you will be able to access all films and industry events.

•

There is a daily timetable with the films being released in 6 Daily Strands comprising up to 60 films per day across multiple genres.

•

To attend Industry Events, please visit the Industry Page and the speakers will appear at the given time according to the timetable.

•

There is a chat box, so you will have the opportunity to ask questions.

The video library has all films included from 3 November. All 360 Films are released on 3 November and available until 30 November. All Guest Programmes are released on 3 November and available until 30 November. Panel Discussions will appear in the Industry section. All events are recorded and will appear On Demand until 30 November 2020.

Get Your Festival Pack The Full ASFF Experience Â£15.95 (+p&p)

Includes Tote Bag, Printed Edition of Programme, Latest Issue of Aesthetica Magazine and a Google Cardboard VR Headset. Buy Your Festival Pack at asff.co.uk/tickets 14

sustainability at aesthetica We only have one planet.

Sustainability is a key focus at Aesthetica. We recognise our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint whilst presenting outstanding film. We have reduced environmental impact at every stage of festival planning. n

A SFF is moving to an online platform, encouraging positive engagement with film from audienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes, eliminating the requirement for travel and reducing carbon emissions on our part. This extends to all delegates.

A majority of ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marketing will take place digitally. Printed and physical assets are all made responsibly, with reuse and repurpose in mind for future events. We recycle as much of our branding as we can each year.

The festival will be printing a limited run of festival guides, with a digital version available to all audiences online. All printed materials are made with responsibly sourced and FSC certified materials.

ASFF will be offering audiences the opportunity to purchase a cardboard headset to view 360 films. These are fully reusable and recyclable.

Please feel free to contact us at asff@aestheticamagazine.com

Live schedule A hotbed for new ideas.

ASFF is a destination to experience the power of cinema. It is also a key place to learn about the craft across a range of genres, interests and disciplines. This year’s virtual festival boasts over 400 films spanning 14 innovative genres. Running alongside the film screenings, ASFF presents a key platform of industry engagement, offering valuable insights via live masterclasses, panel discussions and spotlights with renowned practitioners, as well as vital networking opportunities. Plan your exploration of this year’s festival with our daily schedule, which lists themed film strands, as well as an expansive live industry programme, networking, pitching workshops and other special events. Make sure you don’t miss a thing. For information about our Special Events, please see p. 42. For more information about the Official Selection, see p. 156.

LIVE SCHEDULE: TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER Just another day on earth Strand 1 Released at 8am

Animation

Time

industry live Channel 1

industry live Channel 2

09:00 -

Helplessness & Despair

just another day on earth

Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Film Time & Place

10:00 -

Comedy

An Air of Melancholy

11:00 -

York St John University

To all the Boys Family Business Points of View

13:00 -

Fantastic Tales: Adapting Classic Stories Original Viewpoints: Establishing Your Unique Style

Robin Shaw (Animation)

12:00-13:00

Documentary Feature

Making Features on Micro-Budgets

Neighbors

14:00 -

Paradise

BBC Writersroom: Creating Captivating Narratives

Simon Nelson (BBC Writersroom)

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Falmouth University

14:00-15:00 10 Year Anniversary Programme Perspectives: Seeing the World Differently

15:00 -

16:00 -

Helplessness & Despair Time & Place Strange Tales An Air of melancholy to all the boys family business points of view alone in the dark Neighbors paradise

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion

12:30-13:30

Alone in the Dark

Narrative Feature

Maryam Mohajer (Animation)

10:00-12:00

12:00 -

Music Video Thriller

Memory and Reflections: Maryam Mohajer on Animation 10:30-11:30

Drama Drama

RELEASED AT 08:00AM

Points of View: Yours, Mine, Theirs Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Strange Tales

Documentary

Talent Development

Showcase Screenings

Guest Screenings:

DAILY forXXXXXXXXXX full details see P. 64 Showcase screenings: YORK ST JOHN FALMOUTH

VR for Change: Beyond Entertainment 15:30-16:30

industry Marketplace

XXXXXXXXXX 13:30-15:30

Screen School VR Panel Discussion

CONTINUOUSLY AVAILABLE FROM 3 NOVEMBER

Stories Through Choreography

Alexander Whitley / Omari Carter / Shobana Jeyasingh

industry networking & Workshops z

16:00-17:00 POINTS OF VIEW: YOURS, MINE, THEIRS

17:00 -

York St. John

MAKING FEATURES ON MICRO BUDGETS

By appointment for full details see P. 58

Groundbreaking Content: Engaging Your Audience

Martin Roker (Black Dog)

17:00-18:00

18:00 -

Channel 4: Capturing Authenticity

Will Rowson (Channel 4 Factual)

17:30-18:30

Falmouth University

talent spotlight:

Guest Programmes

19:00 -

Perspectives On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

Russell Tovey (Acting)

18:30-19:30

Opening Night ceremony

Introduced by Festival Director Cherie Federico

20:00 -

19:00-20:30

21:00 -

LIVE SCHEDULE: WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER Time Humans And their environment

industry live Channel 1

industry live Channel 2

Talent Development

09:00 -

Strand 2 Released at 8am

Animation Future & Decline

10:00 -

Documentary

World Class Filmmaking: Making More with Less

The Inevitability of Chance

Drama Irreversible Actions

11:00 -

Drama

Of You and You Over There

Redefining Branding: AR and New Technology

University of Lincoln

10:30-11:30

12:00 -

Inspirational Cinema: A Commissioner’s Guide

Family Friendly Someone Else’s Shoes

Fashion

13:00 -

Animated Dreams: Challenging Perspectives

12:00-13:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion

Music Video Narrative Feature

Dionne Farrell (BBC Films)

12:30-13:30

Ideas Exploring Ideas Rhythmic Narratives

Alex Lambert (AR & VR)

10:00-12:00

Who Am I?

Experimental

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Maxine Peake in conversation

(A Diverse and Expansive Career)

14:00-15:00

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Ravensbourne University

15:00 13:30-15:30

10 Year Anniversary Programme Our Fragile Existence: Witness to the Climate Crisis

16:00 -

DAILY for full details see P. 64

Re-Imagining The Film Industry: Beyond Covid-19

14:00 -

Nothing More Perfect

industry Marketplace

By appointment for full details see P. 60

Morality and Ethics in Constructed Environments

Screen School VR Panel Discussion

15:30-16:30

PITCHING WITH Doc society bbc films

bfi Doc Society Spotlight: African Apocalypse Doc Society

Showcase Screenings

Virtual Production: New Horizons in Storytelling

WORLD CLASS FILMMAKING: MAKING MORE WITH LESS University of Lincoln

16:00-17:00

17:00 Steve Jelley (Dimension Studios)

17:00-18:00

18:00 -

Gail Egan (Potboiler Producing)

RE-IMAGINING THE FILM INDUSTRY: BEYOND COVID-19

17:30-18:30

Ravensbourne University

Opening Night REPEAT 19:00 -

On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

Primetime Presents: Sarah Gavron in Conversation Sarah Gavron (Filmmaking)

19:00-20:00

20:00 -

Cinematography: Capturing the Action, One Frame at a Time

Tristan Oliver (Cinematography)

20:00-21:00

21:00 -

Introduced by Festival Director Cherie Federico

18:30-19:45

Guest Programmes Perspectives

Realising a Vision: The Production of Cinema

industry networking & Workshops By appointment for full details see P. 58

LIVE SCHEDULE: THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER Time Connections: People, Places and Identity

industry live Channel 1

industry live Channel 2

Talent Development

09:00 -

Strand 3 Released at 8am

Advertising Storytelling & Innovation

10:00 Why Does Storytelling Matter?

Animation

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Separation & Memories

Artists’ Film Identity

11:00 -

University Of York

Lovers & Haters Take Me Home

10:00-12:00

12:00 -

Short Film On Demand: Curating Exceptional Cinema

Drama Breaking Limits

Thriller

13:00 -

Cinema for Change: Making Films with Impact

Re-framing the Film Industry: Inclusivity and Intersectionality

Yasmin Begum (Diversity & Inclusion)

14:00-15:00

15:00 10 Year Anniversary ProgrammE

16:00 -

industry Marketplace DAILY for full details see P. 64

REAL LIVES: CREATING AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTARY

14:00 -

Paradise Hotel

Global Migrations: Populations in Transit

12:00-13:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel discussion

Documentary Feature Narrative Feature

Curation Panel

12:30-13:30

Love & Chunder The Deathless Woman

Chris Toumazou (COMPULSORY)

10:30-11:30

Comedy Drama

Adapting The Production Model: New Ways Of Working

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

London College Of Communication 13:30-15:30

By appointment for full details see P. 60

360° Filmmaking: The Fundamentals

Screen School VR Panel Discussion

15:30-16:30

PITCHING WITH scottish Doc institute lionsgate

Frame by Frame: Animated Stories

Anthony Farquhar-Smith (Animation)

Showcase Screenings

16:00-17:00

17:00 Disclosure: Sam Feder in Conversation

WHY DOES STORYTELLING MATTER?

Sam Feder (Filmmaking)

University of York

17:00-18:00

REAL LIVES: CREATING AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTARY London College of Communication

18:00 -

Mandy Chang (BBC Storyville)

17:30-18:30

19:00 -

On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

industry networking & Workshops By appointment for full details see P. 58

Recipe for Success: Producing Award-Winning Film

David Parfitt (Trademark Films)

18:30-19:30 Guest Programmes Perspectives

BBC Storyville: Connecting the World

The Legacy of Cinema: An Industry Post pandemic Panel Discussion

19:00-20:00

20:00 -

21:00 -

LIVE SCHEDULE: FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER Time Breaking Down Barriers

industry live Channel 1

industry live Channel 2

industry Live channel 3

Talent development

09:00 -

Strand 4 Released at 8am

Artists’ Film Memory

10:00 The Perfect Setting

Comedy

Richard Knight (Screen Yorkshire)

The World is Strange in Times of Change

Dance

10:00-11:00

11:00 -

10:30-11:30

Power & Perseverance

Documentary Somewhere Far Away

Drama

12:00 -

12:00-13:00

13:00 -

Who I Am

13:00-14:00

14:00 -

Industrial Light & Magic: New Horizons in VFX

Julian Foddy (ILM)

13:30-14:30

Women’s Day How To Stop a Recurring Dream

11:00-13:00

Equality In Focus: Redressing the Balance

Documentary Feature Narrative Feature

Arts University Bournemouth

15:00 -

Hannah Williams / Heather Basten (Casting)

14:30-15:30

The Future of AI: People and Data

Digital Creative Labs

Rethinking Onscreen Roles Bespoke Storytelling: Bringing an Idea to the Big Screen

13:30-15:30

15:00-16:00

16:00 -

A Troubled World in Strange Times

Interpreting Virtual Worlds Screen School VR Panel

17:00 -

18:00 -

SELF / UNSELF: PORTRAYING IDENTITY ON SCREEN

Birds Eye View Presents: Chinonye Chukwu In Conversation

17:30-18:30

18:00-19:00

19:00 -

Iconic Cinema: Andrea Arnold In Conversation

19:00-20:00

Guest Programmes On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

Art On Screen: Defining Cultural Landscapes

20:00 -

21:00 -

PITCHING WITH FILM 4 Goldfinch By appointment for details see P. 60

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

London College Of Fashion

16:00-18:00

Jeremy Deller (Artists’ Film)

London College of Fashion

Perspectives

The Forefront of Innovation: Virtual Production Paul Franklin (DNEG)

16:30-17:30

VIRTUAL EFFECTS: INDUSTRY BREAKTHROUGH Arts University Bournemouth

Self / Unself: Portraying Identity On Screen

Immersive Sound: 16:00-17:00

Showcase Screenings

DAILY for details see P. 64

Guest Programme presented by

Max Park (Film4)

10 Year Anniversary Programme

industry Marketplace

Digital Orchard Foundation

Thriller Needs & Desires

Funding Models: Financing Your Film

Filmmaker Insights Panel

Drama Fashion

Vfx: Breaking Into The Industry

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Bringing a Story to Life: The Role of the Editor

Kristina Hetherington (Editing)

11:30-12:30

Fuck The System Disconnect

The Film Festival Circuit: Finding Your Place

Festival Formula

industry networking & Workshops By appointment for details P. 58

LIVE SCHEDULE: SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER industry live Channel 1

Time Reclaiming Space: Personal and universal narratives

industry live Channel 2

Talent Development

09:00 -

Strand 5 Released at 8am

Animation Choices & Consequences

10:00 Unique Storytelling: The Individual Perspective

Comedy Try to Understand

Dance This is Movement

11:00 -

Showcase Screening & Panel Discussion presented by

Regent’s University London

Documentary The Seen and the Unseen

Drama Blood Water Is Boundless

13:00 -

Visual Effects: Making Imagination a Reality Presenting the Facts: Documentary Filmmaking

Stuart Penn (Framestore)

12:00-13:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion

Thriller Narrative Feature

10:30-11:30

12:30-13:30

Relationships A Change is Gonna Come

Glenn Freemantle (Sound 24)

10:00-12:00

12:00 -

Experimental Fashion

Sound of Screen: Enhancing the Narrative

DAILY for full details see P. 64

Setting the Scene: Production Design in Practice

14:00 Balance & Opportunity: Women In Film & Tv

Write When You Get Work

industry Marketplace

Sonja Klaus / Grant Montgomery

13:30-14:30

Sara Putt (WFTV) + Panel

14:00-15:00

15:00 Fashion On Film: Ruth Hogben In Conversation 10 Year Anniversary Programme

16:00 -

Breaking Boundaries: Documentary in 360°

15:00-16:00

Screen School VR Panel Discussion

By appointment for full details see P. 60

15:30-16:30

The Future is Now: Humans & Technology

Cinematography in Focus

17:00 Behind The Scenes: The Art Of Stop Motion

Showcase Screenings UNIQUE STORYTELLING: THE INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE

Ruth Hogben (Fashion Film)

PITCHING WITH hurricane films independent

Carlos Catalan / Stuart Bentley/ Sam McCurdy

16:30-17:30

industry networking & Workshops

Tim Allen (Animation)

17:00-18:00

18:00 Telling True Stories: In Conversation with Jeanie Finlay

Regent’s University London

19:00 -

Setting The Tone: A Composer’s Guide

Jeanie Finlay (Documentary)

By appointment for full details see P. 58

18:00-19:00

Alex Heffes (Composing)

18:30-19:30

Guest Programmes Perspectives On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

20:00 -

21:00 -

LIVE SCHEDULE: SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER Time Keep On The Sunny Side of Life

industry live Channel 1

industry live Channel 2

Talent Development

09:00 -

Strand 6 Released at 8am

Comedy Experts in Misadventure

Documentary

10:00 -

Solitude and Solidarity

Screen School VR Panel Discussion

10:00-11:00

Drama New Chapters

Immersive Narratives: Adapting Linear Storytelling

11:00 -

Drama Know Yourself

Bringing Cinema To Life: Authentic Sound Worlds

12:00 -

Andrew Stirk (Sound)

11:30-12:30

Experimental

Friends & Relationships

12:00-13:00

13:00 -

Exploring Set Design

Stephane Collonge / Ian Bailie / Kristian Milsted

Family Friendly

13:00-14:00

Fantastical Tales

Documentary Feature

14:00 -

Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story

15:00 -

Guest Programmes

13:30-14:30 A Life In Music: Barry Adamson

In Conversation (Music & Composing)

14:30-15:30

Style And Substance: Branded Collaborations 15:00-16:00

By appointment for full details see P. 60

Dame Judi Dench

16:00-17:00

17:00 -

Framing The Action:

DoPs in the Spotlight James Friend / Kate Reid / Tim Palmer 16:30-17:30

industry networking & Workshops 18:00 -

19:00 -

20:00 -

21:00 -

PITCHING WITH hurricane films independent

An Icon of Cinema

Perspectives On Demand from 3 November. See p. 117 for more details.

DAILY for full details see P. 64

Birds Eye View Presents: Philippa Lowthorpe

COMPULSORY / Regime / Nowness

16:00 -

industry Marketplace

Filmmaker Spotlight

10 Year Anniversary Programme A Decade of Cinema: Outstanding Shorts from ASFF

From Idea To Reality: Bringing A Vision To Life

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion

Even Absence Resonates

Family Friendly

Eddie Hamilton / Mick Audsley / Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (Editing)

10:30-11:30

Drama Stand Tall

Tales From The Cutting Room

Awards ceremony 18:00-20:00

By appointment for full details see P. 58

OPENING Ceremony Your Journey Starts Here. Outstanding Cinema At Home. Tuesday 3 November 19:00-20:30 Start your journey here. To kickstart ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th Anniversary Edition, join us for a showcase of outstanding filmmaking talent for our live Opening Ceremony, which gives just a taster of our expansive and diverse programme. With an introduction from Festival Director Cherie Federico. 23

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER event

time

Showcase Screening York St John University – Points of View: Yours, Mine, Theirs

ch1

10:00-12:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion Original Viewpoints: Establishing Your Unique Style al Viewpoints: Establishing Your Unique Style

ch1

12:30-13:30

Showcase Screening Falmouth University – Making Features on Micro-Budgets

ch2

13:30-15:30

Screen School VR Panel Discussion VR for Change: Beyond Entertainment

ch1

15:30-16:30

Opening Night Ceremony: Introduced by Festival Director Cherie Federico

ch2

19:00-20:30

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Industry Marketplace

Daily

masterclass

time

Maryam Mohajer (Animation) Memory and Reflections: Maryam Mohajer on Animation

ch2

10:30 -11:30

Robin Shaw (Animation) Fantastic Tales: Adapting Classic Stories

ch2

12:00-13:00

Simon Nelson (BBC Writers Room) Captivating Narratives: The Art of Storytelling

ch1

14:00-15:00

Alexander Whitley / Shobana Jeyasingh / Omari Carter (Choreography) Dance on Screen: Stories Through Choreography

ch2

16:00-17:00

Martin Roker (Black Dog) Groundbreaking Content: Engaging Your Audience

ch1

17:00-18:00

Will Rowson (Channel 4 Factual) Channel 4: Capturing Authenticity

ch2

17:30-18:30

Russell Tovey (Acting Spotlight) Talent Spotlight: Russell Tovey in Conversation

ch1

18:30-19:30

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER event

time

Showcase Screening University of Lincoln – Worldclass Filmmaking: Making More with Less

ch1

10:00-12:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion Animated Dreams: Challenging Perspectives

ch1

12:30-13:30

Showcase Screening Ravensbourne University – Reimagining the Film Industry: Beyond Covid-19

ch2

13:30-15:30

Screen School VR Panel Discussion Morality and Ethics in Constructed Environments

ch1

15:30-16:30

Opening Night Ceremony: (Repeat) Introduced by Festival Director Cherie Federico

ch1

18:30-19:45

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Pitching with Doc Society

By appointment see p. 60

Pitching with BBC Films

By appointment see p. 60

Industry Marketplace

Daily

masterclass

time

Alex Lambert (AR, VR & New Technologies) Redefining Branding: AR and New Technology

ch2

10:30-11:30

Dionne Farrell (BBC Films) Inspirational Cinema: A Commissioner’s Guide

ch2

12:00-13:00

Maxine Peake In Conversation: A Diverse and Expansive Career

ch1

14:00-15:00

Doc Society BFI Doc Society Spotlight: African Apocalypse

ch2

16:00-17:00

Steve Jelley (Dimension Studios) Virtual Production: New Horizons in Storytelling

ch1

17:00-18:00

Gail Egan (Potboiler Productions) Realising a Vision: The Production of Cinema

ch2

17:30-18:30

Sarah Gavron (Filmmaker Spotlight) Primetime Presents: Sarah Gavron in Conversation

ch2

19:00-20:00

Tristan Oliver (Cinematography) Cinematography: Capturing the Action, One Frame at a Time

ch1

20:00-21:00

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER event

time

Showcase Screening University of York – Why Does Storytelling Matter?

ch1

10:00-12:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion Cinema for Change: Making Films with Impact

ch1

12:30-13:30

Showcase Screening London College of Communication – Real Lives: Creating an Authentic Documentary

ch2

13:30-15:30

Screen School VR Panel Discussion 360 Filmmaking: The Fundamentals

ch1

15:30-16:30

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Pitching with Scottish Documentary Institute

By appointment see p. 60

Pitching with Lionsgate

By appointment see p. 60

Industry Marketplace

Daily

masterclass

time

Chris Toumazou (Compulsory) Adapting The Production Model: New Ways of Working

ch2

10:30-11:30

Directors Notes / Short of the Week / 1.4 / NOWNESS Short Film on Demand: Curating Exceptional Cinema

ch2

12:00-13:00

Yasmin Begum (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) Re-Framing the Film Industry: Inclusivity & Intersectionality

ch1

14:00-15:00

Anthony Farquhar-Smith (Animation) Frame by Frame: Animated Stories

ch2

16:00-17:00

Sam Feder (Filmmaker Spotlight) Disclosure: Sam Feder In Conversation

ch1

17:00-18:00

Mandy Chang (BBC Storyville) BBC Storyville: Connecting the World

ch2

17:30-18:30

David Parfitt (Trademark Films) Recipe for Success: : Producing an Award-Winning Film

ch1

18:30-19:30

Jason Wood / Simran Hans / Jeanie Finlay / Anthony Andrews The Legacy of Cinema: An Industry Post-Pandemic

ch2

19:00-20:00

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY event 6 NOVEMBER

time

Showcase Screening Arts University Bournemouth – VFX: Breaking Into The Industry

ch3

11:00-13:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion Funding Models: Financing Your Film

ch2

12:00-13:00

Guest Programme Presented by Digital Creativity Labs The Future of AI: People and Data

ch3

13:30-15:30

Showcase Screening London College of Fashion – Self / Unself: Portraying Identity On-Screen

ch3

16:00-18:00

Screen School VR Panel Discussion Immersive Sound: Interpreting Virtual Worlds

ch1

16:00-17:00

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Pitching with Film4

By appointment see p. 60

Pitching with Goldfinch

By appointment see p. 60

Industry Marketplace

Daily

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER CONTINUED masterclass

time

Richard Knight (Screen Yorkshire) The Perfect Setting: Finding the Right Location

ch1

10:00-11:00

Festival Formula The Film Festival Circuit: Finding Your Place

ch2

10:30-11:30

Kristina Hetherington (Editing) Bringing a Story to Life: The Role of the Editor

ch1

11:30-12:30

Digital Orchard Foundation (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) Equality in Focus: Redressing the Balance

ch1

13:00-14:00

Julian Foddy (Industrial Light & Magic) Industrial Light & Magic: New Horizons in VFX

ch2

13:30-14:30

Hannah Williams / Heather Basten (Casting) Rethinking On-screen Roles

ch1

14:30-15:30

Max Park (Film4) Bespoke Storytelling: Bringing an Idea to the Big Screen

ch2

15:00-16:00

Paul Franklin (DNEG) The Forefront on Innovation: Virtual Production

ch2

16:30-17:30

Chinonye Chukwu (Filmmaker Spotlight) Birds Eye View Presents: Chinonye Chukwu in Conversation

ch1

17:30-18:30

Jeremy Deller (Artists’ Film) Art on Screen: Defining Cultural Landscapes

ch2

18:00-19:00

Andrea Arnold (Filmmaker Spotlight) Iconic Cinema: Andrea Arnold in Conversation

ch1

19:00-20:00

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY event 6 NOVEMBER

time

Showcase Screening Regent’s University London – Unique Storytelling: The Individual Perspective

ch1

10:00-12:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion Presenting the Facts: Documentary Filmmaking

ch1

12:30-13:30

Screen School VR Panel Discussion Breaking Boundaries: Documentary in 360˚

ch1

15:30-16:30

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Pitching with Hurricane Films

By appointment see p. 60

Pitching with Independent

By appointment see p. 60

Industry Marketplace

Daily

masterclass

time

Glenn Freemantle (Sound 24) Sound of Screen: Enhancing the Narrative

ch2

10:30-11:30

Stuart Penn (Framestore) Visual Effects: Making Imagination a Reality

ch2

12:00-13:00

Sonja Klaus / Grant Montgomery (Production Design) Setting the Scene: Production Design in Practice

ch2

13:30-14:30

Sara Putt (Women in Film & TV / Sara Putt Associates) Balance & Opportunity: Women in Film & TV

ch1

14:00-15:00

Ruth Hogben (Fashion Film) Fashion on Film: Ruth Hogben in Conversation

ch2

15:00-16:00

Carlos Catalan / Stuart Bentley / Sam McCurdy (Cinematography) Visual Storytelling: Cinematography in Focus

cH2

16:30 -17:30

Tim Allen (Animation) Behind the Scenes: The Art of Stop Motion

ch1

17:00 -18:00

Jeanie Finlay (Filmmaker Spotlight) Telling True Stories: In Conversation with Jeanie Finlay

ch1

18:00-19:00

Alex Heffes (Composing) Setting the Tone: A Composer’s Guide

ch1

18:30-19:30

SCHEDULE: SPECIAL EVENTS | SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY event 6 NOVEMBER

time

Screen School VR Panel Discussion Immersive Narratives: Adapting Linear Storytelling

ch1

10:00 -11:00

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussion From Idea to Reality: Bringing a Vision to Life

ch2

12:00 -13:00

Awards Ceremony 2020

ch2

18:00-20:00

Industry Networking & Workshops

By appointment see p. 58

Industry Marketplace

Daily

masterclass

time

Eddie Hamilton / Mick Audsley / Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (Editing) Collaborative Storytelling: Tales From The Cutting Room

ch2

10:30-11:30

Andrew Stirk (Sound) Bringing Cinema To Life: Authentic Sound Worlds

ch1

11:30-12:30

Stéphane Collonge / Ian Bailie / Kristian Milsted (Production Design) Convincing Visuals: Exploring Set Design

ch1

13:00-14:00

Philippa Lowthorpe (Filmmaker Spotlight) Birds Eye View Presents: Philippa Lowthorpe in Conversation

ch2

13:30-14:30

Barry Adamson (Music and Composing) A Life In Music: Barry Adamson In Conversation

cH1

14:30-15:30

Compulsory / Regime / Nowness (Branded Content) Style and Substance: Branded Collaboration

ch2

15:00-16:00

Dame Judi Dench An Icon of Cinema

ch1

16:00-17:00

James Friend / Kate Reid / Tim Palmer (Cinematography) Framing the Action: DoPs in the Spotlight

ch2

16:30-17:30

Industry Marketplace Discover opportunity. A virtual meeting point for industry connections.

The Industry Marketplace is a unique event in the UK offering a space for filmmakers, delegates and industry practitioners to engage with representatives from leading organisations. The 2020 Marketplace welcomes exhibitors, film festivals, industry services, film schools and universities. Find out about more about the Industry Marketplace on p. 64. 31

FESTIVAL PROGRAMMERS

meet our programmers Find out more about the industry professionals behind this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Official Selection. Our inspiring team has years of experience in programming, commissioning, publishing, production, curation and direction.

cherie federico

dale donley

andy guy

Cherie is the Editor of Aesthetica Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x2030;and the Director of Aesthetica Film Festival, with BAFTAQualifying status. Originally from New York, Cherie moved to the UK to study for a Masters Degree and holds an Honorary Doctorate from UAL.

Dale is the Production Director and co-founder of Aesthetica Magazine and ASFF. He spent his early career working as an artist and then moved into graphic design. He is passionate about animation with strong visual aesthetics that push boundaries.

Andy is a composer, editor, producer and programmer. He has worked on a number of award-winning features, shorts and documentary films which have screened at Berlinale, Tribeca and Toronto. Andy joined the Aesthetica team in 2018.

Rob Speranza

Emma Parker

Kit Monkman

Rob is a producer, director and line producer from New York who currently resides in the UK. He has screened extensively and won over 60 awards for his work. Rob holds an MA and a PhD in film studies from the University of Sheffield.

Emma has had a number of roles including being Assistant Producer at DocHouse, as well as producing large-scale events such as The Great Yorkshire Fringe in collaboration with Cinem@, and worked as Venue Manager at Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Kit is an artist, filmmaker and leading innovator in screen-based art and interactive media. He directed the experimental feature Macbeth and co-directed The Knife That Killed Me. He is also co-founder of KMA and has worked with Prince and DV8.

Mathieu ajan

mikey murray

Caragh Davison

Mathieu is a BFI NETWORK Talent Executive and the founder of Bounce Cinema, a pop-up cinema dedicated to bringing communities together and celebrating exciting new filmmaking talent. Mathieu is driven by championing new talented filmmakers.

Mikey is an award-winning filmmaker and was the recipient of the Scottish BAFTA award for Best First Time Writer in 2007. Mikey also has a PhD in Film Practice and is a programme leader for BA Film Production at the University of Lincoln.

Caragh works for BFI NETWORK, with a focus on designing their talent development programmes, such as NETWORK@LFF and NETWORK Weekender, as well as supporting the delivery of partner work with BAFTA, British Council and BIFA.

• Cherie Federico: Advertising & Fashion •D ale Donley: Animation • Andy Guy: Comedy & VR • Rob Speranza: Narrative Features • E mma Parker: Documentary & Documentary Features

Qila Gill

Leigh Bowser

Prior to curating ASFF’s Experimental strand, Qila programmed for BFI London Film Festival, pre-selected for Encounters Film Festival and curated for London Short Film Festival. She is on the selection committee for Sheffield Doc/Fest and is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.

Leigh joined the ASFF programming team in 2019. This year, her role has expanded to include the Family Friendly and Music categories. Leigh is passionate about the benefits of the arts. She is interested in inclusive films that represent cinema for all.

• Kit Monkman: Artists’ Film • Mathieu Ajan: Drama • Mikey Murray: Thriller • Caragh Davison: Drama • Quila Gill: Experimental • L eigh Bowser : Dance, Music Video & Family Friendly

BEST OF FEST JURY

meet our Jury

advertising & music video

Luke Toyne

Lyndy Stout

Shelley Jones

Lyndy Stout edits and curates the online magazine and creative awards 1.4, which showcases the hottest international short-form filmmaking talent. She previously edited shots magazine for over a decade and was deputy editor of Creative Review.

Shelley Jones is Video Commissioner at NOWNESS – a global video channel screening the best in culture. As part of the commissioning team, she develops series and commissions original work across a range of subjects – searching out talent.

Animation

ASFF’s Jury brings together a range of individuals from multiple backgrounds and areas of expertise, from academia and commissioning, to production and direction. Our dedicated and award-winning team of talented professionals represents a number of key organisations such as Tate, Nowness and Film4, as well as renowned independent practitioners.

Anthony Farquhar-Smith

Maryam Mohajer

Tim Allen

Stop motion director Anthony Farquhar Smith is known for his storytelling and unique animation style. He has directed numerous commercials, as well as working with the likes of renowned filmmakers Wes Anderson and Tim Burton.

Maryam Mohajer is a British-Iranian, BAFTA-winning animator / director. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and lived through the revolution and war. With a background in painting, she discovered animation after moving to UK in 2000.

Tim Allen is an animator whose credits include Wes Anderson’s Oscarnominated Isle of Dogs and Fantastic Mr Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride & Frankenweenie, the Oscar-winning Peter & the Wolf and Oscar-nominated My Life as a Courgette.

Luke has produced brand films and TV commercials for the likes of ASDA. StraZeneca and Gaggenau. From 2015 to 2020 he ran the London branch of Maker Projects, shooting all over the world and winning awards at Cannes, Clios, The Drum and more.

Naeem Mohaiemen is a Turner Prizenominated artist, filmmaker and author. He uses film, installations and essays to reflect on the legacy of decolonisation. He has exhibited globally, and is a member of the film council of ICA London.

Berwyn Rowlands

Jess Loveland

Max Park

Berwyn is a producer and the founder of the Iris Prize – a generous production grant awarded annually to a filmmaker as part of the Iris Prize Festival. He has produced content for BBC, ITV and S4C including Llety Piod (UK) starring Bill Nighy.

Jess oversees the national strategy for the BFI NETWORK working closely with the UK-wide team of Talent Execs and colleagues in the BFI Film Fund, supporting and promoting the next generation of filmmakers wherever they are based in the UK.

Max is a Development Editor at Film4, Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Max works with both new and established filmmakers. The company’s slate includes Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Ex Machina and Slumdog Millionaire.

Alexander Whitley

Omari Carter

Shobana Jeyasingh

Alexander Whitley is a choreographer working at the cutting edge contemporary dance. He has developed a reputation for a bold interdisciplinary approach to dance making, producing innovative and thought-provoking performances.

Omari is a screen dance practitioner and lecturer who has choreographed and performed for music videos, film, television and theatre. He is the founder and creative director of awardwinning production company, The Motion Dance Collective.

Shobana Jeyasingh is an internationally recognised choreographer. She is also the founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. She has created over 60 critically acclaimed works for stage, screen and public spaces.

Dance

Naeem Mohaiemen

Jeremy Deller is an English conceptual, video and installation artist, and filmmaker. He won the Turner Prize in 2004, and in 2010 was awarded the Albert Medal of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (RSA).

Comedy

Jeremy Deller

Carly Whitefield is Assistant Curator, International Art (Film) at Tate Modern. She is co-curator of the current Dóra Maurer exhibition, Anicka Yi’s upcoming 2021 Commission for Turbine Hall, as well as the Tate Film programme.

artists’ film & experimental

Carly Whitefield

VR & 360

Drama

documentary

BEST OF FEST JURY

Jeanie Finlay

Mandy Chang

Sam Feder

Jeanie Finlay is an award-winning filmmaker and one of Britain’s most distinctive documentary makers. She tells intimate stories to global viewers, such as the Emmy nominated Game Of Thrones: The Last Watch and BIFA-nominated Seahorse.

Mandy is the Commissioning Editor of Storyville – BBC’s global feature documentary strand. Mandy is from a filmmaking background and has brought award-winning films to public television viewers, both as a commissioner and filmmaker.

Sam is an award-winning filmmaker, Director of the Netflix Original DISCLOSURE. Sam’s work explores the power dynamics and politics of media-driven identity connecting urgent issues in the trans community to the struggles of the past.

MarBelle

Sara Putt

Yasmin Begum

MarBelle is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of independent film curation and interview site Directors Notes, which was founded in 2006 and showcases the best in new cinema. He has previously worked as Editor of Shooting People’s Filmmakers Bulletin.

Sara sits on the BAFTA Board, The BAFTA TV Committee and chairs the BAFTA Learning and New Talent Committee. She is also Deputy Chair of Women in Film and runs Sara Putt Associates, an agency for freelance production personnel.

Yasmin is a writer, activist and creative based in Cardiff. She works as a BFI Youth Fan Consultant and has worked with Ffilm Cymru Wales, Inclusive Cinema and Hansh. Yasmin is passionate about engagement, equality, evaluation and diversity.

Dan Bartlett

Steve Jelley

Catherine Allen

Dan Bartlett is Programme Director for Moving Image & Digital Arts at London College of Communication. Dan is an animation visual development artist exploring emergent digital technologies.

Steve Jelley is an award-winning producer and creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in content production, distribution and technology innovation. He is cofounder and joint managing director of Hammerhead VR.

Catherine is a BAFTA-winning, immersive media specialist and the founder of Limina Immersive. She has been responsible for a range of high profile digital entertainment products and has worked with major brands including Disney and the BBC.

Ruth Hogben

Margo Mars is the founder of Lief – a London based creative content studio, and one of the most respected producers across the entire UK. Her varied clients include CHANEL, Pernod Ricard, NOWNESS, Vogue, Selfridges, BVLGARI.

Ruth Hogben is a renowned fashion filmmaker who has worked with high-end brands such as Fendi, Dior and Louis Vuitton, created content for Fashion Designer Gareth Pugh as well as nurturing a decade-long creative partnership with Lady Gaga.

Cornelius Walker

Julian Foddy

Sammy Wong

Cornelius Walker is a director and screenwriter whose first film was the Oscar-Nominated Black Sheep produced by Lightbox and The Guardian. Through his own company, he has worked with leading brands such as Google and HSBC.

Julian Foddy is a VFX supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic. He has worked on many exciting film projects including Spielberg’s Ready Player One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He was Global Supervisor for Spiderman: Far From Home and Artemis Fowl.

Sammy Wong is a Commissioning Coordinator for BBC Films, one of the UK’s most respected producers of works for the big screen. Prior to joining the BBC, Sammy worked for revolution films alongside Director Michael Winterbottom.

Iain Cunningham

Opal BennetT

Rebecca Mark-Lawson

Iain Cunningham is a documentary filmmaker. Iain‘s first feature documentary was the BFI-funded Irene’s Ghost, which was BIFA nominated and named in the Guardian’s list of best films of 2019. He is the founder of Slash Films.

Opal H. Bennett is a curator and programmer who works with Athena Film Festival and DOC NYC, amongst others, and is Consultant for The March on Washington Festival. Opal is the Shorts Producer for POV, and Director of Filmmaker Development at DOC NYC.

Rebecca Mark-Lawson runs the award-winning Tyke Films, producing work with original voices, exploring the intersection between documentary and fiction. Tyke Films’ documentary Irene’s Ghost was listed as one of The Guardian’s “Best Films of 2019.”

thriller

Margo MArs

Dr Jessica Bugg is Dean of the School of Media and Communication, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and was awarded a PhD from the same institution in 2006. Jessica’s work has screened in venues including the ICA.

Fashion

Jessica Bugg

Documentary Features

narrative features

BEST OF FEST JURY

Jason Wood

Jude Lister

Tracy Granger

Jason Wood is the Creative Director of Film and Culture at HOME, Manchester. He is also the Professor of Film at both Manchester School of Art and the University of Salford. He is also an author and has co-directed a number esteemed films.

Jude leads BFI NETWORK Wales talent initiatives, supporting emerging Welsh or Wales-based filmmakers through training, development and production. Prior to Ffilm Cymru, she managed Creative England’s iFeatures development lab.

Tracy Granger is a film editor. She started as an apprentice editor at MGM and Burbank Studio before working her way up through the studio system as lead editor on films such as the Oscar-winning Boys Don’t Cry and Richard Billingham’s Ray & Liz.

Youth award

best of fest

SPECIAL AWARDS

Audience Choice Audience Choice Award

Youth Award

All festival-goers are invited to vote for their favourite film at ASFF. This award is chosen by audiences, and is given to the most popular film. Voting takes place on ASFF’s Online Platform from 3-8 November.

ASFF’s Youth Engagement screenings feature a series of specially curated Official Selection film screenings for school pupils aged 11-14. The students critically engage and vote for their favourite to decide the winner.

Hijack Visionary award The Hijack Visionary Filmmaker Award recognises directors with exceptional vision and a unique cinematic voice. The winner receives a generous postproduction package including grade, audio mix, online and deliverables for their next short film.

Best of Fest award All category winners are nominated for the award for the best film in the festival. Only one film can win this prestigious title. The winner receives £1,000 in prize money.

Industry Networking Start a conversation. Who knows where it might lead?

ASFF is a leading platform for connecting filmmakers with industry professionals and key organisations. We offer opportunities for talent development and career progression. Industry Networking sessions are the perfect platform for you to make new connections. It starts here. Find out about more about networking on p. 58 or visit asff.co.uk/networking-sessions 39

AESTHETICA STAFF

meet the festival team Working across the breadth of art and culture, our team produces Aesthetica Magazine, the Aesthetica Art Prize, the Future Now Symposium, the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award and the Aesthetica Short Film Festival.

Cherie Federico

Dale Donley

kate simpson

Director of ASFF & Editor of Aesthetica

Director of ASFF & Aesthetica

Assistant Editor

Andy Guy

Cassandra Weston

katherine smira

Festival & Technical Coordinator

Operations Manager

Educational Bookings Coordinator

Eleanor Sutherland

megan hobson

Saffron Ward

Digital Content Writer

Advertising Coordinator

Digital Assistant

Matt glasby

Jason Wood

Mia Bays

Graphic Designer

Industry Consultant

special thanks Contributors & Partners Ben McNeill, Carol McKay, Dennis Pasveer, Fiona Macdonald, Larra Anderson, Lianne Collinson Sarah-Jane Meredith, Tony Clarke, Victoria Emslie. Â Guest Programmers Andrew Robbins, Anita Svingen, Berwyn Rowlands, Fiona Fletcher, Hannah Bailey, Helen Tweed, Helen Upcraft, Jennifer Chubb, Julie Pichard, Laura Horak, Laurel Parker, Lizzie Banks, MarBelle, Matthew Hellett, MonBelle, NoĂŠ Mendelle, Pedro Tinen, Peter Cowling, Rob Munday.

SPECIAL Events Discover, connect, engage.

ASFF’s events provide a lively mix of industry-led sessions, networking and talent development platforms. If you’re interested in expanding your contacts list, learning from industry professionals or discovering new voices, look no further. Highlights for 2020 include Guest Programmes from the Transgender Media Portal, informative panel discussions and pitching opportunities, as well our Industry Marketplace, welcoming over 40 key exhibitors from across the UK. These events take place live as part of the Live Channels, but many can be accessed afterwards as part of the platform’s On Demand section. To find out more about this year’s events, visit: asff.co.uk/tickets

TICKETS: SPECIAL EVENTS

Opening night Ceremony ASFF launches its 10 th Anniversary Edition with a special screening of outstanding, inspiring and thought-provoking works from the 2020 Official Selection. Curated by Festival Director Cherie Federico, our Opening Night Ceremony introduces audiences to the breadth and diversity of the ASFF programme with a special screening of films that capture just a small taste of our most expansive and imaginative programme to date. Date & Time: Tuesday 3 November 19:00-20:30

Screening live on Events Channel 2.

Available On Demand from 4 November.

Industry Marketplace: Engage, Network & Connect Following its success in 2019, ASFF proudly hosts its second Industry Marketplace, taking form in a newly accessible, virtual space. The Industry Marketplace is a unique platform in the UK, spanning the duration of the festival, providing a vital platform for filmmakers, new talent and delegates to connect with leading production services, agencies, film festivals and universities. The conversation starts here. Book an appointment. Date & Time: Access from 3-30 November

Access available to all pass holders.

Appointments available with over 40 exhibitors.

Networking Sessions & Workshops Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to connect with industry representatives, discover new opportunities or learn new approaches to filmmaking, our daily virtual Networking Sessions and Workshops offer the perfect opportunity to meet with professionals from across the film sector. Start a conversation, discuss your work and meet contacts who could transform your career â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you never know where it could take you. Meet someone new and be inspired. Date & Time: Daily, Various Times See website for details

Please visit the ASFF website for up-to-date opportunities.

Places allocated on a first come, first served basis.

TICKETS: SPECIAL EVENTS

Pitching Sessions: Develop Your Ideas Developing a feature project? Pitching Sessions are your chance to get your ideas in front of key decision-makers from the UK’s leading production companies. Meet one-to-one with the Development Executives for the likes of Film4, BBC Films, Lionsgate and Doc Society. This is a key opportunity to receive invaluable feedback on your work and learn how to develop your voice. Submit your project at asff.co.uk/pitching-sessions Date & Time: Daily, various times See website for details

Only successful applicants. Apply at asff.co.uk/pitching.

Sessions take place via Zoom appointment.

Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussions Hear from a selection of filmmakers that make up 2020’s Official Selection. These daily panel discussions are the perfect place to learn more about inspirations, motivations and creative processes, covering topics such as documentary filmmaking, animation, producing on a budget and establishing your own unique style in a competitive industry. These informative discussions run live on ASFF’s Industry Channel 1. Date & Time: Daily 12.30-13.30

Access is available to all festival pass holders.

Available On Demand the day after live event.

Screen School 360 Cinema ASFF and London College of Communication’s Screen School invite audiences to immerse themselves in the story, discover new worlds and experience 360 cinema at home. Explore the future of cinema with works from innovative creators. The 360 Cinema is complemented by live daily panel discussions. Want to truly feel part of the action? Purchase an ASFF cardboard headset along with your festival pass to experience at home. Date & Time: Available 3-30 November

Available via ASFF’s Online Platform.

Access is available to all festival pass holders.

TICKETS: SPECIAL EVENTS

Screen School VR Panel Discussions Running alongside the Screen School VR lab, we invite pioneers, industry professionals and filmmakers to share their experiences of working with new technologies. In these live industry discussions, our guests explore the practicalities and challenges of VR filmmaking, considering real-life techniques and potential developments beyond entertainment as well as the ethics and morals of increasingly realistic imagined worlds. Date & Time: Daily, various times See website for details

Available to all pass holders (except Film Fan Pass).

Available On Demand the day after live event.

Subtitled Screenings and Live Events: An Inclusive Environment At Aesthetica, we wholeheartedly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy cinema. As part of our wider efforts to make film as accessible and enjoyable as possible, we are committed to offering subtitled screenings of as many films in our programme as possible. In addition, all live events will feature closed captions to ensure that all audiences have the opportunity to access our industry insights. Date & Time: Daily

Available on films that are indicated with (Subtitled).

Please refer to the film programme for details.

Family Friendly Screenings As part of our commitment to engage with younger audiences, ASFF presents a selection of Family Friendly screenings, showcasing exciting adventures that the whole family can enjoy from the comfort of home. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family Friendly screenings feature international and award-winning works, covering animation and live action narratives that capture the imagination and invite everyone to laugh, learn and engage with cinema across various genres. Date & Time: Released daily See programme for details

Access is available to all festival pass holders.

Available On Demand once released.

TICKETS: SPECIAL EVENTS

Showcase Screenings & Panel Discussions Representing the forefront filmmaking talent, Showcase Screenings welcome creators, industry professionals and educators from renowned institutions such as Arts University Bournemouth, Ravensbourne and Falmouth University. These illuminating programmes provide spotlight the work of new cinematic talent and offer insights to topics such as working with micro budgets and the effects of Covid-19 on the film industry. Date & Time: Daily 3-7 November See programme for details

Access available to all pass holders (except Film Fan Pass).

Available On Demand the day after live screening.

Guest Programmes: Exploring New Perspectives Celebrating alternative viewpoints, diverse representation and authenticity both on- and off-screen, enjoy these lovingly curated guest programmes from leading organisations. This year includes a spotlight on the work of trans filmmakers from Transgender Media Portal and an examination of the black experience from Directors Notes and Can We Talk DXB. Discover new perspectives through ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10 th Anniversary Programmes. Date & Time: Released on 3 November Available On Demand

Access available to all pass holders.

Available On Demand from 3-30 November.

Awards Ceremony To bring ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10 th Anniversary Edition to a close, we welcome filmmakers and audiences to tune in to our live prize giving ceremony. Prizes are awarded for the best film in each of our 14 genres, as well as our Audience Choice, Best of Fest, Youth Awards and Special Guest Awards. Join in a celebration of outstanding achievements in filmmaking. The closing ceremony is followed by a screening of all of the award-winning films. Date & Time: Sunday 8 November 18.00-20:00

Industry Channel 2.

Access available to all pass holders (except Film Fan Pass).

Guest Programmes Curated Screenings. Experience Unique Perspectives.

Explore the breadth of cinema through our specially curated guest programmes. We welcome exciting organisations, such as the Transgender Media Portal, Native Spirit Film Festival, Short of the Week and Doc Society covering todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most pressing topics. For full details of guest programmes please see p.117. 47

Video Library Over 400 Films in one place.

This year, ASFF comes to you On Demand in the comfort of your own home. Our video library features all of the films in the Official Selection. These are searchable by key words. Find a specific film, theme or genre and curate your own screening experience. 48

EVENTS: SCREEN SCHOOL VR LAB

vr panel discussions Sponsored by London College of Communication In 2020, The Screen School VR Lab returns once more to ASFF as a virtual platform for innovation and imagination. Presented in partnership with the prestigious London College of Communication, UAL, this is a platform for audiences to explore film like never before. Take your viewing experience to new dimensions and be immersed in 360 film. The VR Lab is complemented by a series of panel discussions, welcoming pioneering filmmakers and creatives to delve into the making and realisation of VR and 360 film through the lens of ethics, production and storytelling. These panels run daily as live events between 3-8 November (available On Demand until 30 November).

Screen School 360 Cinema Audiences are invited lose themselves in the magic of 360 filmmaking and dive head-first into bold and exciting stories that immerse the viewer in the centre of the action. 360 filmmaking offers the unique opportunity to experience the full potential of cinema, transporting viewers to new worlds and allowing them to consider different perspectives. ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online platform includes a selection of exciting 360 works, showcasing innovative work from practitioners working with new technologies. This programme explores the potential of fascinating documentary, groundbreaking and awe-inspiring narratives.

EVENTS: SCREEN SCHOOL VR LAB

Screen School vr panel discussions What is the potential of Virtual Reality in the future? What are the ethical and moral codes that we must adhere to inside imagined environments? How do you adapt the storytelling process for completely immersive narratives? Where do we go from here? Running alongside the Screen School VR lab, ASFF welcomes industry professionals and filmmakers to share their experiences of working with new technologies. In these live industry discussions, our guests explore the practicalities and challenges of VR.

VR for Change: Beyond Entertainment With the film and gaming industries already seeing huge benefits from VR and 360, what is the potential for this technology to be implemented in other ways? This panel discusses how VR can be developed for positive solutions across medical care, rehabilitation and education as well as destructive purposes, such as military use or surveillance.

Morality and Ethics in Constructed Environments VR allows us to experience new worlds with growing realism. As we delve headlong into fictional worlds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; becoming whoever or whatever we desire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what questions should we be asking about the decisions we make inside constructed environments? Experts explore the consequences of life in VR: its wider effects on morality, trauma and user privacy. 50

Date 3 November Time 15:30-16:30 Live Channel 1

Date 4 November Time 15:30-16:30 Live Channel 1

EVENTS: SCREEN SCHOOL VR LAB

360° Filmmaking: The Fundamentals It’s now possible for anyone to create immersive films – exploring a multitude of genres and exciting story arcs. But when you’re inviting viewers to step into a brand new world, how does it change the filmmaking process? This discussion covers the process of 360° filmmaking, looking at how to find an engaging story and introduce it to the virtual realm.

Immersive Sound: interpreting Virtual Worlds Sound is crucial to the filmmaking process. It is key to adding realism through a delicate mix of sound design, foley and music. With the rise of VR, what are the new challenges in creating something that feels real from all sides? Sound designers and VR content makers list the intricacies and complexities of sound in virtual worlds.

Breaking Boundaries: Documentary in 360° Journalism can often face a barrier between subject matter and audience. Filmmakers can struggle to present content in a way that provokes empathy. 360° film is revolutionising the world of factual content, immersing an audience and challenging their viewpoints. Join a panel of pioneering documentarians as they look at the power of VR for good.

Immersive Narratives: Adapting Linear Storytelling Storytelling has changed. Audiences can now experience narratives as though they are really there – whether as an observer or as an active participant. What does this mean for the future of storytelling? How can we adapt to a non-linear structure, dictated by a viewer’s actions or decisions? What are the creative obstacles that need to be overcome?

Date 5 November Time 15:30-16:30 Live Channel 1

Date 6 November Time 15:30-16:30 Live Channel 1

Date 7 November Time 15:30-16:30 Live Channel 1

Date 8 November Time 10:00-11:00 Live Channel 1

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Showcase Screenings Discover the next generation.

ASFF’s renowned Showcase Screenings are a demonstration of the UK’s burgeoning new film talent. Presenting works from today’s leading schools and institutions, these events are a chance to see and hear from the next generation. In 2020, ASFF welcomes a dynamic array of organisations that are championing unique perspectives and exciting concepts, from University of the Arts London to Ravensbourne University. Presented by staff, alumni and industry practitioners, each screening introduces a collection of works that highlight the building blocks of film – from idea generation and storytelling, micro-budget production and examining the film industry post Covid-19. Showcase Screenings run for two hours and feature a selection of films followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers, industry professionals and academics. These discussions focus on the craft of filmmaking, including inspiration, subject matter and form. Each screening examines the ever-changing film industry and explores today’s most pressing issues.

These live events are included with all festival passes.

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Points of View: Yours, Mine, Theirs The phrase “point of view” is loaded with potential. Here, there is the ability to create, inform and examine. There is also the potential to disrupt or disenfranchise. Filmmaking – whether factual or fictive – has the power to tell a story from a unique perspective. How we share and present those points of view involves careful consideration, from inception of the idea, right through to on-screen direction. York St John presents new works from students, graduates and staff, launching a discussion about the importance of perspective in both narrative and factual storytelling today.

Date Tuesday 3 November Time 10:00-12:00 Live Channel 1

Making features on Micro-Budgets There are an abundance of entry routes into the film industry. There is no fixed formula for success. However, gaining first-hand experience is absolutely essential to developing key skills and industry connections. Falmouth University promotes active engagement with feature film production, producing a slate of micro-budget features through the Sound Image Cinema Lab, including Mark Jenkin’s BAFTA-winning debut Bait. In this valuable panel discussion, practitioners highlight the value of gaining hands-on experience as well as the challenges of production today.

Date Tuesday 3 November Time 13:30-15:30 Live Channel 2

World Class Filmmaking: Making More with Less The film industry continues to astound, with huge – almost unbelievable – budgets, stunning VFX creations and Hollywood glamour. For emerging filmmakers to overcome the challenge of meeting audience expectations, what are the tools and knowledge they need to stand out and make a world-class film on a micro budget? From science-fiction to contemporary social commentary, Lincoln School of Film and Media leads a discussion on the fundamentals of filmmaking, making more with less. This panel examines the process of making, marketing and distribution.

Date Wednesday 4 November Time 10:00-12:00 Live Channel 1

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Re-imagining the Film Industry Beyond Covid-19 The world has changed irrevocably through the 2020 pandemic. Covid-19 has drastically altered the way we live and work. The film industry is re-assessing over 100 years of protocols and practices, so what does this mean for new talent? In the same way that common access routes have transformed – from the apprenticeship roles to the film school model – how has lockdown presented unexpected challenges? What is the future of hybrid teaching? What does this mean for practice-based learning? This panel explores the future of the film and education industries.

Date Wednesday 4 November Time 13:30-15-30 Live Channel 2

Why Does Storytelling Matter? Human beings have been telling stories for centuries – from mark-making in ancient caves to the latest developments in film and TV. So why do we tell stories? Why are we bound to pass on tales from one person to the next? How do we use them to convey meaning and why are they so important to the human experience? Filmmakers from the University of York are led by lecturer and Script Developer Andrew Vickers (Warp Films, Screen Yorkshire, EON productions), considering the place of storytelling in contemporary society. Discover why we are using film to share narratives.

Date Thursday 5 November Time 10:00-12:00 Live Channel 1

Real Lives: Creating an authentic documentary When documentaries are based around specific individuals, how do we make sure to represent them responsibly, and authentically? How do we ensure that figures stay “real” whilst under the spotlight? How do you approach someone about their story, when you have no idea how much exposure the film will receive? Join London College of Communication’s Documentary Film graduates for a unique screening experience centred on documentary as portrait. Panellists expand on the challenges of working with character-driven documentaries, including the decision to dedicate work to a particular person.

Date Thursday 5 November Time 13:30-15:30 Live Channel 2

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

VFX: breaking into the industry The visual effects industry is booming. As filmmaking becomes increasingly imaginative, otherworldly and ambitious, cinema is more reliant on the creative minds and artists of the VFX industry. As such, VFX is an attractive career choice for many young people today, combining hundreds of specialisms and individuals working collaboratively. Exploring the role of VFX, AUB leads a discussion with speakers from leading VFX companies as well as recent graduates. Find out about how to break through into the industry through its multiple entry points.

Date Friday 6 November Time 11:00-13:00 Live Channel 3

Self / Unself: Portraying identity on-screen London College of Fashion delivers an intimate discussion of identity and self-representation, exploring how they are captured on-screen. From a visceral focus on the body and introspective portrayals of gender, sexuality, culture, and race to a spotlight on the personas, we imagine and perform in front of the camera – for others and for ourselves. Multifaceted and constantly shifting, identity acts as a site of discovery and experimentation in the work of students and graduates from the School of Media and Communication, LCF.

Date Friday 6 November Time 16:00-18:00 Live Channel 3

Unique Storytelling: The Individual Perspective Storytelling is the heart of the filmmaking process. Film is an opportunity to express emotion, realising a story whilst considering its global relevance. Cinema allows us to connect with an audience and offer new insights into the world around us. With links to renowned institutions such as Abbey Road Studios and the Delamar Institute, Regents University emphasises the importance of filmmaking as a storytelling tool. In this discussion, guest speakers examine the importance of nurturing individuals, as well as the vital need for new and diverse voices within the industry – both behind the camera and on-screen.

Date Saturday 7 November Time 10:00-12:00 Live Channel 1

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

filmmaker insights Daily panel discussions.

ASFF celebrates 10 years of outstanding filmmaking talent in 2020. We provide a vital platform for conversations about filmmaking. Our intimate Filmmaker Insights panels offer a soapbox to creatives from the Official Selection to share their knowledge. From Establishing Your Unique Style and Presenting the Facts to Financing Your Film, Filmmaker Insights are essential sessions where filmmakers can learn from their peers. Filmmaker Insights run daily on ASFF’s live Industry Channels.

Original Viewpoints: Establishing Your Unique Style Directing is about far more than telling stories. Audiences demand fresh ideas. Not only this, they should be delivered in unique and inspiring ways. For filmmakers, developing a distinctive style is fundamental in connecting with audiences and funders for the future. Directors from our Official Selection discuss the importance of directorial flare.

Animated Dreams: Challenging Perspectives Animation is a form that truly allows the creator to become an explorer – limited only by their own imagination. It’s a genre that doesn’t restrict storytelling. Animation is flexible in the ways it opens up entirely new viewpoints, whether they exist in fantasy realms or worlds based on reality. Join a panel of animators as they talk about techniques and motivations. 56

Date Tuesday 3 November Time 12:30-13:30 Live Channel 1

Date Wednesday 4 November Time 12:30-13:30 Live Channel 1

EVENTS: SHOWCASE SCREENINGS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Cinema for Change: Making Films with Impact Cinema is a powerful tool. It brings us together. Filmmakers are playing a crucial role in today’s changing world. They are visionaries who are sharing a call to action: to change how we live, addressing the climate crisis, human rights issues and global inequalities and social prejudices. In this discussion, filmmakers speak about implementing positive change.

Funding Models: Financing Your Film Financing a film is tricky. Filmmakers face a constant battle to get their work made, and within budget. Whether you’re applying to screen agencies or investors, it’s crucial that your vision is portrayed clearly and effectively in the process. Join a panel of ambitious filmmakers as they discuss applying for funds and working with – rather than against – budgets.

Presenting the Facts: Documentary Filmmaking What are the challenges of capturing real life stories? Documentary filmmaking, especially in the short form, is the process of condensing countless hours of footage into a succinct story. Join a panel of documentarians as they explore ethics and truth telling in a genre that becomes ever more cinematic and influenced by the narrative form.

From Idea to Reality: Bringing a Vision to Life A great idea is just the first step in the filmmaking process. What does it really take to realise a vision on the big screen? Bringing a wealth of experience, filmmakers, animators and documentarians explore the process of idea generation, development and production, considering individual approaches to the art of filmmaking.

Date Thursday 5 November Time 12:30-13:30 Live Channel 1

Date Friday 6 November Time 12:00-13:00 Live Channel 2

Date Saturday 7 November Time 12:30-13:30 Live Channel 1

Date Sunday 8 November Time 12:00-13:00 Live Channel 2

EVENTS: INDUSTRY NETWORKING SESSIONS

networking sessions It all starts with a conversation. ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Networking Sessions are an opportunity to interact with representatives from some of the leading arts and film organisations, production companies, sales and distribution specialists and exhibitors. Who knows where it could lead? These events are the perfect place to make new connections, discuss projects and receive vital support that will inform your career development. There is no shortage of opportunities, with a wealth of participating organisations and individuals.

How it works. Industry Networking sessions will take place virtually on a pre-booking basis. Industry representatives will be available at specific time slots between 3-8 November. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of 5 participants per session. Each session will take place via Zoom. For full information, please visit: asff.co.uk/networking-sessions

EVENTS: INDUSTRY NETWORKING SESSIONS

Attending Delegates

EVENTS: PITCHING SESSIONS

pitching sessions Share your next big idea. Developing a feature project? Looking for advice and pointers on developing your big idea? Pitching Sessions are your chance to get your work in front of key decision-makers from the UK’s leading production companies. Meet one-to-one with the Development Executives for the likes of Film4, Goldfinch First Flights, BBC Films, Lionsgate and Doc Society. This is a major opportunity to receive invaluable feedback on your work and take it to the next level. Successful applicants are invited to a 15-minute, 1-on-1, Pitching Session with a representative from one of our guest organisations. Find out more and submit your project proposal at asff.co.uk/pitching-sessions

Doc Society (Documentary Features) The BFI Doc Society Fund works to support and develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Founded in 2005, it is committed to enabling great documentary films and connecting them to audiences globally. Hannah Bush Bailey works across the funds feature slate and Made of Truth Short Scheme.

Date Wednesday 4 November Time Time slot will be allocated

BBC Films (Narrative Features) BBC Films is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing feature-length productions. Committed to developing new talent, it collaborates with some of the foremost writers and directors, with new releases including Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir. BBC Films was awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. 60

Date Wednesday 4 November Time Time slot will be allocated

EVENTS: PITCHING SESSIONS

Scottish Documentary Institute (Doc Features) Scottish Documentary Institute specialises in documentary training, production and distribution, supporting filmmakers through a diverse programme of high quality training programmes. It has produced over 100 films, screening in 60 countries, garnering recognition as being at the cutting edge of the documentary sector. Bridging art and industry, it is committed to film driven by the emotional experience.

Date Thursday 5 November Time Time slot will be allocated

Lionsgate (Narrative Features) Lionsgate UK is the British subsidiary of the American film company, Lionsgate, founded in 1997 by Simon Franks and Zygi Kamasa. The company is one of the UK’s leading producers, distributors of critically acclaimed films, including Rupert Everett’s The Happy Prince, On Chesil Beach, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, A Simple Favour and the lauded documentary McQueen.

Date Thursday 5 November Time Time slot will be allocated

Film4 (NArrative Features) Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, developing and co-financing projects from the most distinctive talents in UK and rest of the world. Academy Award-winners include Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, with recent releases including Andrea Arnold’s American Honey.

Date Friday 6 November Time Time slot will be allocated

Goldfinch First FLights (Narrative Features) First Flights is an incubator for first-time feature film directors and producers, supporting each individual to create financially successful features and launch their international profiles. The First Flights team is adept at spotting emerging creative talent, working with individuals to produce their first feature. Goldfinch has worked with Gary Oldman, Anjelica Houston, Bill Nighy and Sam Riley.

Date Friday 6 November Time Time slot will be allocated

EVENTS: PITCHING SESSIONS

Hurricane FIlms (Narrative Features) For over a decade, Hurricane Films has been telling great stories – fact and fiction – for both the big and small screen. The company is owned and run by Solon Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter, with each partner bringing a wealth of experience from their highly successful individual careers. Hurricane Films is a Film and Production Company based in Liverpool. They are on the lookout for the next great story.

Date Saturday 7 November Time Time slot will be allocated

Independent (Narrative & Documentary Features) Independent specialises in the development, financing, production and sales of independent feature films. Led by CEO Luc Roeg, COO Cora Palfrey and Managing Director Andrew Orr, Independent has a team of highly motivated and experienced professionals with expertise in project development, production, structured finance, sales and marketing. They work across narrative and documentary.

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2021 62

Date Saturday 7 November Time Time slot will be allocated

SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

DEADLINE 31 MAY 2021 Find out more: asff.co.uk

Screen School 360° 360° Cinema On Demand. Experience Cinema Differently.

ASFF is proud to partner with UAL London College of Communication’s Screen School to present the Screen School VR Lab. In 2020, ASFF offers a 360° cinema in a new virtual space, allowing On Demand access from home. Headsets available to buy from asff.co.uk. For full details please see p. 93. 63

EVENTS: INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE

industry marketplace Engage, network and connect. Returning to ASFF for the second year, the Industry Marketplace finds a new home in an accessible, virtual space, welcoming more than 40 exhibitors from leading exhibitors, including production services, film festivals, screen agencies and renowned universities. A unique platform in the UK, the Industry Marketplace offers a vital platform for filmmakers, new talent and industry practitioners to make connections, network and uncover opportunities that can transform careers. Book an appointment and start a conversation. Access to the Industry Marketplace is included with a festival pass.

INDUSTRY & SERVICES

EVENTS: INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE

FILM FESTIVALS

FILM SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES

masterclasses Gain first-hand insights.

Every year, ASFF welcomes industry leaders from a range of disciplines to speak about their craft, offering a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insights in direction, animation, VFX, documentary production and cinematography. We welcome acclaimed speakers such as Dame Judi Dunch, Maxine Peake, Andrea Arnold (American Honey), Sarah Gavron (Suffragette), Sam Feder (Disclosure) and Paul Franklin (Inception), as well as leading practitioners with 50 masterclasses. Whether you are a DOP, screenwriter, director or even just an aficionado, we have gathered the best in the industry to share their insights and experiences to help inform and propel your practice and understanding of cinema.

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: TUESDAY

Live Industry Talks Learn how to master your craft.

Masterclasses run live on our dedicated industry channels, 3-8 November. All sessions will be recorded and available On Demand so you don’t miss a thing. All Live Industry Talks are available to access with all passes excluding the Film Fan Access Pass, which only allows to screenings. See the following pages for our full listings as well as times and channel information. Log on easily with our virtual platform.

Memory and Reflections: Maryam Mohajer on Animation Maryam Mohajer is an Iranian born animator and filmmaker who won the BAFTA for best animated short in 2020 for her film Grandad Was a Romantic. Mohajer’s unique and bold painted style of animation has drawn much praise, influenced by the beautiful sights, shapes and colours of her homeland. In this spotlight, Mohajer sheds light on her practice, reflecting on the concept of memory in contemporary filmmaking. She has previously screened at ASFF.

Date & Time: 3 November | 10:30

Industry Channel: 1

MaryAm Mohajer

Animator & Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: TUESDAY

Fantastic Tales: Adapting Classic Stories Robin Shaw is an award-winning animator and illustrator best known for distinct and beautiful hand-drawn work. As a director, he has worked with Lupus Films on animated feature adaptations of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, The Snowman and the Snowdog and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. In Fantastic Tales, Shaw examines traditional techniques, as well as the challenging process of adapting beloved illustrated works into films – carrying the narrative onto the screen.

Date & Time: 3 November | 12:00

Industry Channel: 2

Robin Shaw Animator & Illustrator

BBC Writersroom: Creating Captivating Narratives BBC Writersroom works with both emerging and established writers, supporting the development of exciting projects. Development Executive Simon Nelson has over two decades’ experience across a multitude of genres in both theatre and TV. In this session, Nelson offers advice on crafting compelling plots and engaging dialogues, whilst bringing characters to life in ways that feel authentic. He gives practical advice on how to avoid clichés and find your unique voice.

Date & Time: 3 November | 14:00

Industry Channel: 1

Simon Nelson Development Executive

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: TUESDAY

Dance on Screen: Stories Through Choreography The way we move our bodies says so much about our emotions. We tell stories through gesture, without a single word being spoken. Dance is a boundless form of expression and its use on-screen allows choreographers and filmmakers to transform spaces and reinterpret traditional storytelling. Renowned choreographers and screen-dance practitioners Alexander Whitley, Omari Carter and Shobana Jeyasingh look at film as an extension of the stage.

Date & Time: 3 November | 16:00

Industry Channel: 2

Alexander Whitley / omari carter / shobana jeyasingh Choreography

Groundbreaking Content: Engaging Your Audience Black Dog Films specialises in production in the field of music videos, live music visuals, documentary filmmaking, and branded content. As part of the Ridley Scott Creative Group, Black Dog Films has worked with acts such as Beyoncé, Sigur Rós and The Chemical Brothers, and international brands including Adidas, Nike and Calvin Klein. Global Head of Black Dog Films, Martin Roker, looks at how to commission, produce, and market content that is conceptually engaging as well as technically outstanding.

Date & Time: 3 November | 17:00

Industry Channel: 1

Martin Roker Global Head of Black Dog Films

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: TUESDAY

Channel 4: Capturing Authenticity Channel 4’s factual division commissions and produces specialist documentaries that challenge perceptions, push boundaries and make audiences completely rethink the world around them. Productions include My Grandparents’ War, Jade and Outback Murders. Commissioning Editor, Will Rowson, highlights the building blocks of factual content-making, offering advice on how to pitch content to the discerning and remarkable eye of Channel 4.

Date & Time: 3 November | 17:30

Industry Channel: 2

Will Rowson Commissioning Editor

TalenT Spotlight: Russell Tovey Russell Tovey is one of the UK’s most recognisable and versatile actors, having graced some of the UK’s best TV and cinema productions such as The Good Liar, Years & Years, Flesh and Blood, Being Human and as the lead in the upcoming drama The Sister. In conversation, Tovey reflects on his career, from breaking into the industry to working on some of the best loved film and TV, sharing insights into complex characters as well as his podcast Talk Art.

Date & Time: 3 November | 18:30

Industry Channel: 1

Russell Tovey Actor

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: WEDNESDAY

Redefining Branding: AR & New Technology Augmented Reality is increasingly influencing the world around us. The impact is clear in branding and advertising. Alex Lambert is an award-winning VR and AR practitioner, having worked with brands such as Nike, Google, Samsung and Adidas. Considering the future of VR, AR and experiential technologies, Lambert discusses the how brands are seeking new ways to reach audiences, exploring the low carbon footprint of both AR and experiential workflows.

Date & Time: 4 November | 10:30

Industry Channel: 2

Alex Lambert VR / AR Practitioner

Inspirational Cinema: A Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide BBC Films produces innovative feature films with acclaimed credits that include Billy Elliot, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Philomena and Stan and Ollie. Development Executive, Dionne Farrell, discusses the process of sourcing and securing projects whilst supporting visionary talent along the way. Farrell closely examines what really constitutes a stand-out idea, offering valuable and practical advice on developing and pitching a project to commissioning teams.

Date & Time: 4 November | 12:00

Industry Channel: 2

Dionne Farrell Development Executive

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: WEDNESDAY

Maxine Peake: A Diverse and Expansive Career Maxine Peake is a BAFTA- and BIFA-nominated actor. She is one of Britain’s most versatile and exciting on-screen talents, gracing both big and small screens, large and small-scale productions. Peake’s diverse credits include Shameless, Peterloo, Black Mirror, Funny Cow and The Theory of Everything. In conversation with Birds Eye View’s award-winning Producer Mia Bays (Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, Six Shooter), Peake will discuss who and what inspires her, exploring her own authorial voice.

Date & Time: 4 November | 14:00

Maxine Peake

Industry Channel: 1

Actor

Doc Society Spotlight: African Apocalypse BFI Doc Society uses National Lottery funds to support independent short and feature documentary projects that explore new perspectives and untold stories. In this session, Fund Executive Lisa Marie Russo leads a conversation with British-Nigerian poet and activist Femi Nylander, protagonist and co-writer of African Apocalypse, a new BFI Doc Society funded feature doc, which depicts trauma and the legacy of colonialism in Niger.

Date & Time: 4 November | 16:00

Industry Channel: 2

Lisa Marie Russo / FemiNylander / Tunde Jegede Fund Executive / Poet & Activist / Soundtrack Composer

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: WEDNESDAY

Virtual Production: New Horizons in Storytelling The demand for virtual entertainment has risen exponentially in the past year, with audiences looking for more exciting ways to immerse themselves in the action, and producers seeking to film sustainably under increasing shooting restrictions. Steve Jelley is co-founder of the pioneering studio Dimension. His awe-inspiring projects include Sky’s Britannia VR and War of the Worlds. In this masterclass, learn about the power of VR through Dimension’s projects.

Date & Time: 4 November | 17:00

Industry Channel: 1

Steve Jelley VR Producer

Realising a Vision: The Production of Cinema Potboiler Productions is one of the UK’s leading production companies, with a slate of features and TV series that includes Trespass Against Us, The Constant Gardener, A Most Wanted Man and The Little Stranger. She brings a wide range of experiences to the forefront; producer Gail Egan shares insights into her varied role, from green-lighting projects to realising a vision on the big screen, transforming concepts into tangible filmmaking.

Date & Time: 4 November | 17:30

Industry Channel: 2

Gail Egan Producer

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: WEDNESDAY

Cinematography: Capturing the Action, One Frame at a Time Tristan Oliver specialises in cinematography for stop-motion animations, with credits that include Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs, Aardman’s groundbreaking Chicken Run and Laika’s ParaNorman. When working closely with a vast team of animators and technicians, how does the role of the cinematographer differ to live action productions? What are the challenges – and creative possibilities – of working with inanimate characters?

Date & Time: 4 November | 20:00

Industry Channel: 1

tristan oliver Cinematographer

Primetime Presents: Sarah Gavron in Conversation Sarah Gavron is an BAFTA-winning filmmaker whose credits include This Little Life, Brick Lane, Suffragette and Rocks written by Theresa Ikoko and Claire Wilson and made collaboratively with cast and crew. In this spotlight, hosted by Primetime, Gavron speaks about her motivations and inspirations and her progression from short film to TV and features. She also reviews the necessity for a more equally representative film industry, on-screen and behind the lens.

Date & Time: 4 November | 19:00

Industry Channel: 2

Sarah Gavron Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: THURSDAY

Adapting the Production Model: New Ways of Working COMPULSORY has produced content for some of the biggest recording artists, such as Stormzy, Madonna and The 1975. The team has also worked on branded campaigns for Vogue, Burberry and Adidas, as well as producing narrative and documentary films. Founder Chris Toumazou sheds light on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development and examines how COMPULSORY is adapting to current challenges by presenting new ways of working in a rapidly changing world.

Date & Time: 5 November | 10:30

Chris Toumazou

Industry Channel: 2

Filmmaker & Producer

Short Film On Demand: Curating Exceptional Cinema Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been easier for independent creators to engage with audiences and to showcase their work online, thanks to the rise of cinema On Demand. MarBelle (Directors Notes), Rob Munday (Short of the Week), Lyndy Stout (1.4) and Shelley Jones (NOWNESS) discuss the internet as an integral platform for new voices looking to develop their craft. They also discuss the process of curating, exhibiting and supporting outstanding filmmaking talent.

Date & Time: 5 November | 12:00

Industry Channel: 2

Marbelle / Rob Munday / Lyndy Stout / shelley jones Online Curation

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: THURSDAY

Re-framing the Film Industry: Inclusivity and Intersectionality The film industry has long been scrutinised for its obvious and blatant gaps in equal representation, both behind the camera and on-screen. Now, more than ever, we are asking crucial questions about who is creating cinema, what stories they tell and who they are creating them for. Activist and artist, Yasmin Begum, examines the necessity for an equal and inclusive industry, as well as the need to include diverse audiences through thought-provoking exhibition.

Date & Time: 5 November | 14:00

Industry Channel: 1

Yasmin Begum Writer, Artist & Activist

Frame by Frame: Animated Stories Anthony Farquhar-Smith is an animator whose impressive and varied credits include working on Wes Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Isle of Dogs and Tim Burtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corpse Bride, as well as engaging in commercial work for brands such as Tesco and Samsung. In this session, Farquhar-Smith investigates the bold and colourful world of animation, listing both traditional and digital techniques whilst examining the unlimited possibilities of entirely imagined characters and scenarios.

Date & Time: 5 November | 16:00

Industry Channel: 2

Anthony Farqujar-smith Animator & Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: THURSDAY

Disclosure: Sam Feder in Conversation Sam Feder is an award-winning filmmaker whose work investigates the intersections of race, class, equality and gender. Feder’s projects include Boy I Am, Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger, and the Netflix Original film DISCLOSURE (Sundance 2020), which chronicles the troubling history of Hollywood’s distorted portrayals of trans people in film and TV. In conversation, Feder reflects on their practice and the importance of informed representation.

Date & Time: 5 November | 17:00

Industry Channel: 1

sam feder Filmmaker

BBC Storyville: Connecting the World BBC Storyville commissions and exhibits world-class factual features, with a library that includes Blackfish, Last Men in Aleppo and The Eagle Huntress. In a turbulent world, with increasing socio-political and geo-political divides, it has never been so important to share stories that make sense of the present moment. Commissioning Editor, Mandy Chang, highlights Storyville’s unique approach, telling us how she sources the best in documentary.

Date & Time: 5 November | 17:30

Industry Channel: 2

Mandy Chang Commissioning Editor

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: THURSDAY

Recipe for Success: Producing Award-Winning Film David Parfitt is the founder of Trademark Films, and a BAFTA and Oscar-Winning Producer whose credits include Much Ado about Nothing, The Madness of King George, Shakespeare In Love (winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and four BAFTA Awards including Best Film) and My Week with Marilyn. His latest film The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. This session draws on Parfitt’s rich career in theatre, film and TV.

Date & Time: 5 November | 18:30

David Parfitt

Industry Channel: 1

Producer

The Legacy of Cinema: An Industry Post-pandemic The effects of Covid-19 have been felt, and are still being felt, on a global scale. Economies came to a standstill as the world anxiously looked on. The film industry is no exception to the crisis. Exhibitor Jason Wood (HOME), journalist Simran Hans, filmmaker Jeanie Finlay (Seahorse) and curator Anthony Andrews (We Are Parable) discuss the effects of the pandemic on cinema, and ask what steps will need to be taken to reboot and reassess the entire industry.

Date & Time: 5 November | 19:00

Industry Channel: 2

jason wood / Simran Hans / Jeanie Finlay / Anthony Andrews Exhibitor / Journalist / Filmmaker / Curator

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY

The Perfect Setting: Finding the Right Location Richard Knight is Screen Yorkshire’s Production Liaison with over 15 years’ experience in location management, working on acclaimed productions such as Shane Meadow’s This is England and The Virtues, as well as James Kent’s Testament of Youth and Chris Morris’ Four Lions. Drawing on his extensive experience, Knight offers valuable advice on finding the perfect setting for your shoot, whilst dealing with the logistics of filming out of the studio and in the real world.

Date & Time: 6 November | 10:00

Industry Channel: 1

Richard Knight Production Liaison

The Film Festival Circuit: Finding Your Place You’ve completed your film – now you need an audience. What’s the best way to showcase your work? How do you secure new viewers? With over 15 years’ combined experience in festival strategy, Katie McCullough and Ian Bignell offer a practical blueprint for success, giving essential advice on submissions, maximising budgets and promoting work through larger channels. This session is essential for filmmakers looking to access new audiences across the globe.

Date & Time: 6 November | 10:30

Industry Channel: 2

Katie Mccullough / Ian bignell Festival Strategists

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY

Bringing a Story to Life: The Role of the Editor Kristina Hetherington is a BAFTA-winning editor whose credits span both feature film and TV series. Drawing on a portfolio of acclaimed productions that includes Mo, Birdsong, Trespass Against Us and Red Joan, Hetherington expands on the integral role of the editor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a visual storyteller who brings the story to life. This masterclass also explores the importance of technique, providing advice on best practices for presenting a strong, visual narrative.

Date & Time: 6 November | 11:30

Industry Channel: 1

Equality In Focus: Redressing the Balance The world has finally woken up to the urgent need to tackle inequality. Film and TV practitioners are integral to supporting and creating an industry that is representative of society as a whole. Digital Orchard Foundation hosts a panel of leading Heads of Departments to take a close look at their experience of unconscious bias. This session includes personal responses to industry shifts, and insights as to what should be done next moving forward.

Date & Time: 6 November | 13:00

Industry Channel: 1

kristina Hetherington Editor

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY

Industrial Light & Magic: New Horizons in VFX Industrial Light & Magic is Lucas Filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VFX and animation studio, with recent blockbusters including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Captain Marvel and Spiderman: Far From Home. VFX Supervisor, Julian Foddy, speaks about the innovations at the forefront of the VFX industry, transforming cinema and re-imagining the very way that we tell stories on-screen. This masterclass breaks down the process of building imagined landscapes and environments.

Date & Time: 6 November | 13:30

Industry Channel: 2

Julian Foddy VFX Supervisor

Rethinking On-screen Roles The time has come for a major shake-up in the film industry. We need to rethink and restructure roles both on-screen and behind the lens. Casting directors Hannah Marie Williams (UK Casting Specialist, Backstage) and Heather Basten look at the modern process of casting, examining the need for a greater understanding of representation on screen, considering the process writing roles with inclusivity in mind and choosing the right actor for the part.

Date & Time: 6 November | 14:30

Industry Channel: 1

Hannah Marie Williams / Heather Basten Casting Direction

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY

Bespoke Storytelling: Bringing an Idea to the Big Screen Film4 has developed and co-financed a slate of renowned and award-winning features, including Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, working with both new and established international talent and bespoke storytelling. Development and Production Executive Max Park offers insights into the development process, revealing what ideas make it to the big screen and why. This is for storytellers.

Date & Time: 6 November | 15:00

Industry Channel: 2

MAX PARK Development & Production Executive

The Forefront of Innovation: Virtual Production DNEG is one of the world’s leading VFX and animation companies, working on renowned productions such as Captain Marvel and Tenet. DNEG is also leading the way in virtual production, delivering cutting-edge technology that allows creatives to completely rethink the way they make films. Creative Director and double Oscarwinning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin (Interstellar, Inception) tells attendees about revolutionary virtual production work flows.

Date & Time: 6 November | 16:30

Industry Channel: 2

Paul Franklin Creative Director & VFX Supervisor

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY

Birds Eye View Presents: Chinonye Chukwu In Conversation Chinonye Chukwu is one of the most exciting filmmakers of recent years. She wrote and directed her second film Clemency starring Alfre Woodard and Wendell Pierce and received the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019, making her the first black woman to win the accolade. In conversation with Mia Bays, Director of Birds Eye View, Chukwu will reflect on her filmmaking career, as well as the challenges she has faced along the way.

Date & Time: 6 November | 17:30

Industry Channel: 1

Chinonye ChukwU Filmmaker

Art on Screen: Defining Cultural Landscapes Jeremy Deller is a Turner Prize-winning conceptual, video and installation artist, whose practice encompasses political, social and cultural themes, covering topics such as the 1984 minersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strike and 1980s rave culture. In conversation, Deller explores his multidimensional practice, and processes and wider inspirations. He also discusses the importance of film as an artistic medium as well as a format that is accessible beyond the traditional gallery setting.

Date & Time: 6 November | 18:00

Industry Channel: 2

Jeremy Deller Artist & Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: FRIDAY / SATURDAY

Iconic Cinema: Andrea Arnold in Conversation Andrea Arnold is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the last decade. Her credits include the Oscar-winning short Wasp and the features Red Road, Fish Tank, Wuthering Heights and American Honey. Chaired by Producer Mia Bays, Founder of Birds Eye View, Arnold offers a retrospective of her career, looking at inspirations and shedding light on the recurring narratives and themes that can be found across her work, honing in on the importance of style.

Date & Time: 6 November | 19:00

Industry Channel: 1

Andrea arnold Filmmaker

Sound of Screen: Enhancing the Narrative Sound is a key component within any production. Soundscapes are a delicate balance of score, dialogue, foley and sound design â&#x20AC;&#x201C; adding realism and emotion to every scene as they blend into each other. ASFF is joined by Oscar-Winning Sound Designer Glenn Freemantle, whose credits include Gravity, Annihilation and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) to educate audiences on the creation of sound worlds that complement visuals and enhance the narrative.

Date & Time: 7 November | 10:30

Industry Channel: 2

Glenn Freemantle Sound Designer

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SATURDAY

Visual Effects: Making Imagination a Reality Visual effects are an integral part of production, providing awe-inspiring visuals and imagining new worlds, characters and creatures with increasing realism. Stuart Penn VFX Supervisor at Academy Award-winning studio Framestore (Alien: Covenant, Avengers: Endgame, The Aeronauts) tells audiences about the increasing role of VFX companies as film becomes ever more ambitious. Make imagination a reality.

Date & Time: 7 November | 12:00

Industry Channel: 2

Stuart Penn VFX Supervisor

Setting the Scene: Production Design in Practice Sets create authenticity and captivate audiences. They are often the deal breaker for whether a film is believable. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a period drama or a sci-fi epic, the location is key to offering a truly believable narrative. Production Designers Sonja Klaus (Taboo, Mr Selfridge, Terminator Dark Fate) and Grant Montgomery (Peaky Blinders, The Secret Garden, Tolkien) elucidate the research required to convince audiences within the wider production scale.

Date & Time: 7 November | 13:30

Industry Channel: 2

Sonja Klaus / Grant Montgomery Production Design

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SATURDAY

Balance & Opportunity: Women in Film & TV Sara Putt, Deputy Chair of Women in Film & TV, leads an honest and compelling conversation with outstanding female practitioners who work behind the camera. These talented individuals share their experiences of working in the industry today â&#x20AC;&#x201C; considering its challenges, hurdles and opportunities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and asking questions about how we might achieve a more balanced industry. What changes still have to be made to make this a reality?

Date & Time: 7 November | 14:00

Industry Channel: 1

Sara Putt Deputy Chair of Women in Film & TV

Fashion on Film: Ruth Hogben in Conversation Ruth Hogben is a leading fashion filmmaker, delivering visually striking concepts for leading fashion houses such as Fendi, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Hogben has also worked with renowned designers, such as Gareth Pugh, the late Alexander McQueen as well as nurturing a 10-year creative partnership with global superstar Lady Gaga. Reflecting on an exciting career at the forefront of a genre, Hogben presents a masterclass on the principles of fashion film as a form of expression, beyond the notions of advertising.

Date & Time: 7 November | 15:00

Industry Channel: 2

Ruth Hogben Fashion Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SATURDAY

Visual Storytelling: Cinematography in Focus Cinematography is much more than camera work – it’s the process of carefully establishing shots, framing characters and considering the intricacies of lighting and movement. Cinematographers Carlos Catalan (Killing Eve), Stuart Bentley BSC (This is England ’90) and Sam McCurdy BSC (Lost in Space) explore the role in detail, sharing varied techniques and experiences of working on renowned features and TV productions that captivate audiences.

Date & Time: 7 November | 16:30

Industry Channel: 2

Carlos Catalan / Stuart bentley / sam mccurdy Cinematography

Behind the Scenes: The Art of Stop Motion Tim Allen is a stop-motion animator who has worked on a broad range of acclaimed projects, including Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie and the Oscar-winning Peter & the Wolf. In this artful masterclass, Allen delves into the world of stop motion animation, looking behind the scenes of award-winning projects whilst uncovering the intricacies and minute details that make up the building blocks of this unique and much-loved craft.

Date & Time: 7 November | 17:00

Industry Channel: 1

tim allen Animator

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SATURDAY

Telling True Stories: In Conversation with Jeanie Finlay Jeanie Finlay is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, whose work has been lauded for its close and personal style that cuts to the heart of the issue. Her credits include the BIFA-winning Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, the Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones: The Last Watch and the sensational and tender Seahorse. Speaking in conversation with Jason Wood, Artistic Director of HOME, Finlay shares her unique approach to telling intimate, close-up stories.

Date & Time: 7 November | 18:00

Industry Channel: 2

Jeanie Finlay Documentary Filmmaker

Setting the Tone: A Composerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide The score is integral to setting the tone of any film. Music enriches the action on screen, enhances the mood and conveys emotion. Alex Heffes is a composer whose credits include the BAFTA-winning Touching the Void and the Oscar-winning One Day in September, The Last King of Scotland and Inside Job. In this session, Heffes considers the purpose of music on-screen and shares unique techniques for creating an impactful score that marries sound with visuals.

Date & Time: 7 November | 18:30

Industry Channel: 1

Alex Heffes Composer

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SUNDAY

Collaborative Storytelling: Tales from the Cutting Room The editor holds a unique position in film production, assembling a story from carefully selected footage, curating a narrative and presenting the directors ultimate vision. Editors Mick Audsley (Everest, Allied), Eddie Hamilton (Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Top Gun: Maverik) and Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (Stan & Ollie, Death on the Nile) share their insights into the editing process and the collaborative nature of bringing a story to life.

Date & Time: 8 November | 10:30

Industry Channel: 2

Mick Audsley / eddie hamilton / Una ni dhonghaile Editing

Bringing Cinema to Life: Authentic Sound Worlds Sound is key to conveying emotion, realism and a sense of space. Bringing together music, dialogue, foley and sound design, the role of the re-recording mixer is to combine these elements as part of a delicate and balanced mix. Andrew Stirk has worked on acclaimed projects such as You Were Never Really Here, A Private War and The Secret Garden. In this masterclass, Stirk gives an overview to the process of mixing and the complexities of truly rich sound worlds.

Date & Time: 8 November | 11:30

Industry Channel: 1

Andrew Stirk Re-Recording Mixer

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SUNDAY

Convincing Visuals: Exploring Set Design Film sets are a crucial consideration for all filmmakers. If you’re adapting an existing location or constructing a new environment, it is key that the backdrop complements the narrative and carries viewers along with ease. Production Designers Stéphane Collonge (The Souvenir, God’s Own Country), Ian Bailie (John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, Atonement) and Kristian Milsted (Killing Eve, Watchmen) expand on the intricacies of authentic and original sets.

Date & Time: 8 November | 13:00

Industry Channel: 1

Stéphane collonge / ian bailie / kristian milsted Production Design

Birds Eye View Spotlight: Philippa Lowthorpe Philippa Lowthorpe is a celebrated director whose film and TV credits include Misbehaviour starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha Raw, The Third Day starring Jude Law, Cider With Rosie, The Crown and Call the Midwife, for which she was the first female director to win a BAFTA for Best TV Drama. Director of Birds’ Eye View and Oscar-winning producer Mia Bays leads a conversation with Lowthorpe, expanding on an award-winning career.

Date & Time: 8 November | 13:30

Industry Channel: 2

Philippa Lowthorpe Filmmaker

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SUNDAY

A Life in Music: Barry Adamson in Conversation Barry Adamson’s eclectic career spans music and film. As a musician, he played bass with Magazine and Birthday Party, as well as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. As a composer, his work has featured on the soundtracks to Danny Boyle’s The Beach, David Lynch’s Lost Highway and Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers. In conversation with Jason Wood, Artistic Director of HOME, Adamson reflects on his career creating innovative music for groundbreaking cinema.

Date & Time: 8 November | 14:30

Barry Adamson

Industry Channel: 1

Musician, Composer & Filmmaker

Style and Substance: Branded Collaborations Brands use bespoke video content to reach new audiences, and collaborate with innovative filmmakers. What is the secret to a successful partnership? How can filmmakers express individuality whilst reflecting brand values? Stephanie Walton, Head of Development at COMPULSORY leads a discussion with Justin Townsend, Founder and Executive Producer of Regime, and Shelley Jones, Video Commissioner at Nowness, to uncover the fundamentals of partnerships.

Date & Time: 8 November | 15:00

Industry Channel: 2

Stephanie walton / Justin Townsend / Shelley Jones

INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES: SUNDAY

Dame Judi Dench: An Icon of Cinema Aesthetica welcomes a national treasure to bring the 10 th Anniversary Edition of the festival to a close. Dame Judi Dench is an icon: an Oscar and BAFTA award-winning actor whose credits include the blockbuster James Bond series, Shakespeare in Love, Notes on a Scandal, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Philomena, to name just a few. Join us for this special retrospective as Judi draws upon a lifetime of unforgettable portrayals and ground-breaking productions.

Date & Time: 8 November | 16:00

Industry Channel: 1

Dame Judi Dench Actor

Framing The Action: DoPs in the Spotlight The Director of Photography is one of the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key collaborators. DoPs are integral decision makers and experts in perfectly framing the scene at hand. They are responsible for capturing the action and all the detail. ASFF invites renowned Directors of Photography Kate Reid BSC (Hanna), Tim Palmer BSC (Line of Duty) and James Friend ASC, BSC (Rillington Place) to recount their experiences on set with award-winning productions.

Date & Time: 8 November | 16:30

Industry Channel: 2

Kate reid / tim palmer / james friend Cinematography

360° Cinema Explore film like never before.

360° film opens up a wealth of storytelling possibilities, bringing the audience closer to the action than ever before, immersing them in both real and entirely imagined environments and offering a completely innovative viewing experience. For the third year, ASFF presents its 360° Cinema, realised in partnership with UAL’s London College of Communication. Witness the Chernobyl disaster, life in incarceration or experience space flights on board the Apollo missions. This year, the 360 cinema finds its home on ASFF’s virtual platform, providing immersive experiences On Demand from 3-30 November. Purchase your Festival Pack, with at-home VR headsets, at asff.co.uk.

360 CINEMA VISIONS OF EARTH AND BEYOND

Available On Demand from 03/11

1ST STEP

A BAR AT THE FOLIES BERGÈRE

Joerg Courtial Germany, 2019, 14:29 Legendary footprints: a breathtaking virtual journey into space following in the tracks of the Apollo missions. Experience the rocket launch forward to the astronauts’ return to Earth.

Gabrielle Lissot France, 2018, 05:50 A four-act immersion into Manet’s famous painting. Told from the point of view of the painter, his model Suzon, the client observing her, and a visitor at the Courtauld Gallery.

A FIRE AT CHERNOBYL

BREAKING BREAD

Ash Khatibi Denmark, 2020, 13:44 Irina, Yuri, and their daughter are a close family hoping for a stable life in Pripyat, but when a fire breaks out at the nearby nuclear power plant, their lives are turned upside down.

Cigdem Slankard USA, 2020, 22:00 Breaking Bread is a VR documentary exploring the multifaceted stories of refugee communities who have recently arrived in Cleveland. Step inside the homes of four families at meal time.

CYCLING ACROSS BARRIERS

PARADOXA (NO DIALOGUE)

Elliot Graves Cyprus, 2019, 08:18 This story is about one person, her bike and a battle to resist the powers of No Man’s Land. Ride with Aydin. Listen, watch and navigate whilst being submerged in the divided city of Nicosia.

Jordi Pont Spain, 2019, 09:00 Paradoxa is about time travelling, where individuals get trapped in a loop of events that predestines them to keep travelling in time. It shows us an uncertain future. We are transported to the beyond.

360 CINEMA VISIONS OF EARTH AND BEYOND

SWING

VR FREE

Mari Jaye Blanchard USA, 2020, 05:30 On the playground, a girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jealousy clouds her inner thoughts and takes her deeper into hell, where a simple solution eludes her. What happens when we stop for a second and swing?

Milad Tangshir Italy, 2019, 10:08 VR Free explores the nature of incarceration whilst capturing the intimate reactions of inmates as they encounter virtual reality and immersive videos of life outside of prison.

Available On Demand from 03/11

Conniveo. 1. to blink, turn a blind eye or overlook Georgia Tucker UK, 2020, 04:00 Conniveo combines virtual reality and physical installation to highlight viewers in the depths of marine pollution: particularly plastic pollution, oil pollution and dead zones.

360 CINEMA (SUITABLE FOR AGES 15+) SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

01 CARE(LESS) 2

Available On Demand from 03/11

02 DYSPLA_TWO WOMEN

Lindsay Seers, Keith Sargent UK, 2020, 16:29 Care(less) 2 addresses the phenomenon of hallucination and embodied viewing in relation to our current social and economic constructs, as well as attitudes to the elderly and social care.

Lennie Varvarides, Kazimir Bielecki UK, 2020, 11:15 When a Middle Eastern woman falls pregnant, she is forced to admit that her sexuality is a lie. A 360 moving image film funded by Arts Council England and produced by DYSPLA.

EX ANIMA

GREENHAM

Pierre Zandrowicz France, 2020, 13:00 In an empty void, horses start to appear. They emerge from the darkness, exhaling. Each step on the sand brings the viewer closer to the animal. Together, we move through space and time.

Ben Turnbull UK, 2020, 14:59 The Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was created to protest against the presence of nuclear threat – a women’s protest that camped on-site for 19 years from 1981 to 2000.

HANNYA

MS VERTIGO

Cristina Rosique, Sui-Ki Law UK, 2019, 02:10 In an era when one seeks to transform themselves to become their filtered selfie, is there still space for us to be who we truly are? Are we shaping our identities on social media or vice versa?

Rona Soffer Israel, 2019, 14:13 Can you dance if you are not perfect? Rona lost her balance and her voice in a car accident. But she discovers, in 360°, that there is an answer: freedom lies within the mind!

360 CINEMA (SUITABLE FOR AGES 15+) SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Available On Demand from 03/11

THE EVERYTHING MOVE

THIN AIR

Leo Metcalf UK, 2019, 04:21 A young boy is caught in the middle of his parents’ divorce. He rummages through a box of his journals and is swept into a whirlpool of memories. A hand-drawn childhood world.

Cydney Uffindell-Phillips UK, 2017, 05:30 An intimate glimpse into a couple’s relationship at a crucial turning point. Created as a collaborative multi-disciplinary experiment, the piece uses the language of music and movement.

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2021

SUBMIT YOUR VR / 360° PROJECTS

DEADLINE 31 MAY 2021 Find out more: asff.co.uk

AWARDS CEREMONY Celebrate the winning films with us.

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER 18:00-20:00 Every film in ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Official Selection is in competition for one of our prestigious awards, chosen by an experienced jury. These accolades have a track record of launching and nurturing exciting careers in film. Join us in recognising outstanding achievements. 98

showcase screenings The next generation of filmmaking.

To book a Showcase Screening place for 2021, contact ASFF’s Festival Director, Cherie Federico, cherie@aestheticamagazine.com

SHOWCASE SCREENING YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY

tuesday 3 november 10:00-12:00

ch1

Points of View: Yours, Mine, Theirs

SHOWCASE SCREENING

The phrase “point of view” is loaded with potential. There is the ability to create, inform and examine. There is also the potential to disrupt or disenfranchise. Filmmaking – whether factual or fictive – has the power to tell a story from a new standpoint. How we share and present those points of view involves careful consideration, from the inception of an idea, right through to on-screen direction. York St John University discusses the importance of perspective in both narrative and factual storytelling.

LOCKDOWN GOTHIC

TOO OLD

Mhairi Fox UK, 2020, 02:22 A dark comedy melodrama, in which a Victorian heroine is haunted by longing ... and possibly a ghost. Inspired by classic Gothic horror and coronavirus quarantine experiences.

Joe Hackman UK, 2020, 12.00 Edward has finally had enough. He sets out on an adventure of self-discovery to prove everyone wrong once and for all. He’s not too old to do it all, and he’s going to make sure everyone knows.

THE VOICES

THE VOICES OF MEN

Tracy Willits UK, 2020, 20.00 (Extract) A documentary giving a voice to people with schizophrenia and their carers. Pauline’s story begins as she excitedly gets ready for her engagement party. Ed’s stuck in an impossible situation.

Jonny White UK, 2020, 10:47 Men anonymously share their stories and personal experiences with mental health. This raw documentary breaks the stigma attached to men’s mental health and normalises their emotions.

100

05 BEYOND THE MIND Victoria Cotton UK, 2020, 12:00 Beyond the Mind follows the story of Barry Chambers who has been suffering with dementia for over half a decade. It is told through his wife, Anne, who has been his carer over the years.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

Book YOUR SHOWCASE FOR 2021 ASFF welcomes a range of independently curated Showcase Screenings from guest institutions. Contact Cherie Federico, cherie@aestheticamagazine.com to book your place at ASFF 2021.

101

SHOWCASE SCREENING FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY

Tuesday 3 november ch2 13:30-15:30

Innovation: Micro-Budget Features

SHOWCASE SCREENING

There are an abundance of entry routes into the film industry. There is no fixed formula for success, but gaining first-hand experience is essential to developing skills and industry connections. Falmouth University promotes active engagement and participation with feature film production, producing a slate of micro-budget features through the Sound Image Cinema Lab â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a slate which include Mark Jenkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BAFTA-winning debut Bait. In this discussion, practitioners highlight the value of hands-on experience with innovative and award-winning projects as well as the challenges of independent feature production.

102

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2021 SUBMIT YOUR FILM

SHORTS | FEATURES | VR & 360 ADVERTISING. ARTISTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; FILM. ANIMATION. COMEDY. DANCE. DRAMA. DOCUMENTARY. EXPERIMENTAL. FAMILY FRIENDLY. FASHION. MUSIC VIDEO. THRILLER. VR & IMMERSIVE.

DEADLINE 31 MAY 2021 Find out more: asff.co.uk 103

SHOWCASE SCREENING UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN

wednesday 4 november ch1 10:00-12:00

World Class Filmmaking: Making More with Less

SHOWCASE SCREENING

The film industry continues to astound, with ever increasing budgets and stunning VFX creations. However, for emerging and independent filmmakers to overcome the challenge of meeting audience expectations, what are the tools and knowledge they need to stand out and make a world-class film on a micro budget? From science fiction to modern social commentary, Lincoln School of Film and Media leads a discussion on the fundamentals of filmmaking and the processes of making, marketing and distribution.

SHELTER

RISK IT FOR A BISCUIT

Ruairi Wright UK, 2020,15:28 Hungry and cold, two homeless men break into a high-class country house in the middle of nowhere. Sammy hesitantly follows his more experienced mentor, Robb, but will it be easy?

Daniel Cappere UK, 2020, 04:27 A young gingerbread boy ventures out into the kitchen, looking for adventure, but soon realises it’s a scary world out there. Will he risk it for a biscuit? Or should he stay inside where it’s safe?

HOP TO IT

FINAL CONTACT

Aaron Smith UK, 2020, 15:27 A frog must protect his spawn no matter what, which is easier said than done in a jungle full of predators. Hop To It is a curious animation featuring characters circling around the food chain.

Reece Taylor-Long UK, 2020, 09:27 A Lieutenant trapped aboard her own space vessel – the H.M.S Columbus – finds herself in a battle with an alien species for the future of humanity. Quick decisions must be made.

104

EXTRACT FROM ‘THE DRIFT’ Daz Scales UK, 2015, 10:00 A selection of scenes from this sci-fi feature – depicting how, with a budget of just £5500, it is truly possible to make a full length narrative set entirely in space. A curious and eye-opening project.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

RICH Aaron Good UK, 2020, 14:35 Terminally ill widower Rich has to come to terms with unresolved grief to help Elizabeth accept his decision to suspend treatment. Deeply emotive; touching on healthcare and decision-making.

EXTRACT FROM ‘MINDSET’

WHAT HAPPENS AT SEA

Mikey Murray UK, 2020, 03:37 A failed actor – who lives in a dysfunctional relationship with an agoraphobic screenwriter – is surprised to find herself on the cusp of a none-too-secret relationship with her new colleague.

Aaron Good UK, 2020, 09:25 John has left the Navy and is on his way to see David – somebody very special to him that was discharged earlier due to injury. The last thing he expects is Yvonne to answer the door.

BEEP

SILENT OBSERVER

Max O’Toole UK, 2020, 08:55 Aaron is riddled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He can’t stop doing certain things in fives. One night, a single noise irritates him so much he must question his own sanity.

Paice Lees UK, 2020, 08:55 The Silent Observer explores the passion of one man’s hobby, the risks, the rewards and alternative perspective of Parkour and the art of moving quickly and elegantly and across the rooftops.

105

SHOWCASE SCREENING RAVENSBOURNE UNIVERSITY

wednesday 4 november ch2 13:30-15:30

Re-Imagining the Film Industry: Beyond Covid-19

SHOWCASE SCREENING

Covid-19 has drastically altered the way we live and work. The film industry is re-assessing over 100 years of protocols and practices, so what does this mean for new talent? In the same way that common access routes have transformed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the apprenticeship roles to the film school model â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how has lockdown presented unexpected challenges that have forced us to think differently? What is the future of hybrid teaching? What does this mean for practicebased learning? This panel explores the future of film and education industries.

ANGEL

DONATAS

Grace Evans UK, 2020, 03:32 A performative music video that modernises the traditional paintings of the angel and devil, playing with the idea of duality, good and evil. A Royal Television Society award winner.

Evelina Zliobaite UK, 2020, 02:37 A sufferer of Cerebral Palsy and learning difficulties has been limited from being outdoors in fresh air due to a global virus. Being surrounded by nature is a memory that repeats in his mind.

THIS IS ME

PELIGROSO (GAL GO)

Taha Ismail UK, 2020, 15:35 Amir is a young South-Asian student in London who leads a double life. Frustrated and tired of living a lie, he confesses to his strict-Muslim parents that he is, in reality, a disbeliever.

Kumara and Reelfake UK, 2020, 02:54 An experimental music promo for singer and sax player Gal Go. This analogous film roams the landscape meditatively, moving through grasses and banks, usurping the idea of linear time.

106

12a

HEATHEN David Bartkiewicz UK, 2020, 05:15 A small-time gangster in Warsaw seeks solace when he suffers a loss. Heathen plays with the idea of what it means to build something and then for it to be taken away unexpectedly.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

06 WARRIORS James Hoult UK, 2020, 13:20 Sam Levett – gym owner, father, strongman, debt collector, boxing coach, charity founder and entrepreneur – struggles through adversity and controversy to ensure his gym survives.

ONE FORM OF EXERCISE A DAY

BACKWARDS

Nali Raouf UK, 2020, 04:53 An experimental short exploring the notion of freedom during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. What does it mean to have to stay indoors? How do we define freedom and liberation?

Marco Augelli UK, 2019, 11:15 In a corporate world where people walk backwards, Minus needs to control his instincts in order to fit into society and climb the social ladder – from one rung to the next – all the way up.

107

SHOWCASE SCREENING UNIVERSITY OF YORK

Thursday 5 november ch1 10:00-12:00

Why Does Storytelling Matter?

SHOWCASE SCREENING

Human beings have been telling stories for centuries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from mark-making in ancient caves to the latest developments in film and TV. So why do we tell stories? Why are we bound to pass on tales from one person to the next? How do we use them to convey meaning and why are they so important to the human experience? Filmmakers from the University of York are led by lecturer and Script Developer Andrew Vickers (Warp Films, Screen Yorkshire, EON productions), considering the place of storytelling in contemporary society.

KATE AND THE COSMONAUT

LOUISE AND BECCA

Anastasia Arsentyeva UK, 2020, 26:30 Kate is stuck in a dead-end warehouse job, when she receives a mysterious message. But with a boss this controlling, building a friendship is hard, especially when the other person is trapped.

Ruby Churchill UK, 2020, 15:24 An uptight teenage volunteer must drive an eccentric elderly lesbian to her favourite pub haunt before it closes forever, without opening up too much or crashing the car along the way.

03 I STAND FOR US Almir Datoo UK, 2020, 15:00 When Naomi refuses to be exploited in her oppressive cleaning job, she must convince her colleagues to stand up and demand their right to be treated like a human being, or lose everything.

108

SHOWCASE SCREENING LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION

thursday 5 november ch2

13:30-15:30

REAL LIVES: CREATING AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTARY When documentaries are based around specific individuals, how do we make sure to represent them responsibly and authentically? How do we ensure that figures stay “real” whilst under the spotlight? How do you approach someone about their story, when you have no idea how much exposure the film will receive? Join London College of Communication’s Documentary Film graduates for a unique screening experience centred on documentary as portrait. Panellists discuss dedicating films to a particular individual.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

BRINGING HOME THE BLUBBER

WHOSE FUTURE? OUR FUTURE!

Molly Adams UK, 2019, 20:00 A vulnerable portrayal of a Greenlandic seal hunter. Viewers watch his journey through pain, loss and addiction – experiencing a life of fulfilment and isolation on the Arctic Ocean.

Leslie Lampe UK, 2019, 19:59 Whose future? Our future? This is Elijah’s story – fighting for the planet, witnessing the strength of a generation behind him. This is about being a son, brother and teenager, as well as an activist.

03 ZÁGON Mateo Villanueva Brandt UK, 2019, 21:00 An exploration of love and liberation, Zágon is a playful yet unsettling story of an undiscovered artist running out of time to complete their project and achieve their wider goals.

109

SHOWCASE SCREENING ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH

Friday 6 november ch3 11:00-13:00

Visual effects: Industry Breakthrough

SHOWCASE SCREENING

The visual effects industry is booming worldwide. As filmmaking becomes ever more imaginative, otherworldly and ambitious, it is more reliant on the creative minds and artists of the VFX industry. It is becoming an increasingly attractive career choice for many young people, combining hundreds of specialisms working collaboratively. AUB leads a discussion with speakers from leading VFX companies and recent graduates, uncovering the multitude of entry points to this bold and exciting industry.

110

SHOWCASE SCREENING LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION

Friday 6 November ch3

16:00-18:00

Self / Unself: Portraying identity on screen London College of Fashion delivers an intimate discussion of identity and selfrepresentation, exploring how they are captured on-screen. From a visceral focus on the body and introspective portrayals of gender, sexuality, culture, and race to a spotlight on the personas, we imagine and perform in front of the camera – for others and for ourselves. Multi-faceted and constantly shifting, identity acts as a site of discovery and experimentation in the work of students and graduates from the School of Media and Communication, LCF.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

SOMA

OMINOUS Ø

Yuan He UK, 2019, 03:07 SOMA explores the consciousness through the medium of dance. The film portrays two dancers who represent the notions of the “actual self” and the “semi-consciousness.”

Georgia Ziliani UK, 2020, 02:42 Ominous Ø is an introspective piece that deeply analyses the construction and deconstruction of the human body – creating an intimate bond between the audience and the presented body.

KALUT

AFFIRMATIONS

Firda Amelia UK, 2020, 03:30 Kalut looks at the concept of “enclothed cognition” – the psychological effect of the clothes we choose to wear. It follows a character who withdraws into garments and finds confidence.

Jessie Collier UK, 2020, 01:30 Affirmations is a self-portrait moving image series shot in selfisolation. Instead of showing faces and bodies, the director shifts focus to identity with positive affirmations and connotations.

111

SHOWCASE SCREENING LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION

Friday 6 november

ch2

14:30-16:30

POLYPHONY - NJP II

& WHEN THIS ENDS

Yuan Yu Chen Feng Venezuela, 2020, 03:15 A collaboration with jewellery artist Hansel Tai, Polyphony - NJP II is a series of three videos. The project represents an indulgence of fetishism and gay mythology in a materialised world.

Gulnar Bekirbaeva UK, 2018, 01:18 This is obsession, seen through the movements of a dancer. Inspired by the narrative and iconic aesthetic of the two Suspiria films (1977 and 2018), it presents a striking and unsettling mood.

HYBRID

NONEGYBOI

Jamilla Hardy UK, 2020, 02:19 A split-screen moving image piece that explores one’s identity. It discusses the insecurities one may have being connected to a range of cultures. This is a journey into self-acceptance.

Katharine Nixon UK, 2019, 02:04 NonEgyBoi is a short film questioning social class, culture and religion, subverting Egyptian society’s constraints of masculine gender expression through playful and opulent styling.

MY BLUE BIRD

WHO COULD SEPARATE WAVES FROM THE SEA

Samia Quereshi UK, 2020, 03:16 My Blue Bird captures the director’s journey of depression and documents how it affected her family. Poetic and honest, it’s a portrayal of vulnerability and connection in the 21st century.

Liis Remmel UK, 2019, 07:08 You are my suit. But who am I When not dressed up in you. - Andres Ehin, 1995

112

GEORGOUSLY GROTESQUE

FINDING LOVE

Alisa Tanasomboon UK, 2019, 01:10 Tanasomboon’s playful film uses our relationship with food as a narrative device to explore the social concepts of status, power and consumption. It’s all relative in the end.

Alexander Fraser UK, 2019, 01:57 This intimate portrayal peeks into the bedroom of two characters preparing for a date. Finding Love looks at how they choose to present themselves in the context of romantic relationships.

DEATH/LIFE

I, UNFOLDED

Rubie Striker UK, 2019, 02:22 A meditative short film, Life / Death questions the concept of the body and its correlation to fashion alongside the relationship between the eternal and ephemeral; memory and modernity.

Phoebe Guo UK, 2019, 02:11 I, Unfolded explores the multiple aspects of one’s personality. Following two seemingly distinct characters, it takes us on a journey through symbolic scenes and constructed worlds.

113

SHOWCASE SCREENING REGENTS UNIVERSITY

saturday 7 november

ch1

10:00-12:00

Unique Storytelling: The Individual Perspective

SHOWCASE SCREENING

Cinema provides an opportunity to express emotion, visually realise a story and share a variety of perspectives. It allows us to connect and resonate with an audience and offer insights. Regents University emphasises the importance of filmmaking as a storytelling tool, with links to Abbey Road Studios and the Delamar Institute. In this discussion, guest speakers examine how to encourage and nurture individuals, as well as the vital need for diverse voices within the industry, both behind the camera and on-screen.

MOKSHA

FRED & KEV AND THE 10 STEP STEEGAN

Jithin Majeed India, 2019, 15:24 Moskha observes the holy city of Varanasi, in the North Indian province of Uttar Pradesh: its rituals and quirks, as well as the minds of people in hopes of truly understanding humility.

Maximus Hugo Jersey & USA, 2019, 12:46 A comedy series set in the early 2000s. Two friends want to be pro skaters in London. Kev wants to help both his friends get on a skateboard team but, unfortunately, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one free slot.

S/V

STAY STILL

NEW FACTORY

Natasha Fairchild Belgium & USA, 2019, 09:41 On a date to an immersive play, a man is blinded by his thirst for sex. Consumed by his own desires, he misses the horrors that are being presented to him, right in front of his very eyes.

Pam Down UK, 2020, 07:24 Charities go into developing new drugs and treatments, but during manufacturing, the pharmaceutical companies ramp up the prices so that the NHS canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to buy them back.

114

MY OTHER HALF

ANTIDOTE TRAILER

Tor-Ă&#x2DC;yvind Orhan Johansen Norway, 2020, 13:25 Noah, imprisoned in his own mind, tries to come to terms with the voice of his past lover. Can Noah accept the past and move on? Based on the novel The Untold Story About Alexander.

Various Directors Various, 2020, (Compilation) Trailer for 20 documentary shorts from film students in Russia, USA, Italy, Austria, England, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Latvia, Romania and more.

SHOWCASE SCREENING

Book YOUR SHOWCASE FOR 2021 ASFF welcomes an array of independently curated Showcase Screenings from guest institutions. Contact Cherie Federico, cherie@aestheticamagazine.com to book your place at ASFF 2021.

115

PItching SESSIONS GOT A BIG IDEA? PITCH YOUR FEATURE FILM PROJECT.

Have you got a proposal for a feature film project? Want to gain valuable feedback from key decision-makers from the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading organisations? Submit your treatment or proposal for documentary or narrative feature. Opportunity awaits. For full information on Pitching please see p. 60. 116

guest Programmes New perspectives. Authentic stories.

These unique programmes are separated into two strands â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Perspectives and ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th Anniversary. These screenings cover a complex range of topics and styles to broaden the mind and explore different points of view. Experience a breadth of identities, cultures and outlooks. This year, we invite the Transgender Media Lab, showcasing original works from trans communities. We also provide a spotlight on indigenous practitioners from Native Spirit Festival. ASFF welcomes back alumni from the past 10 editions of the festival, screening works that define turbulent times â&#x20AC;&#x201C; considering the climate crisis, new technologies and political shifts. We reflect on a decade of truly outstanding cinema. All Guest Programmes available On Demand from 3 November. 10 th Anniversary Programmes are released daily, then available On Demand.

117

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES NATIVE SPIRIT FILM FESTIVAL

Available On Demand from 03/11

Indigenous Cinema: Celebrating Sovereignty After decades of on-screen misrepresentation, artists are reclaiming their stories, expanding traditional definitions and interpretations of the moving image. Indigenous storytellers and content creators follow cultural protocols, translating oral traditions and protecting languages for their peoples, whilst connecting perspectives and showcasing indigenous truths and values. Native Spirit Film Festival presents a selection of shorts by First Nations and indigenous filmmakers from Canada, USA, Norway and Aotearoa.

WHITEFACE

OCHISKWACHO

Everett Sokol Canada, 2019, 15:45 Indigenous actors playing white actors playing Indigenous actors. Using explosive movement and satirical humour, two indigenous performers tread the timeline of appropriated bodies.

Jules Koostachin Canada, 2019 , 15:16 Ochiskwacho is a sacred being, known to many Indigenous people as a spiritual messenger. Kokoom has to decide whether to stay with her grandchildren or follow the Ochiskwacho.

S/A

KUPANISHKUEU

NJUOKČAMAT (THE TONGUES)

Mélodie Jourdain Michel Canada, 2016 , 04:35 Director Mélodie Jourdain shares her story with audiences, exploring how the strength and the courage of her Innu ancestor, Kupanishkueu, influenced her life and journey forwards.

Marja and Ingir Bål Nango Norway, 2019, 15:13 During a tundra blizzard, a Sami woman herding reindeer is attacked by a man. Her sister senses something is wrong and looks for her. Wrapped in fear and confusion, both women unite.

118

EMKHATSINI (BETWEEN)

GIK:SKWOOD: HOW I LOST MY INDIAN NAME

Toa Stappard eSwatini (Swaziland), 2019, 14:40 A woman becomes lost in the deserted Swazi outback whilst she is trying to locate an elusive community leader. A film about the places in between, where we become isolated and alone.

Terry Jones USA, 2019, 02.:50 Director Terry Jones shares how he lost his Indian name, and how we naturally edit what we see. Inspired by Walter Murch’s In the Blink of an Eye: Perspective of Film Editing,

MUD (HASHTŁ’ISHNII)

I’LL REMEMBER YOU AS YOU WERE, NOT AS WHAT YOU’LL BECOME

Shaandiin Tome USA, 2018, 09:40 Ruby’s craving for connection is hindered by alcoholism. Exploring the overwhelming experience of addiction and the powerlessness of individuals and society to cure this illness.

Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk/Pechanga Band of Luiseño) USA, 2016, 12:32 An elegy to Diane Burns on the shapes of mortality and being, as well as the forms of transcendent spirit descending upon landscapes. This is an ephemeral rumination on life and death.

119

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES CINESISTERS

Available On Demand from 03/11

Cinesisters: A Platform for Female Voices Even in 2020, the film industry is missing the mark on gender representation behind the camera. Cinesisters is a collective of over 150 female directors making award-winning films and TV, sharing experiences and resources in order to create more films by and about women. Cinesisters presents a programme of short films that have transformed the careers of just a handful of exceptional female filmmakers. These career-defining projects led to agent representation, feature funding and exciting new opportunities.

ALICE

CONSTELLATIONS

Laura Scrivano Australia & USA, 2018, 6:54 Locked in an austere country house, headstrong and spirited, Alice yearns for the freedom of the forest. But it is more than just her desire that is awakened. Based on Noel Coward’s poetry.

Anna Maguire UK, 2018, 18:00 As a young woman realises her sexual needs have grown beyond her relationship with her boyfriend, a chance encounter allows her to take control of her fantasies and find something new.

ONLY THE LONELY

THE ARRIVAL

Clare Holman UK, 2018, 18:00 When Elspeth Morris loses her beloved husband George, life becomes intolerable. She is increasingly surrounded by people she has nothing in common with and feels utterly abandoned.

Annetta Laufer UK, 2018, 17:33 It’s 6 August, 1962 – Jamaican Independence Day. Daisy, a young Jamaican arrives to the “Mother Country” of Britain to start a new life with her husband, whom she has not seen for two years.

120

SPINOSAURUS

WHAT HAPPENED TO EVIE

Tessa Hoffe UK, 2017, 14:00 A young girl cares for her younger brother at home, whilst they both anxiously await their mother’s return. What happens when children are left to fend for themselves and each other?

Kate Cheeseman UK, 2018, 11:00 A schoolgirl’s splintered memories of sexual assault come to the surface. The truth is reconsidered in What Happened to Evie. An alternative perspective reveals a very different run of events.

Can’t speak highly enough of the festival. The organisation and communication was top notch, and all of the venues were great. Next year’s festival is already in my diary. – Samona Olanipekun, Winner of Best Experimental at ASFF 2019

121

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES SHORT OF THE WEEK

Available On Demand from 03/11

Tales from isolation 2020 has forced many of us outside our comfort zone. Months of separation from family and friends has put a strain on our physical and mental well-being, so we’ve all had to adjust and reconsider our priorities. From a lonely gannet to a being born alone in a void, this diverse selection of stories examines how individuals cope in isolated situations. Join Short of the Week as they showcase works that reflect on what it truly means to feel alone.

ISLE OF CHAIR

STUCCO

Ivyy Chen UK/Taiwan, 2020, 06:00 What constitutes a chair? Something to sit on? Comfort? Work? Relaxation? On a secluded island, a chair falls down. This is the centre of the action; watch as it transforms before your eyes.

Janina Gavankar and Russo Schelling USA, 2019, 17:24 A woman who experiences agoraphobia finds a suspicious wall in her house. These are the moments where the interior and exterior begin to blur and curiosity is roused. What lies in the stucco?

THE DISTRACTION

IN FULL BLOOM

Matty Brown USA, 2020, 10:02 A short form exploration of the visceral and disorienting world of living with severe anxiety and depression – two of the world’s largest health problems that are still stigmatised by society.

Maegan Houang USA, 2019, 10:39 An older Vietnamese hoarder has her life turned upside down when worms open a black hole in her house and threaten to take all of her belongings. What will happen when it’s all taken away?

122

BORN IN A VOID

NIGEL

Alex Grigg UK, 2016, 07:14 A curious being – who is born completely alone in a void – becomes obsessed with its own reflection. Be prepared to ask questions about what it means to exist and recognise yourself.

Natasza Cetner UK, 2020, 09:00 A short film based on the true story of Nigel – the lonely gannet of Mana Island –who hopelessly fell in love with a concrete statue. This is a tragic tale of idealisation and delusion.

STILL HERE

ALONE

Sean Wang USA, 2019, 09:37 In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, a few residents refuse to leave their abandoned village, wanting to stay amongst the buildings and landscapes. Still Here questions how and why we want to stay.

Phinehas Hodges USA, 2016, 07:56 An experimental exploration of who we become when no one is watching: the freedom and loneliness; the way we sing, dance, love, cry and dream. This is what happens when we are alone.

123

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES TRANSGENDER MEDIA PORTAL

Available On Demand from 03/11

TransFormation, TransAction Discussions of transgender film are usually dominated by representations of trans people, not those made by trans people. The Transgender Media Portal makes audiovisual work – which has been produced by trans people – available to creators, activists and audiences. This programme features films made by trans, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, intersex and gendernonconforming artists, with an emphasis on Black and Indigenous individuals, as well as creators-of-colour, offering meditations on oppression, resistance and imagination.

REVIVING THE ROOST

WE’VE BEEN AROUND

Vivek Shraya Canada, 2019, 06:15 Filmmaker and best-selling author Vivek Shraya’s ode to a popular Edmonton gay bar that closed in 2007. With pulsating neon-light animation, Reviving the Roost is about community.

Rhys Ernst USA, 2016, 04:09 We’ve Been Around is series of documentary shorts that chronicle the lives of six individuals. This episode recounts the life of Lou Sullivan, a pioneering transgender gay man and AIDS activist.

WAKING HOUR

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT

Nava Mau USA, 2019, 12:39 A young trans woman is pursued by a potential lover at a party. As she balances concerns for her safety and desire for intimacy, she must figure out what she wants before she can go for it.

Raven Davis Canada, 2015, 04:00 It’s Not Your Fault honours women, 2Spirit folks and children across Turtle Island whose lives have been taken – those who have not been able to escape their abusers and perpetrators.

124

INDIGENOUS LUVVV

FRAMING AGNES

Demian DinéYazhi´ USA, 2015, 04:41 A short film about cruising as an Indigenous Queer. Indigenous Luvvv creates a crucial space for Indigenous Queer studies whilst critiquing elements of Western homo/Queer culture.

Chase Joynt and Kristen Schilt Canada, 2018, 19:00 In 2017, trans artists gained access to a 1950s archive of never-before-seen life histories of transgender people. Through re-enactment and documentary, they revive the past.

07 HONOR BLACK TRANS WOMXN! Seyi Adebanjo & The NY Transgender Advocacy Group USA, 2019, 06:00 This is a call to centre Black Trans Womxn. What would it look like if Black Trans Womxn were allowed to thrive? Protect Black Trans Womxn. Love Black Trans Womxn. Celebrate Black Trans Womxn.

125

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES DOC SOCIETY

Available On Demand from 03/11

Challenging Perspectives: Documenting Modern Britain Tackling disability, identity, mental health, class and culture, this collection of short documentaries offers a snapshot of modern-day Britain. Told by exciting emerging talent from across the UK, these stories have been funded and curated by the BFI Doc Society Fund. The fund helps to develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions.

ZERO ZERO

NO BALL GAMES

Eva-Grace Bor UK/Zimbabwe, 2019, 13:56 Rooted in an ethnographic approach to filmmaking, Zero Zero meditates on one family’s relationship to identity and belonging. A touching film that looks at the human condition and intimacy.

Charlotte Regan UK, 2020, 13:30 A look at life through the eyes of working class kids in the UK today. By understanding the games that they invent, inherit and play, the film celebrates imagination and resourcefulness.

IMOGEN

HATTIE

Lola Young, Matt Shea UK, 2019, 32:00 A family grieves, celebrates and reflects on their daughter who struggled with mental health issues. They recreate her inner world from 22 years of journals and music that she left behind.

Tyro Heath UK, 2019, 12:09 A teen shares her experience of growing up with Spina bifida – a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. An honest account of girlhood and disability.

126

NORTHERN BALLERS

BLACKTHORN

Rhys Lewis UK, 2020, 19:17 All Andy and Ben want to do is play basketball. When they join the under 16s league, the boys take on opponents from around Yorkshire, experiencing the challenges of growing up in Leeds.

Dom Bush UK, 2020, 08:01 What’s the worth of truth in a country crushed by apathy and a lack of interest? For father, poet and dry stone-waller Sam Robinson, resistance is the honesty of work and words.

It was an enormous pleasure to be involved in Aesthetica. I found the whole thing deeply impressive, and it was lovely to have such an enthusiastic audience!

– David Thompson, Producer

127

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES SCOTTISH DOCUMENTARY INSTITUTE

Available On Demand from 03/11

Hanoi Stories Vietnam’s independent film industry is in its infancy. After 50 years of socialism kept tight control of cinema through the state, independent documentaries only started to develop once technology became more affordable. Hanoi Stories – produced by the Scottish Documentary Institute, TDP (Centre for the Development of Movie Talents) and the British Council – celebrates marginalised female voices in traditional Vietnamese music. In doing so, these stories engender new, but barely detectable, acts of “civil resistance.”

NGO NGHE SY (MEMORY LANE)

LITTLE STAR

Nguyen Ngoc Thao Ly , Vu Minh An & Ly Ha Trang Vietnam, 2019, 23:04 If you have been in the spotlight all your life, it’s hard to give it up. Luckily, Mr Le Quang Mui – her 90-year-old husband and life-long singing partner – is always ready to indulge her.

Bich Ngoc , Nguyen Toan, Sang Anh, Thanh Van & Huong Donna Vietnam, 2019, 05:25 Teaching music is the only way for Trang to keep financially afloat and away from her domineering father. She is determined to push herself into becoming a star – practising music on her terms.

PHU AN (HAPPILY MARRIED)

AM DON (A LONE RIDER)

Nguyen Diep Thuy Anh, Nguyen Dieu Linh, Nguyen Hien Anh & Tran Hoai Anh. Vietnam, 2019, 15:57 Juggling teaching and performance is a way of life for Phu An. However, leaving her daughter in the full care of her in-laws is getting harder as Bu is growing up to be a cheeky little girl.

Le Thu Minh, Huynh Kim Khanh Tran, Do Quang DungNguyen Anh Tuan. Vietnam, 2019, 08:12 A love of music made her move from village life to Hanoi. She is obsessed with the search of experimental sounds. Hanoi becomes her Ali Baba – a cave full of rich and mysterious sounds.

128

LINH HA (FOR NOW) Ho Minh Chau, Nguyen Phuong Thao, Nguyen Duc Minh & Tran Mai Khanh Ha. Vietnam, 2019, 10:14 Linh Ha was privileged to have grown up bilingual, yet to the despair of her mother, she gave up teaching German for a life as a performer of experimental music.

As a first time attendee at Aesthetica my first thought at the end of the festival was ‘What took me so long?’ Between the diverse screening programme, masterclasses and numerous opportunities to meet filmmakers and fellow programmers I got to experience a community bound by a love of cinema.

– Charlie Philips, Head of Documentaries Guardian Docs

129

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES OSKA BRIGHT

Available On Demand from 03/11

Fresh Perspectives: Making Space for Disability Learning disability film culture is rich with ideas, stories and imagination. However, with less than 5% disabled people working in the UK film industry, getting the work made and seen is a challenge. Oska Bright Film Festival, the world’s leading platform for learning disability films, is dedicated to celebrating this vibrant art form. This programme, curated by lead programmer Matthew Hellett, gives a flavour of the festival and its unique storytellers.

MAN WITHOUT DIRECTION

RADIAL DUNDEE

Johannes Stjärne Nilsson, Pelle Öhlund, Nina Jemth & Moomsteatern Theatre Company Sweden, 2016, 14:50 When Dante’s car breaks down, he finds himself more lost than ever. He comes across a hotel, only to find he can never leave.

Tamara Searle, Rhian Hinkley Australia, 2018, 07:46 A continuous sequence of action, capturing the beautiful idiosyncrasies of people, bodies, communities and landscapes. Radial Dundee is a luminous depiction of figures in nature.

THE LOST ONES

SHAKESPEARE IN TOKYO

Maria Castillejo Carmen, Maëlle Grand Bossi & Elisabeth Silveiro France, 2018, 13:00 The Lost Ones plays out in a supermarket at the end of the day. Whilst a few customers are finishing their groceries, a hooded intruder breaks into the store and threatens to break the balance.

Genevieve Clay-Smith Australia, 2018, 20:00 A Shakespeare fan with Down’s syndrome sets off on an adventure to discover Tokyo and get away from his over-bearing older brother. Follow along as he roams the city streets.

130

MAGICAL

KILL OFF

Bahador Adab Iran, 2018, 10:00 A young guy sells his handmade Whirligigs at a market in order to buy what he likes. After selling all his “gigs” he comes across a seller, who’s selling mysterious objects called “magical markers.”

Genevieve Clay-Smith Australia, 2016, 15:46 American Horror Story’s Jamie Brewer stars as Sonja, a woman who forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of KRUMP. This is Kill Off.

07 UONTED! Daniele Bonarini Italy, 2019, 13:23 Tiziano wants to go to the Cinecittà World amusement park, and is pursuing this desire at all costs. He must visit the Old West. But when he gets there, will it be different to what he imagined?

131

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

Available On Demand from 03/11

Remembering WWII 75 years ago, one of the biggest conflict in human history came to an end in Europe. WWII cost millions of lives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sweeping across borders and continents, dealing global devastation relentlessly and lasting for six years. Marking the anniversary of this momentous and generation-altering part of history, Imperial War Museum presents the Oscar-winning documentary The True Glory which chronicles the events of 1944-1945, from the Allied invasion of Normandy all the way through to the fall of the Third Reich on 8 May 1945.

THE TRUE GLORY Garson Kanin, Carol Reed UK / USA, 1945, 87:00

132

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES DIRECTORS NOTES & CAN WE TALK DXB

Available On Demand from 03/11

I Still Can’t Breathe The public murder of George Floyd devastated millions worldwide. It revealed the injustices that black communities have known all their lives, prompting crucial conversations and fuelling global outrage. Society’s systems function to oppress and disadvantage those who are not white. From horrific violence and racial bias to everyday micro-aggressions, this programme of shorts, curated by Directors Notes and Can We Talk DXB, portrays the reality of life as a member of marginalised populations. We still can’t breathe.

V/D

WE ARE GEORGE FLOYD

STATION 13

Julian Marshall USA, 2020, 05:40 Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, murdered George Floyd by driving his knee into George’s neck for 8 minutes and 45 seconds. This film chronicles New York’s overwhelming response.

Bouha Kazmi UK, 2018, 06:29 Inspired by Caravaggio, Peter Paul Rubens and the civil rights movement, Station 13 follows the blows of extraordinarily public transgressions that shine a light on the cycle of systemic racism.

SHE

NOBODY I CAN TRUST

Idris Fassasi UK, 2020, 03:27 Idris Fassasi utilises a caustic monologue from Shakespeare. Through careful casting and editing, she produces the visually stunning, monologue short SHE, which explores human identity.

Tomson Tee USA, 2019, 04:12 Kemba is a fry cook in an aggressively American suburb. Every day, a different black man is arrested at the exact same spot. Kemba begins noticing the town’s attitude shift towards him.

133

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES DIRECTORS NOTES & CAN WE TALK DXB

CELL WATCH STRIP CELL

THE FELLING OF COLSTON

Jane Morledge USA, 2018, 10:38 This narrative short film humanises the prisoner experience within a flawed criminal justice system. The film demonstrates how solitary confinement cultivates physical and emotional brutality.

Arthur Cauty UK, 2020, 10:00 Chronicling the felling of Edward Colston’s statue – a 17th century slave trader – during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol. The directors trace this act of rebellion as it makes waves.

BLACK.MATTERS

NIGHT

Kyndra Kennedy USA, 2020, 05:00 This is a visual protest about what’s happening in America today. Black.Matters highlights what many black Americans are feeling. It’s not only about the struggle, but also the power of our voices.

Joosje Duk USA, The Netherlands, 2017, 09:30 The carefree dynamic between four friends suddenly shifts following an unpleasant encounter with a nightclub bouncer. What happens one night out will change the friends’ lives forever.

STOP AND SEARCH

VIDEO

Harry Jackson UK, 2020, 05:30 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? What power is there in stopping and searching?

Randy Yang USA, 2016, 04:53 A woman’s racist remark is captured on video by two teenage girls. What happens next is a matter of accountability. Video considers how the lens can be a tool for justice in the right hands.

134

Available On Demand from 03/11

11 WAKE UP Sam Parish-Rookes UK, 2020, 05:00 Told from the perspective of two black women, Wake Up fuses powerful spoken word poetry with unflinching glimpses of news clips and mobile phone footage. An impassioned journey.

BLACK LIVES MATTER blacklivesmatter.com 135

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES DIGITAL CREATIVITY LABS

friday 6 november

ch3

13:30 - 15:30

The Future of AI: People and Data Who owns data about you? What is the future of AI? What do we want from it? AI algorithms use data to choose what you see online, whether you like it or not. The effects on society, politics, education and commerce run deep. These intriguing shorts investigate possible futures for AI, whilst avoiding the “killer robot” cliché. Digital Creative Labs, based at the University of York, showcases a selection of films that make us consider to future of artificial intelligence. A panel considers future applications of algorithm and intelligent code.

VERT

BOT (SUBTITLED)

Kate Cox UK, 2019, 13:00 When Jeff and Emelia are gifted a virtual reality set that shows one’s “ideal self” for their wedding anniversary, they discover a secret that could shift their relationship irrevocably.

Daniel Hoffmann Germany, 2018, 20:34 Noel has been through a tough divorce. With the help of Leon, the prototype of an intelligent voice assistant, Noel tries to redirect his professional and private life into the right path.

THE LONELY ORBIT

FOREVER (SUBTITLED)

Benjamin Morard & Frederic Siegel Switzerland, 2019, 10:00 A satellite technician’s inability to cope with his solitude causes a chain reaction in space and in his own mind. The Lonely Orbit is about what happens when we’re left to our own devices.

Mitch McGlocklin USA, 2020, 07:25 A life insurance company uses an AI algorithm to determine the risk of a new applicant. The subsequent denial of the application sparks a period of introspection for the individual in question.

136

Who owns Data about you? What is the future of AI? What do you want from AI?

137

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES THE NORWEGIAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Available On Demand from 03/11

Voices from The Arctic: Norway on Screen Norway boasts a rugged landscape, shaped by dramatic events and a rich history. Its culture is diverse – with a melting pot of indigenous traditions and crafts mixing with contemporary society. Today, storytelling is an integral part of Norwegian culture. Presented by the Norwegian Short Film Festival – a key platform for showcasing Norwegian talent – these short films share just some of the diverse voices of the country, from life in a Sápmi village, lakes and tundras to a bustling capital in lockdown. These are stories from the North.

DOG EAT DOG (SUBTITLED)

ART AND NONART (SUBTITLED)

Rikke Gregersen Norway, 2018, 25:00 Silje wants to leave her boyfriend, but when she finds him in a half-hearted attempt to hang himself she has to reconsider. She fears him being reckless and doing something stupid.

Birgitte Sigmundstad Norway, 2019, 09:00 Kunst og Ukunst (Art and Nonart) was an exhibition held at The National Gallery in Norway in 1942, during the occupation. The description is taken from national newspaper Aftenposten.

WHAT IS A WOMAN? (SUBTITLED)

TREMBLING FLOORS

Marin Håskjold Norway, 2019, 13:00 A discussion arises in a women’s locker room when a trans woman is asked to leave. The situation escalates rapidly as more people chime in, all with different opinions about what makes a woman.

Joar Nango, Ken Are Bongo Norway, 2020, 03:00 In Duorggat Doarggistit, four small birches (Duorga) are cut by a lake on the tundra. The trees are stifled, and the twigs are taken. The trunks are left behind standing in the landscape.

138

PULLING IN THE BELT (SUBTITLED)

THE SOUND OF DUGNAD

Elle Sofe Sara Norway, 2020, 09:00 Ribadit (pulling in the belt) was a tradition in the Sápmi village of Guovdageaidnu. Director Elle Sofe gives this old tradition new life in an unexpected way, along with Sápmi youths and dancers.

Kyrre Lien, Fridtjof Wesseltoft Norway, 2020, 02:00 What does a city look like when society is in lockdown? Lyden av Dugnad documents the city of Oslo right after the lockdown was launched after the spread of Covid-19.

07 FARCE Robin Jensen Norway, 2019, 11:00 A man, a woman and a meat grinder. Love is messy. Romance doesn’t get much more deranged than the gory mayhem that transpires throughout this absurd mixed media animation.

139

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES SãO PAULO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Available On Demand from 03/11

Brazil in the Spotlight: Vibrancy and Creativity Addressing the intricacies of memory, tradition and trauma, the projects featured in this programme tackle the complexities of Brazil from multiple perspectives and timelines. Handling personal archives, documentary discourse and fictional tales, these films explore a range of emotions during times of crisis. With a diversity of voices and styles, this programme – presented by Curta Kinoforum – encourages viewers to discover more of contemporary Brazilian cinema. These are vibrant, creative, imaginative and unexpected.

THE FANTASTIC GARDEN

IT WILL GET BETTER

Fábio Baldo, Tico Dias Brazil, 2020, 20:00 An indigenous teacher implements the use of Ayahuasca in her classes in order to connect her students to another reality. During a ritual, one of the children comes upon something strange.

Pedro Fiuza Brazil, 2020, 17:20 It is the last week before the election and Luísa, the host of a political campaign, discovers a scandal that could jeopardise the race. Now she must decide not only her destiny, but a city’s too.

BETWEEN US AND THE WORLD

EXTRACTS

Fábio Rodrigo Brazil, 2020, 17:20 Erika is pregnant. Her 16-year-old son was recently murdered in a police raid. She is worried about her other son, who is 17. This film is about being between us and the world.

Sinai Sganzerla Brazil, 2020, 08:04 Extracts includes images from 1970 to 1972 in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, London, Marrakech and Rabat, as well as the Sahara Desert. Filmed by Helena Ignez and Rogério Sganzerla.

140

05 UNLIVEABLE Matheus Farias, Enock Carvalho Brazil, 2020,19:54 The world experiences a new phenomenon. Marilene searches for her daughter Roberta, a trans woman who went missing. Whilst running out of time, she discovers a hope for the future.

It was my first time attending ASFF, and what a buzzing hive of talent it was! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made some wonderful discoveries of the next generation of storytellers, and am privileged to have been able to participate in talks, pitches and judging some of the official competitions!

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dionne Farrell, Development Executive, BBC Films

141

GUEST PROGRAMME: PERSPECTIVES IRIS PRIZE

Available On Demand from 03/11

LGBT+ Shorts: Defining Gay Cinema Watch rarely seen short films from the Iris Prize Archive. The four films are easy to label as “brutal.” They are, at times, difficult, but stick with them as they unfold into a truly rewarding cinematic experience. The stories deal with the broader themes of mental health and the search for love. Specifically, these projects ask questions about how love can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places. These are not your typical LGBT+ short films.

COLONIAL GODS

DAISY & D

Dee Rees UK, USA, 2009, 29:00 Colonial Gods is set in contemporary Butetown, also known as Cardiff Bay and Tiger Bay. A gritty, realistic and poignant short drama about the challenges facing a changing community.

Arkasha Stevenson UK, USA, 2017, 22:00 Power dynamics drastically shift within 24 hours as Daisy and her boyfriend D-Ice struggle to make rent for the evening. The film explores complicated love in the ugliest of circumstances.

HURT’S RESCUE

LITTLE MAN

Grant Scicluna UK, Australia, 2014 15:00 Tranh arrives at a farm in South Wales to rescue a man who is being held in captivity as a slave. To do so he must negotiate an unsettling transaction with the matriarch of the family.

Eldar Rapaport UK, Israel, 2012, 22:00 Elliot is 30 but unable to form a long lasting relationship – he has a talent for destroying every potential one. He continues his search, moving onto the next available man.

142

Audience Choice Award Have Your Say. Vote For your Favourite Film.

ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Audience Choice Award is your opportunity to have your say in the festival winners. Vote for your favourite films whilst logged in to the online festival. The winner will be announced at our live awards ceremony on Sunday 8 November at 18:00. 143

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 1

Perspectives: Seeing the World Differently We all have a unique view of the world around us. Our experiences differ vastly from one to the other, dependent on a multitude of factors, from social contexts and upbringing to our sexuality, identity and core values. Our differences make us human, as does our thirst for knowledge and understanding. This programme of short films invites viewers to see the world differently. Consider life through the eyes of others and gain a new perspective.

ALLEGORY OF THE JAM JAR

LEARNING TO SWIM

Ruth Mellaerts & Boris Kuijpers Belgium, 2015, 20:00 Hans is a 50-year old businessman. He has a challenging job, a wonderful collection of ties and a pristine apartment. One day, a crack appears on the perfect walls of his home.

Ruth Grimberg UK, 2017, 10:20 Ahmed is a refugee from Syria. Separated from family and far from home, he has found a place with Ingrid, who has welcomed him into her home in the quiet town of Surrey.

RUAH

GRANDAD WAS A ROMANTIC

Flurin Giger Switzerland, 2015, 18:00 Nine characters, four stories, one situation. How to act whilst knowing that something big – something irreversible, that you can’t run away from or fight against – is going to happen.

144

Maryam Mohajer UK, 2019, 04:39 “My granddad was a romantic. He once saw a picture of my granny and realised that she was the love of his life. One day he decided to go meet her.” A charming animation about old-fashioned love.

Available On Demand from 03/11

FIND HARBOUR FOR A DAY

SHY RADICALS

Paul Marques Duarte France, 2018, 24:55 When AdĂ¨le, an English school teacher, permits a 15-year-old to illegally board a ferry for England with her class, she is far from grasping the larger consequences of this overnight trip.

Tom Dream UK, 2020, 22:50 Shy Radicals is a portrait of Hamja Ahsan and the story behind his remarkable book and satirical manifesto, which calls for all shy, quiet, and introverted people to overthrow Extrovert-Supremacy.

It was a fantastic experience for me as a filmmaker, with the engagement of an audience in a massive cinema: the full audience, emotional moments and extremely supportive staff. Thanks for programmers for organising such a wonderful festival. I will definitely submit again.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nadira Murray, Filmmaker

145

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 2

Our Fragile Existence: Witness to the Climate Crisis We are on the edge of an environmental disaster. The impact of population growth, globalisation, urbanisation, industrialisation and the exhaustion of natural resources has finally taken its toll. In order to save the world that we love, we must act now and prevent future generations from living with the consequences. Filmmakers are key witnesses to these changes – documenting and exploring foreboding narratives. This programme of short films examines the damage that we have caused to the planet and where we go from here.

E-WASTELAND

THE BEAUTY

David Fedele Australia, 2012, 20:00 E-Wasteland presents a visual portrait of Ghana’s unregulated e-waste recycling trade, where electronics are not seen for what they once were, but for what they have become.

Pascal Schelbli (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) Germany, 2019, 04:20 A poetic journey through the oceans, which are simultaneously stunning and filthy. Discover a world where concerns and fears dissolve in the mysterious depth of the polluted blue sea.

UNRAVEL

THE FOURTH KINGDOM

Meghna Gupta UK, 2012, 14:00 Unravel follows the journey of clothes from the western world on a journey across Northern India to a sleepy town named Panipat, where women recycle the cast-offs back into yarn.

Adan Aliaga & Alex Lora Spain, 2017, 14:18 The Fourth Kingdom is the kingdom of plastics – a redemption centre in New York for immigrants and underdogs where the American Dream becomes very possible indeed.

146

Available On Demand from 04/11

MACHINE MAN (HOMBRE MĂ QUINA)

BORDERLANDS

Roser Corella & Alfonso Moral Spain, 2011, 15:00 A reflection on modernity and global development. The film takes place in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, where millions of people become the driving force behind the city.

Simon Lane UK, 2018, 03:51 Mother Nature leaves a chilling message for her inhabitants in this visual poem, traversing the Norwegian and Russian border towns of Kirkenes and Nikel. A study of urbanity and nature.

Many thanks for staging another great festival and inviting the Association of Camera Operators. Everyone at ASFF made us all feel most welcome. The session was a great success.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Philip Sindall, Association of Camera Operators

147

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 3

Global Migrations: Populations in Transit The world is defined by conflict, civil unrest, unjust political policies and natural disasters. These are governing factors which often dictate the movement of people – whether it’s through choice, displacement or exile. In recent years, we have seen mass migration for many reasons. Attitudes towards immigrants can be either welcoming or hostile – and sometimes, both. This programme of shorts explores migration, motivation and reception in foreign lands, exploring the challenges of setting up a new life.

LITTLE PYONGYANG

TOUGH

Roxy Rezvany (Aya Kaido and Matt Diegan) UK, 2018, 24:01 Joong-wha Choi – a former soldier in the DPRK – lives in a London suburb. Despite enjoying new found comforts of British life, he struggles to forget a land that betrayed him.

Jennifer Zheng UK, 2016, 04:49 Some things can only be understood with maturity. New light is shed on cultural misunderstandings when a Chinese mother and her British-born daughter speak as adults for the first time.

IRREGULARS

THEY CAME IN CROWDED TRAINS AND BOATS

Fabio Palmieri Italy, 2015, 09:00 In 2015, 400,000 people from Africa, Asia and Middle East tried to enter Europe. They flee from war, persecution and poverty. They face a dangerous and often deadly voyage.

Minna Rainio & Mark Roberts Finland, 2018, 19:48 Refugees from two locations – Finland and Iraq – struggle across geographical and temporal borders on a journey to find safety. The film interweaves perspectives between us and them.

148

Available On Demand from 05/11

THE MAGIC BOAT

DOBRY

Naaman Azhari UK, 2019, 06:17 A mother tries to comfort her son before they embark on an unfortunate journey. She tells him that the journey will take place on a magic, mysterious boat. Evocative and emotive illustrations.

Orlin Milchev Bulgaria, 2016, 28:00 A shepherd stumbles upon a lost illegal refugee in the boundless Balkan mountains near the border. Their meeting sparks a profound connection. Soon, they will have to face the locals.

The Aesthetica Film Festival is a great coming together of filmmaking minds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what a privilege it is to be a part of it.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mick Audsley, Film Editor

149

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 4

A Troubled World in Strange Times These are troubling times. We live amidst a pandemic – a global disaster that only serves to further expose global inequalities and injustices. Recent years have seen a rise in right-wing political movements and nationalist agendas that seek to undermine basic human rights. Racism and scapegoating continue to spread fear and anger. In this selection of films from the last few festivals, storytellers and documentarians frame the political shifts, social tensions, attitudes and events that have shaped our turbulent world.

CAPITAL

HOMELAND

Freddy Syborn UK, 2018, 15:57 When a misjudged referendum comes back 50.9% in favour of hanging, a group of inept junior civil servants meet on their first day in their new roles in the Department of Capital Punishment.

Sam Peeters Belgium, 2016, 14:12 Right-wing populism is spreading through western Europe. It is most popular in quiet, white neighbourhoods. Sam Peeters depicts an ironic caricature of life in the Flemish suburbs.

VERMINE

SAVAGE

Jérémie Becquer Denmark, 2018, 06:03 What is “normal”? And for whom? Hubert, a poet, falls victim to racist police violence. In this hybrid animated short, rats find themselves in a society dominated by white mice.

Lisa Jackson (Violator Film Inc /Clique Pictures Inc) Canada, 2009, 06:00 On a summer day in the 1950s, a girl watches the countryside go by from the back-seat of a car. When she arrives, she undergoes a transformation that will turn a gentle voice into a howl of pain.

150

Available On Demand from 06/11

KINGSLAND #1: THE DREAMER

BRIT.I.AM

Tony Grisoni (The Bureau) UK, 2008, 21:00 “Work hard. Keep yourself to yourself. This is London.” A young Kurdish man, unable to speak English, arrives in Kingsland, North London. This is an affair of glances and reflex gestures.

Adam Recht (Merovingian Productions) UK, 2014, 04:27 Brit.I.Am is a crowd-sourced film about the things in British culture which we love, the things we hate, the things we wish we would change and the things we hoped would always stay the same.

Aesthetica has attracted some amazing speakers and an amazing programme of films and has a really diverse and interesting audience.

– Merlin Crossingham, Animation Director, Aardman

151

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 5

The Future is Now: Humans & Technology Our relationship with – and dependency on – technology grows every day. We are constantly looking to the future, and for the next big thing. Technology connects us, teaches us and assists with our day-to-day lives. We have immense power at our fingertips. In the age of the selfie, immersive technologies and Artificial Intelligence, these films from visionary ASFF alumni consider humanity’s reliance on, and desire for, innovation.

THIS TIME AWAY

MY IMAGINARY LIFE

Magali Barbe UK, 2019, 13:58 Nigel is an elderly man living as a recluse, haunted by the past and memory of the family he once had. Then, an unexpected visitor arrives and disrupts his routine. Featuring Timothy Spall.

Stella Macdonald UK, 2014, 09:33 He’s an intergalactic traveller in the near future, yet his existence is the most mundane you could imagine. If he exists at all, that is. A nameless protagonist experiencing a quarter-life crisis.

LIVING WITH THE NEVERMIND TM

ELEANOR

Konstantin Enste German, 2019, 01:33 Are you sad? What if there could be something that gives all your sadness a purpose? Make your pain more productive with the NEVER-MINDTM! An absurd (and unfortunately fictional) device.

Tobias Ross-Southall & Alex Warren UK, 2015, 20:00 Golden-globe winner Ruth Wilson plays three different women whose lives become fatefully intertwined over one night. A truly innovative and haunting examination of the human psyche.

152

Available On Demand from 07/11

MY SWEET PRINCE

SELFIES

Jason Bradbury UK, 2019, 11:36 Alcopops. VHS tapes. Cigarettes. Boys. MSN Messenger. This is the Isle of Wight, 2003. The director’s teenage video diaries collide with a fictional story of 15-year-old Tommy.

Claudius Gentinetta Switzerland, 2018, 03:44 In a veritable firework display of self-portraits, hundreds of quaint, embarrassing and dreadfully disturbing selfies were arranged in a unique short film composition.

A festival like this re-motivates and rejuvenates the filmmaking community … that’s why it’s so valuable.

– Mark Cousins, Filmmaker, Curator

153

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME 6

A Decade of Cinema: Outstanding Shorts from ASFF Over the past 10 years, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival has had the privilege of exhibiting the work of talented filmmakers and storytellers from across the world. We look back over a decade of cinema, showcasing a small selection of outstanding works that exemplify the meaning of innovative, bold and unique voices. Join us in a celebration of award-winning shorts across drama, experimental, music video and comedy.

DOUBLE PORTRAIT

COLD WARRIOR

Ian Bruce UK, 2017, 06:06 Double Portrait is a hand-painted animation which portrays the ill-fated relationship between Geraldine Peacock and Bob Gannicott. Created using frame-by-frame techniques.

Emily Greenwood UK, 2012, 19:00 A young Romanian gymnast questions her dreams of Olympic glory when she unearths the truth about a shady Communist government who have a doping plot to win â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at any cost.

FOR REAL THO

BAD NIGHT FOR THE BLUES

Baptist Penetticobra France, 2016, 13:44 A group of teenagers gathers at night to make a film. When the group decides to mess up the film theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in, a feud starts between For Real Tho and its own characters.

Chris Shepherd UK, 2010, 16:00 A 15-minute comedy film first transmitted on the BBC on 27 February 2011. Blue rinses, portraits of the queen and stand up bingo. This is the blue that makes up the Tory heartland.

154

Available On Demand from 8/11

LONG DISTANCE INFORMATION “Douglas Hart UK, 2011, 07:40 Long Distance Information explores the strained relationship between a father and a son, featuring music by Gruff Rhys and a title sequence by Turner Prize-nominated artist Jim Lambie.

WE WERE EVERGREEN Dominique Rocher France, 2014, 03:32 A music video made for We Were Evergreen. A retelling of the Danaids – the 50 daughters of Danaus who married the sons of Aegyptus and murdered their husbands on the wedding night.

I just want to thank you and your team for an amazing series of events at the festival this year. I know what a huge job it was pulling it all together and you and your team were nothing but helpful and gracious. – Larra Anderson Dean of Screen, London College of Communication

155

official selection Expansive programming. Inspired by ideas.

Aesthetica is dedicated to showcasing the best in independent cinema. As part of the open submission process, we welcome filmmakers from around the world to share their stories with one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest film audiences. The 2020 Official Selection comprises our most expansive and diverse programme to date, spanning 12 categories of short film as well as 360, Narrative and Documentary features that reflect on the world around us. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in laugh out loud comedies, animated adventures, chilling thrillers or captivating documentaries, there is something for everyone.

156

THIS YEAR’S GENRES

Advertising A world of possibilities. These imaginative campaigns resonate past aesthetics, form and composition. The advertising films offer powerful visual anthems that inspire and motivate, questioning our world beyond consumerism. This year’s films rise to the challenge of interpreting creative briefs whilst maintaining an individual voice and style. Impressive clients include Boss, Reebok and Saatchi&Saatchi.

animation Beyond your wildest dreams. Expect delightful stop motion, curious characters and eye-catching illusions. These animations are an opportunity to reach past the everyday and find out what’s inside the imagination of our Official Selection. Featuring innovative design, polished VFX, illustration and painting, these shorts utilise metaphor to respond to the experiences of lockdown, isolation and the effects of the climate crisis.

Artists’ film Cinema, but not as you know it. This strand is perfect for those looking to be surprised or challenged by cinema. Each year, these films push back against expected story lines and familiar tropes, flipping the lens on linear narratives, timelines, relationships and structures. Viewers are brought closer to intangible ideas, thoughts, memories and landscapes. In these visceral films, life is rewritten and borders are dismantled. 157

THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GENRES

comedy Join us for a laugh. Comedy offers something for everyone, following unwitting characters through their day-to-day lives as they descend into surreal, unexpected moments of chaos, lunacy and, often, release. These screenings are sure to surprise and connect viewers through universal emotions and shared experiences â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the everyday turned absurd. Be surprised by your reactions to our mind-bending, elevated storylines.

dance Performance like never before. Dance provides a collaborative arena combining choreography and performance. With fluid movements, balanced sets, fitting soundtracks and timeless direction, these expressive shorts draw a line between bold delivery and delicate gestures. The 2020 selection includes subtle narratives that explore the self and the other in tandem. These projects are intuitively paced and creatively executed.

drama Dig deep and feel. These works form the largest part of our programme, reflecting the diversity of the human experience and all its varied emotions. View these films and connect to empathy, kindness, mercy, fear, sorrow, frustration and anger through the lens of mothers, daughters, brothers, lovers, friends and colleagues. The very relationships that craft our sense of reality are called into question. 158

THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GENRES

documentary The personal and political. Meditating on the world around us, these multi-faceted films take viewers behind closed doors. Culturally rich and eye-opening screenings move beyond the parameters of public spaces, entering private realms and sparking dialogues with a range of timely topics such as unemployment, immigration and national disaster. Our filmmakers challenge racial bias and social prejudice, chasing the truth.

experimental Beyond the horizon. A navigation of love, life, death that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Unique visuals, isolated narrators and bold, uncanny environments are integral, featuring new philosophies, strange objects and near-apocalyptic worlds. Topics for 2020 include environmental destruction, the devastating realities of colonialism and the potential for a future ruled by AI technology.

family friendly Cinema for all. Film is for everyone. Although designed for youngsters, these projects touch upon a breadth of emotions and offer layers of meaning for adults and carers alike, featuring animations, comedies and age-appropriate dramas. Create lasting memories with your loved ones and immerse the whole family. Sign up, log on and connect to a hub of brilliant stories. Suitable for children aged 4-12 years old. 159

THIS YEAR’S GENRES

Fashion Beyond aesthetics. What’s in a trend? Fashion encourages conversation and sparks debate. Beyond tailoring, desire and commerce, these films question the notion of aspiration across art, technology and design. The 2020 reels look at finding first love, chasing down relationships in the age of Instagram, as well as challenging beauty norms and addressing the destructive role of fast fashion on the environment.

Narrative Feature Boundless storytelling. Joining the feature-length screenings for the third year are narrative projects. This selection spans both personal and universal storylines, all designed to compel, provoke, educate and inspire. These six films go deep into the emotions of characters, following them into unexpected environments and re-imagining the threads of hope, desire, understanding, loss, freedom and redemption.

Documentary Feature Connecting with humanity. This year, we screen five documentary features which assess what it truly means to be alive. These are deeply contemplative features for today’s viewers. They ask audiences key questions: what does it mean to be someone’s child? How can we look into the past to make sense of the present? How can we re-enter society after being away for so long, as someone else? 160

THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GENRES

music video The art of collaboration. Follow dancers, singers and guitarists through surreal landscapes and dramatic structures. The featured films are about bringing contemporary soundtracks to life. This is music like never before. Stream these short, impactful screenings and witness the craft of the filmmaker condensed into bursts of energy and passion. This strand is about demonstrating the power of creative partnerships.

Thriller Follow us into the dark. Fear-fuelled and panic-stricken, our daring characters embark on journeys, unsure if they will ever come back. These are testimonies to adrenaline. From this impressive genre comes the most hard-hitting reels. Curated to quicken the pulse and ensnare the senses, the works offer unexpected liaisons and mysterious locations. Quick decisions must be made. Roll the dice and be intoxicated; scared or horrified.

Virtual reality A new viewing experience. Immersing an audience in a new environment opens up a wealth of storytelling possibilities, provoking further empathy in the viewer or showing them further components to an environment. We introduce new digital playgrounds for a third year, offering a completely innovative viewing experience. Take a dive into 360 cinema. Headsets available in our festival pack. Order online at asff.co.uk/tickets. 161

Just another day on earth Earth is a diverse and beautiful place. It is a melting pot of cultures, practices and people, as varied as the landscapes they inhabit. This selection of screenings examines what it means to live on such an extraordinary planet, offering global perspectives into who we are and how we live, both alone and together. Just Another Day on Earth brings to light the human condition. Join us as we share insights into the place that we call home. These films consider our interactions with one another, as well as the places we put down roots and build a life.

Programmes available: 8am Tuesday 3 November

Animation: Helplessness & Despair Artist Film: Time & Place Comedy: Strange Tales Documentary: An Air of Melancholy Drama: To All The Boys Drama: Family Business Music Video: Points of View Thriller: Alone in the Dark Documentary Feature: Neighbors Narrative Feature: Paradise

162

ANIMATION 3 HELPLESSNESS & DESPAIR

Available On Demand from 03/11

02 THE PASSERBY (SUBTITLED) Pieter Coudyzer Belgium, 2020, 15:59 On a summer day, the paths of two boys unexpectedly cross. The Passerby is about what happens when two lives become intertwined, and the possibilities of a new journey together.

ANIMATION

GRAB MY HAND: A LETTER TO MY DAD Camrus Johnson, Pedro Piccinini USA, 2019, 05:12 A personal story of grief and those we look up to in the family unit. Grab My Hand highlights small, seemingly insignificant interactions and assesses the huge roles that they play.

SORORAL (SUBTITLED)

ASMAHAN THE DIVA (SUBTITLED)

Frédéric Even, Louise Mercadier France, 2019, 14:56 Three sisters are facing an impending disaster: imminent flooding. In the midst of such chaos, the sisterly union is shaken up and each of the sister’s experiences the presence of mortality.

Chloé Mazlo France, 2019, 06:03 This was the life of Asmahan – a diva and Druze princess. It may have been short, but what a life! Featuring marriages, espionage, glory, lovers, alcohol, poker, suicides, murders and scandals.

THE FABRIC OF YOU

EVANGELINE (NO DIALOGUE)

Josephine Lohoar Self UK, 2019, 10:32 Set in the Bronx, in the era of 1950s McCarthyism, everybody wants to look the same. Michael is a gay, 20-something mouse who hides his true identity whilst he’s working as a tailor.

Nadine Schwenk Germany, 2020, 09:12 Deep down in the swamps of Louisiana, Evangeline finds a deserted alligator egg and decides to take it home. When the alligator hatches, she finally finds a friend to play with.

163

ARTISTS’ FILM 2 TIME & PLACE

Available On Demand from 03/11

02 PAMPAS Jessica Bishopp UK, 2019, 04:59 Sexual signalling or suburban myth: what does your front garden say about you? Plants were used in 1970s suburbia to send seductive signals to neighbours, or so rumour has it.

ARTISTS’ FILM

MAYBE NYMPH Joanna Mamede Brazil, 2016, 06:02 A nymph tries to communicate with a logger who cannot see her. Inspired by the myth of Echo and Narcissus. Set in a forest, Maybe Nymph brings these characters into contemporary discussion.

SINGULARITY (NO DIALOGUE)

HEARTBEAT OF SQUIRRELS

Yiannis Biliris Hong Kong, 2017, 02:40 As we approach the singularity, machine learning algorithms learn from our data with exponential speed. A short experimental film that attempts to visualise the POV of a future AI robot.

Stacy Cochran USA, 2020, 07:47 Heartbeat of Squirrels is a short rumination, featuring sleight of hand and a live action melody. Inspired by an academic text about the role that strangers play in late 19th century novels.

WATA (NO DIALOGUE)

A ROOM FOR LIVING (SUBTITLED)

Joy Yamusangie and Ronan Mckenzie UK, 2020, 13:44 Artists Joy Yamusangie and Ronan Mckenzie present their debut collaboration, WATA. An exploration of the colour blue and its connotations – the journey of music from Africa to London.

Ana Husman Croatia, 2018, 30:00 A living room. A part of the home that is on public display. Using memory, supposition and measurable architectural elements, the living room is continuously constructed and reconstructed.

164

COMEDY 5 STRANGE TALES

Available On Demand from 03/11

F/S

02 WEREWOLF Markus Meedt UK, 2020, 09:59 At a dinner party, it’s all fun and games, and the host is on form until the guests get bored and it’s time to move on. A game of Werewolf perhaps? What’s the worst that could happen?

COMEDY

KNOCK DOOR RUN Andrew Rutter UK, 2020, 13:15 An impressionable young man is put to the test when he has to prove to his friends he has got what it takes to play their game of knock-a-door-run. What happens when the game commences?

SYSTEM ERROR

SHUTTLECOCK (SUBTITLED)

Matt Vesely Australia, 2019, 13:21 Every day, George goes to work at a dingy convenience store, desperately hoping for a friend, but George is also an immobile robotic service unit – and they don’t have friends. Not yet anyway.

Tommy Gillard UK, 2019, 13:20 An obsession with a member of the badminton club spirals out of control. Carl is forced to question his notion of masculinity. Shuttlecock is about what it means to be a man on the court.

THE COCAINE FAMINE

GREEN COBRA

Sam McMullen Ireland, 2018, 13:06 Two Irish drug dealers imprison a cockney rival in a shed. Things don’t look good for the prisoner from London. Especially since the vengeful Jacko has a mighty bone to pick with the Englishman.

Sigurd Culhane USA, 2019, 13:51 Green Cobra is the genre-bending story of a hit-man … or “Life Ending Technician” as she prefers. On a typical day, she details, to a documentary film crew, her rise in a male-dominated field.

165

DOCUMENTARY 2 AN AIR OF MELANCHOLY

Available On Demand from 03/11

2025: THE LONG HOT WINTER

THE SEVEN VILLAGES (SUBTITLED)

Jake Lancaster UK, 2019, 09:25 Brian Eno narrates this fictional documentary set in the year 2025. The Long Hot Winter features interviews with Londoners about their first ever Christmas heatwave. A thought-provoking hybrid short.

Farah Abou Kharroub Lebanon, 2020, 17:00 A conversation with refugees who were granted Lebanese citizenship in 1994. A video call between Farah, who recently moved to Prague, and her grandmother who lives in Lebanon.

DOCUMENTARY

D/S

FACES Patrick Taylor UK, 2020, 04:48 Faces is a short documentary in which several young people discuss the joys and challenges of being mixed race, set against visuals of an interracial couple in the throes of embrace.

SAUDADE (SUBTITLED) Denize Galiao Brazil, Germany, 2019, 29:59 An old Brazilian legend says that the deep emotional state of “Saudade” was created by African gods so that enslaved people don’t forget their beloved ones and where they come from.

UNSPOKEN (SUBTITLED)

BELGIAN BLUE (NO DIALOGUE)

Samia Badih United Arab Emirates, 2017, 10:11 Unspoken is about spoken word poet Farah Chamma who, at the age of 17, became an online sensation. The film presents Farah’s conflict as she struggles with self-censorship and authenticity.

Yasmine Versteele Belgium, 2019, 18:00 A cow. A calf. Utility animals in a giant industry? Or animals with feelings and rights? A different view on animal husbandry; a story about the fate of cows, told by the animals themselves.

166

DRAMA 9 TO ALL THE BOYS

Available On Demand from 03/11

SANDPAPER

Federico Spiazzi, Maggie Briggs USA, 2020, 18:36 Set in the American south – just before the tumultuous, history-changing 2016 presidential elections – To Sonny follows a vending machine loader on his daily, lonely route.

Michael Mante UK, 2019, 15:45 A troubled young man stumbles upon a creative community and becomes acquainted with the leader. What will happen when he immerses himself in this new group? What will he learn?

DRAMA

TO SONNY (SUBTITLED)

ALL THE TRIMMINGS (SUBTITLED)

UNCLE GOOSE WAITS FOR A PHONE CALL (SUBTITLED)

Thomas Edwards UK, 2020, 16:12 All the Trimmings tells the story of a man’s desperate pursuit to provide Christmas dinner for his young family. This year, there’s nothing that will stand in his way of the festivities.

Kew Lin Singapore, 2020, 15:06 Waiting for a friend’s phone call, the lonesome Uncle Goose has not left home for days. But when food runs out, he goes to great lengths in order to keep the telephone by his side!

F/MH/V

FLICKER

MANDEM

Nathan Fagan , Luke Daly Ireland, 2019, 20:29 Flicker tells the story of Danny (Peter Newington), a 20-something Dubliner who finds himself struggling to accept the full extent of his injuries after an unprovoked assault in a night club.

John Ogunmuyiwa UK, 2019, 10:02 A job is just a job, but as with anything, time flies when you’re doing it with your best friend. And today’s no different. We follow Ty & Malcolm as they go about their daily routine.

167

DRAMA 11 FAMILY BUSINESS

Available On Demand from 03/11

OUR SISTER (SUBTITLED)

Kathryn Prescott USA, 2019, 15:24 A young woman – suffering from heroin addiction and living in one of downtown Los Angeles’ many Single Occupancy hotels – receives an invite to her estranged daughter’s birthday party.

Rosie Westhoff UK, 2019, 14:27 A non-verbal autistic teenage girl and her sister come to terms with the death of their youngest sibling. Heartfelt and gripping, Our Sister is about coming together when the worst happens.

DRAMA

JANE

F/SH

SABA (SUBTITLED)

BORN AGAIN (SUBTITLED)

Mohammad Reza Khavari Iran, 2020, 13:00 In the course of Iran’s ban on women in football stadiums, Saba disguises herself as a boy to sneak into the stadium. Her father asks her how hard it is to hide her identity, and tells her a secret.

Candice Onyeama Cyprus, UK, 2020, 10:25 A woman who is struggling to bear children goes on a journey into faith to find inner peace with her demons. This is where she is born again, hoping to set out with the rest of her life.

05 BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE (SUBTITLED) Mads Koudal Denmark, 2019, 18:46 A woman’s lifelong relationship with her disabled daughter is changed forever when she receives an unwanted, and unexpected, letter. She finds herself between a rock and a hard place.

168

MUSIC VIDEO 1 POINTS OF VIEW

Available On Demand from 03/11

02 PAPILLONS BLEUS (NO DIALOGUE)

Daniel Wirtberg Sweden, 2019, 09:25 A depiction of contrasts and parallels. This polarised music video moves between “soft” and “hard” masculinity; between introvert and extrovert. These experiences push and pull at each other.

Axel Courtière France, 2020, 03:46 A contemporary danse macabre. This is a story of an old man trying to escape his inevitable passing. In doing so, he engages in a sensual dance with Death. Set against bold, Gothic interiors.

MUSIC VIDEO

ZEBRA KATZ – LOUSY / IN IN IN (NO DIALOGUE)

ALL FROM ME (SUBTITLED)

PEARL CADILLAC (NO DIALOGUE)

Outerspace Leo, Wang Shou Jie China, 2020, 04:00 Inspired by the oriental folk myth of Pingtan, All From Me creates a new pop sensation, bringing together performance, choreography and singing in one iconic music video.

Clément Oberto USA, 2019, 05:12 Gary Clark Jr. is heading down the road of life and looking back to where he came from. Shot in super 35mm, Pearl Cadillac depicts moonlight as a wider symbol for a mother’s love.

ELECTRIC LITANY – SEALIGHT

CARE – BEABADOOBEE

Sakari Lerkkanen UK, 2019, 04:35 All human beings must die. But what happens when we come to confront it, and what does it look like? Is it different for everyone? In this rendition, death is a woman taking a man on a journey.

Bedroom UK, 2020, 03:24 Blooming flowers. Empty streets. Falling rain. Shot during the Covid-19 lockdown, directorial duo Bedroom paint an intimate portrait of musician Beabadoobee. The camera is rolling.

169

MUSIC VIDEO 1 (CONT.) POINTS OF VIEW

Available On Demand from 03/11

08 H.E.N.N.A. (NO DIALOGUE) Mehdi Bahmad Canada, 2019, 03:17 Moroccan-Canadian artist Mehdi Bahmad explores growing up within a Muslim family, as well as the broader generational gap in Arab societies. A beautifully intimate self-directed short.

MUSIC VIDEO

LEARNING Olivia J. Middleton UK, 2020, 03:39 Ruminating on domestic neglect and intimate tensions, Learning explores the emotional vulnerability of a couple in a time of utter disrepair. Sculptured tableaux and compassionate scenes feature.

BLACK PUMAS COLORS Kristian Mercado USA, 2019, 04:24 Colors explores the bonds of a young family living in the Bronx. Despite the challenges, they find joy, hope and each other. A film that celebrates the beauty of the Bronx landscape.

SHAKING – HAZEL ENGLISH Erin S Murray USA, 2019, 03:39 “When we are together, do I drive you wild? You’re out of your senses, easily beguiled.” A cult leader lures a new recruit into a “ jello” eating frenzy and welcomes him into the family.

COMMON QUESTIONS

KAADA – FAREWELL (SUBTITLED)

Jessica Batson USA, 2020, 03:30 Common Questions is a statement of diversity and inclusion, representing the LGBTQIPK+ community through action and a talented cast. A showcase of pride from the queer community.

Christian Holm Glad Norway, 2019, 05:00 As people, we are scared to make changes. We are afraid of being alone. Farewell is a mosaic of personal stories from across the world, all connected to a melancholy soundtrack.

170

THRILLER 2 ALONE IN THE DARK

Available On Demand from 03/11

F/V

AWAKE – CHAPTER 4 (SUBTITLED) Alberto Garcia Ballesteros Syrian Arab Republic, 2020, 12:00 During the large-scale military operations against Daesh (ISIS) in North Eastern Syria, a YPJ kurdish fighter faces her absolute worst fears. A long night on duty alters her life irrevocably.

THRILLER

A VOID Dominique van Olm Canada, 2020, 15:20 One summer, a young woman decides to invite an altogether otherworldly presence into her life whilst working as a caretaker of an old concert hall. What will happen next in the void?

SKARBNIK (SUBTITLED)

SURPRISE

Pawel Piotr Achtelik Poland, 2020, 19:35 The end of WWII brings industry to The Polish People’s Republic. However, despite a growing number of burgeoning coal mines, there is still nothing more valuable than a reliable supply of food.

Bojan Brbora UK, 2020, 07:15 An assassin is sent on a mission to terminate his latest target, but what he finds at her house jeopardises the whole operation. Shot in a single take as part of Directors UK Challenge Trinity.

NIGHT BUS

BREAKDOWN (SUBTITLED)

Jessica Ashworth, Henrietta Ashworth UK, 2019, 12:35 Driving through the nocturnal streets of London on the eve of her 30 th birthday, a night bus driver discovers a supernatural entity who has boarded her vehicle, and threatens to stay.

Sándor Gál Hungary, 2020, 15:25 In the middle of the night, a woman is driving home with her little girl. When their car breaks down on a country road, a stranger offers his help. The woman feels that they are no longer safe.

171

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 4

Available On Demand from 03/11

NEIGHBORS

subtitled Tomislav Zaja Croatia, 2018, 1h 13m 36s

Neighbors is an observational documentary about people who experience mental illness but are leaving their institution after decades spent in isolation. The film follows the individuals as they venture out into the big unknown, and put their lives back together. This the moment they get to share their stories with the world, living beyond their diagnoses and regaining their individuality.

Tomislav Zaja attained a Master’s Degree in Documentary Film Direction at the FAMU in Prague. As a producer, writer and director, he has made approximately 50 documentaries and four featurelength fiction films. He s a member of European Documentary Network and International Documentary Association.

NARRATIVE FEATURE 2 PARADISE

Immanuel Esser Germany, 2020, 1h 20m

For three colleagues, every day is dedicated to the business. They live in the company van and drive to get from one place – and time of death – to the next – terminating people, packaging them and sending them off. Suddenly, the three find themselves confronted with their own termination. They start to question and bend the rules of their complicated world.

Immanuel Esser studied philosophy in Berlin before turning to film, focusing on thought experiments, political philosophy and aesthetics. After several shorts, music videos and fake advertisements, Paradise is his first feature film. It was produced at the University of Media Arts Cologne.

172

FESTIVAL On Demand A month of film. at your fingertips. sign up, log in and watch.

ASFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th Anniversary Edition comes to you directly in your own home. Live the festival experience at your own pace, with film screenings on demand from 3-30 November. Great cinema has never been so accessible. 173

Humans and their Environment The world is a busy place, for better or for worse. The 21st century is defined by new technologies, healthcare, entertainment, politics, consumerism, inequality and conflict. With 7.5 billion individuals on ah planet, what are the effects? Populations continue to surge, natural resources are plundered and waste is increasing. How do we maintain a sense of home and belonging in a changing world? This programme explores humans and their environment.

Programmes available: 8am Wednesday 4 November

Animation: Future & Decline Documentary: The Inevitability of Change Drama: Irreversible Actions Drama: Who Am I Experimental: Of You and You Over There Family Friendly: Someone Elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shoes Fashion: Ideas Exploring Ideas Music Video: Rhythmic Narratives Narrative Feature: Nothing More Perfect

174

ANIMATION 1 FUTURE & DECLINE

Available On Demand from 04/11

LOSING PACE

SHOPPING TRIP (NO DIALOGUE)

Naomi Soneye-Thomas UK, 2019, 05:57 A young black man is on a trajectory towards success, when an encounter with the police jeopardises everything. Losing Pace is a heartbreaking animation. This is now more relevant than ever.

Barry Wilkinson UK, 2020, 03:15 Set during an exaggerated lockdown, one man sets off to the shops alone. Shopping Trip is a dark and isolated short that examines and accentuates the “new normal” from this year.

ANIMATION

REASON (SUBTITLED)

SAD BEAUTY

Szymon Ruczyński Poland, 2020, 07:56 In a modern-day town, an old lady gets accused of witchcraft. A fellow citizen has to decide how to react to the alleged threat. What happens when witch hunts return in the technological age?

Arjan Brentjes Netherlands, 2020, 09:50 In a heavily polluted world, a young woman mourns various species as they’re pushed to the edge of extinction. When she falls ill with a bacterial infection, nature sends her a message.

SNOW SHELTER (SUBTITLED)

THE LAST FLIGHT (NO DIALOGUE)

Robertas Nevecka Lithuania, 2020, 16:09 Several years have passed since The Destruction, and the city is slowly rebuilding. A 30-year-old man is living as a squatter in an apartment with a group of strangers. He struggles to survive.

Ander Alencar Brazil, 2020, 03:00 They say that when you’re about to die, a film plays in your head. Maybe it is the desire to revive the moments we have experienced. Maybe it is the desire to feel a little more of what we lived through.

175

DOCUMENTARY 1 THE INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 SOMALINIMO Alice Aedy UK, 2020, 17:54 Four British-Somalians navigate being black, female and Muslim at one of Britain’s most traditional institutions: the University of Cambridge. Somalinimo explores what it means to belong.

DOCUMENTARY

WHAT ABOUT OUR FUTURE? Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos, Claudio Cruz Canada, 2020, 24:43 An observational documentary that chronicles a group of youth environmental activists as they organise the biggest climate strike in Vancouver’s history. What about our future?

ABOVE THE LAW (SUBTITLED)

S.E.N?

Bryony Dunne Egypt, Greece, Ireland, 2019, 14:00 Above the Law makes connections between the migration routes of birds and the journeys of migrants and refugees who have – and will continue to – traverse the same bodies of land and water.

Alfie Barker UK, 2019, 05:35 The current education system doesn’t work for everyone. Debris Stevenson shares her experience of being at school, where she was labelled as someone with dyslexia – as a failure.

BLACK LINE (SUBTITLED)

LOLA (SUBTITLED)

Mark Olexa, Francesca Scalisi Bangladesh, 2017, 10:29 In Black Line, three ideas are all linked together: a woman fishing in turbid waters, the broken chant of the muezzin and nature in decline. How do they connect? Where do we draw the line?

Miranda Carter-Watson UK, 2020, 21:00 The story of an ordinary family – told from the perspective of their beloved pet dog, Lola. As we observe the everyday life of the family, a larger story quietly unfolds in the background.

176

DRAMA 3 IRREVERSIBLE ACTIONS

Available On Demand from 04/11

MAY I HAVE THIS SEAT? (SUBTITLED)

AN EVERYDAY ACT

Tabish Habib Pakistan, 2020, 10:16 A young and rebellious pregnant woman is travelling by bus to see her doctor when she gets into an altercation with a conservative father on the smoggy roads of Lahore, Pakistan.

Gavin Scott-Whitfield UK, 2019, 20:00 With one terrible act, 12-year-old Eric leaves his childhood behind in a bid to help all his family survive. This young boy is about to make a larger sacrifice. Does he know the consequences?

DRAMA

IDOL (SUBTITLED)

PALY (SUBTITLED)

Ryushi LIndsay Japan, 2020, 21:00 Single mother Miyabi relies on her child idol daughter Kasumi as their only source of income, as a ticket to future financial stability. But what happens when Kasumi is taken from the line up?

Nikhil Ganesh USA, 2020, 19:29 An aspiring rapper from the opulent suburbs of Silicon Valley comes face to face with a tense reality check: one that makes him question hisÂ affluent upbringing and immigrant roots.

05 WHITE EYE (SUBTITLED) Tomer Shushan Israel, 2019, 20:00 A man tracks down his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to a stranger. In his attempt to retrieve it, he struggles to remain human; everything is laid out on the line in front of him.

177

DRAMA 10 WHO AM I

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 HENET WARD (SUBTITLED) Morad Mostafa Egypt, 2020, 22:50 Halima, a Sudanese henna painter, goes to see Basma, a young Egyptian bride, to prepare her for the wedding. The encounter between two women grows from complicity to unveiled tension.

DRAMA

ERNIE Ray Panthaki UK, 2020, 21:00 Under the influence of dangerous right-wing propaganda and a domineering father, a lonely school caretaker looks for connection, wherever he can find it. Let’s find out who Ernie is.

WOMAN WITHOUT A CHILD (SUBTITLED)

JOEY

Eva Saiz Spain, 2019, 15:00 Tere welcomes a young boy into his house who’s looking for a room to rent. Amongst them, an affinity will be created that, littleby-little, will come to resemble one between mother and son.

Andrew Knott, William Ash UK, 2020, 14:24 A lonely clown works in a forgotten seaside resort. One day, he falls in love and is forced to confront a terrible secret he’s been hiding away all this time. This is the story of Joey.

BUCK (SUBTITLED)

THE PRESENT (SUBTITLED)

Anne Cissé France, 2019, 16:40 J-BUCK, a passionate young Krump dancer with over-possessive parents, is in love with the sister of his big homie (the chief of the crew that J-Buck belongs to). He’s going to have to choose.

Farah Nabulsi Palestine, State of, 2019, 24:16 On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his daughter Yasmine set out to the West Bank to buy a gift. Between the soldiers, roads and checkpoints, how easy is it really to go shopping?

178

EXPERIMENTAL 3 OF YOU AND YOU OVER THERE

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 UN/OBSERVED: INSIDE THE ZONE (NO DIALOGUE) Dan Noall UK, 2020, 05:50 Un/Observed is a re-edit of Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 film Stalker that completely removes all human presence, creating a portrait of the Zone as an empty place with mysterious ambience.

EXPERIMENTAL

A ROCK (SUBTITLED) Shing Lee Philippines, 2020, 10:06 A man contemplates his struggle against the movement of nature – loud, powerful and overwhelming. Meanwhile, voices keep him alive, no matter how hard he tries to be a rock.

A BRIGHT SUMMER DIARY (SUBTITLED)

DON’T KNOW WHAT

Lei Lei USA, 2020, 27:30 It was a bright summer day in the 1980s. Her family travelled to Lushan to escape the heat. A woman reminisces about the story behind the photograph, and the movements behind the lens.

Thomas Renoldner Austria, 2019, 08:07 A film that returns to the original impulses of cinema – that of creating both magic and humour. Don’t Know What questions the traditional rules of genre by utilising elements of the avant garde.

FOREVER (SUBTITLED)

ITINERARY OF SURFACES

Carl Henry Elsaesser USA, 2020, 08:00 A love letter of domestic imagination. The habits and musings of the ordinary in a remote location. A year of rain and other fluids. I do not like feelings of contentment. 26 Main St. Bucksport, ME.

179

FAMILY FRIENDLY 1 (Suitable For All Ages ) SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 DELA (SUBTITLED) Bernard Attal Brazil, 2018, 08:20 Dela lives on the magical island of Itaparica in Brazil’s Bay of All Saints. Dela does not understand why the kids at school make fun of her name and her hair. But she is determined to sort it out.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF AWESOME (NO DIALOGUE) Allison Brownmoore UK, 2019, 06:15 The Amazing Adventures of Awesome is a unique, hand-illustrated animation about a young autistic girl who finds herself at the heart of a quiet, but nonetheless powerful, revolution.

MALL (SUBTITLED)

THE WORLD I SEE (NO DIALOGUE)

Jerry Hoffmann Germany, 2019, 07:03 Didi is out with his hyper-masculine family in a Megastore. Didi finds himself in the toy section: boys’ toys on one side, girls’ on the other, but Didi only has eyes for one side of the racks.

Shawn Lai USA, 2020, 10:52 The RED, BLUE and YELLOW puppet makers are busy working away. The tedious routines not only restrain their imaginations but also encourage them to only care about their own tasks.

TALIA

NOT A WALLFLOWER

Cara Bamford UK, 2020, 09:50 Talia loves nature. She’s always looking for new ways to slip out of the house, exploring the world beyond her front garden. But after being caught, her father forbids her to leave without permission.

Lianne Mackessy Australia, 2019, 07:09 Ben is a sprightly young man with a bright future. Living with autism is of no consequence for Ben, except when it comes to his boss, and finding love. Will Ben bloom beyond the wallflowers?

180

FASHION 1 IDEAS EXPLORING IDEAS

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 A BEGINNER’S GUIDE FOR ECO WARRIORS (SUBTITLED) Eliska Sky UK, 2020, 03:06 A Beginner’s Guide for Eco Warriors is inspired by the current dramatic changes in Earth’s ecosystem due to human impact. We are living in the Anthropocene now –defined by destruction.

MY LOVE IS EPIPHYLLUM (SUBTITLED)

THE DESCENT

Maxett Pribylov Russia, 2019, 03:02 How similar is it to care for another person after caring for a house-plant? What are the essentials to a blooming relationship? A dreamy summer and the spirit of first love. Narrated by Siri.

Brandon Mercer USA, 2020, 08:43 The Descent treads the precarious aftermath of trauma, looking at how dramatic events shape us and our realities. Follow a sister as she dives head first into the distorted mind of her lost brother.

FASHION

LA MER (SUBTITLED) Victor Claramunt Spain, 2019, 02:15 Across the world, we’re not fully cognisant of how much plastic we’re using. Four children, from the ages of 6 to 11, tell us exactly what we’re doing to our oceans and how to #gobeyondplastic.

EXHALE (NO DIALOGUE)

I’LL SAY IT FIRST (SUBTITLED)

Igor Stekolenko Ukraine, 2019, 05:54 Our heroine has been caught in the wasteland, in conditions that are unsuitable and disturbing. Her fearless determination turns a crisis situation into a positive, until she’s no longer alone.

Alena Shevchenko Russia, 2020, 02:47 Our girl wants to make the first move, but finds herself hesitating to text the boy she likes. Will we ever know what she’s really feeling? What’s the consequence of the technological age?

181

FASHION 1 (CONT.) IDEAS EXPLORING IDEAS

Available On Demand from 04/11

08 I, UNFOLDED (NO DIALOGUE) Phoebe Guo UK, 2019, 02:10 Francesca Woodman once stated: “You cannot see me from where I look at myself.” I, Unfolded develops the ideas of identity and personality as it extends and unfolds through all its nuances.

FASHION

VIOLENT AND TENDER Filip Fredrik Haglund UK, 2020, 04:00 Violent and Tender creates a dichotomy between the designs of Lea Boberg and the poetry of Karin Boye. Exploring the body in relation to identity, gender and the forces of nature.

IN BETWEEN SPACES – CHAPTER TWO (NO DIALOGUE)

2091 (NO DIALOGUE)

Jenny Gand Austria, 2019, 03:33 After Agent One failed in Chapter One, someone new is enlisted to complete the mission at hand. Chapter Two is shot in Vienna against the backdrop of fascinating 1970s architecture.

Carlos J. Matos Spain, 2020, 06:46 In the distant year of 2091, three warrior-hackers face off against the mad AI system, known as Control, in a last-ditch effort to liberate their city and save the future of mankind.

JULIE & I (SUBTITLED)

A RED SOCK’S TALE (SUBTITLED)

Waley Wang USA, 2020, 02:46 An anti-fashion film about two co-dependent friends living in fantasy world. But one of them always takes it too far. Shot on super 16mm and 8mm film, inspired by French New Wave.

Carlos Velasco Spain, 2020, 02:22 There’s a solitary red sock floating in the sea. Has it ever had a partner? Does it belong to a pair? Maybe his owner only wears one sock, or was there one lost along the way?

182

MUSIC VIDEO 2 RHYTHMIC NARRATIVES

Available On Demand from 04/11

02 HARD TO KNOW Alice Halstead UK, 2020, 04:17 The music video for Claudia Fenoglio’s upbeat track Hard to Know is 12 videos in one. Taking viewers on a whimsical adventure all within four walls (and 12 screens), filled with colour and humour.

MUSIC VIDEO

FUCKING DOWN Amanda Lago Spain, 2019, 05:00 Fucking Down explores the struggle we face in accepting ourselves by engaging with the most extreme aspects of our personality. Set in a futuristic dystopian era with a strong retro aesthetic.

AKWASI – EXTASE (SUBTITLED)

LORENS – JUST BECAUSE (NO DIALOGUE)

Florian Joahn Netherlands, 2020, 03:40 Florian Joahn directs a hallucinatory video for Dutch-Ghanian artist Akwasi. A kaleidoscopic film exploring black culture and black history, overcoming the silencing of artists of colour.

Hani Domazet Croatia, Serbia, 2020, 04:33 Just Because talks about a roller-coaster of a relationship, where one person pushes and pulls the other – putting the other down, to pulling them back in as soon as they start to drift away.

HAND SOLO – MARIKA HACKMAN

UNINVITED

Sam Bailey UK, 2019, 03:51 Music promo for Hand Solo – a much needed anthem of female masturbation. Made by a production crew of 85% women, and directed by Eve Fehilly, a sexpert from London’s famous SH! store.

Viktorija Pashuta USA, 2020, 03:54 This electronic song – performed by the violinist and musician Caroline Campbell – is a cover of the single Uninvited by Alanis Morissette, from the soundtrack of the movie City of Angels.

183

MUSIC VIDEO 2 (CONT.) RHYTHMIC NARRATIVES

Available On Demand from 04/11

08 BUEN VIAJE : ANNI B SWEET Marc Lesperut Spain, 2019, 03:24 A vivid take on 1960s psychedelia is presented in this stylish video for Spanish singer-songwriter Ana Fabiola López Rodríguez – aka Anni B Sweet. Directed by Marc Lesperut.

MUSIC VIDEO

SPEND MY DAYZ Agni Raj Singh USA, 2019, 04:35 An impressionistic portrayal of an artist who is obsessively chasing his vision. Inspirations change as he journeys from a gritty urban jungle in Los Angeles to a delicate floral paradise.

PART TWELVE (NO DIALOGUE)

ANPU – ZOEA

Taisia Deeva Germany, 2019, 05:34 We are witnessing the life of a patriarchal and totalitarian community living in an isolated place after the death of the oldest man – their leader. Who will take over now?

POWEI SU Taiwan, 2019, 05:35 Mitten crabs have long been viewed as an environmental index for assessing the ecological state of rivers and streams in Taiwan. The species has a unique spawning migration pattern.

RODNEY CHROME – PULPIT

MONSTER RALLY – ADVENTURE

Zachary Dov Wiesel USA, 2020, 02:11 Pulpit is Rodney Chrome’s first single from his upcoming debut album Queer Pressure. A vivid, energetic short that moves confidently from childhood to adulthood, interior to exterior.

Zak Marx USA, 2019, 05:15 Adventure explores the world of competitive moto-racing in finely textured, surreal miniature. It follows the #2 rider as he ruminates in the shadows of world champion, Jammin’ Jackie Hudson.

184

NARRATIVE FEATURE 3

Available On Demand from 04/11

NOTHING MORE PERFECT

Teresa Hoerl Czech Republic, Germany, 2020, 1h 27m

Maya is 16 and tries to find online fame through a selfie-live-vlog of suicide notes. Her many last words are narcissistic, poetic and honest. When Maya travels to Prague with her parents – a trip, that is supposed to somehow cheer her up – her suicidal fantasies are becoming more real than she ever wanted them to be. Maya finds her own fairytale-like journey in the capital of party tourism.

MH/SH/ED

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2021

Born and raised in Bavaria, Teresa Hoerl studied Drama at the Universities of Munich and London. In 2019, she received a diploma in film directing. Since then, she has released several shorts and won the Hessian Film Award. Her first feature film, Nothing More Perfect, premiered at the Max Ophüls film festival in 2020.

SUBMIT YOUR

NARRATIVE FEATURES DEADLINE 31 MAY 2021 Find out more: asff.co.uk

185

Connections: People, Places and Identity Humanity binds us together. Our connections transcend borders and solidify shared experiences. Every day, we have the ability to reach new heights of understanding and develop empathy for all four corners of the world. Our relationships make us feel: compassion, love, hatred and aggression. They allow us to explore new places and our identity as individuals. This strand considers the importance of human relationships, whether physical, technological or spiritual.

Programmes available: 8am Thursday 5 November

Advertising: Storytelling & Innovation Animation: Separation & Memories Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Film: Identity Comedy: Lovers & Haters Drama: Take Me Home Drama: Breaking Limits Thriller: Love & Chunder Documentary Feature: The Deathless Woman Narrative Feature: Paradise Hotel

186

ADVERTISING 1 STORYTELLING & INNOVATION

Available On Demand from 05/11

02 A FISHED UP LIFE Hanna Seidel Germany, 2020, 01:04 A man uses a curious new shampoo. After lathering, rinsing and repeating, a fish grows out of his head, getting him into all kinds of trouble throughout the day. What kind of shampoo is this?

Pump it Up (NO DIALOGUE)

THE OTHER HALF

Roni Shao China, 2020, 00:51 Celebrating Reebok’s first international PUMP DAY. Rip-roaring and energetic, this film is for the brave – for the taste makers, the rule breakers and the risk takers. Pump it up with Reebok!

Robin Mason UK, 2019, 07:01 This sweet story pulls at the heartstrings. Follow along with the intimate lives and loving rituals of Ginny and George, a doting husband and wife who share almost everything. Almost.

ADVERTISING

ADIDAS – WORLD CHAMPS (SUBTITLED) Filmawi UK, 2020, 01:00 Short documentary featuring World Championship Athletics finalists from all across the world. Directed by Filmawi and shot for Adidas, the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe.

IT WORKS!

THE DREAMER

Mario Dahl Germany, 2020, 00:56 Try out the hottest chilli sauce in the diner. Go to the gym and push yourself to the absolute limits. Go to the sauna and sweat, really sweat. Because this deodorant works. It really does.

Robert dos Santos Lesotho, 2020, 03:59 Driving through the incredible Lesotho mountains in Southern Africa, our character, spurred on by the beauty of the car he is driving, imagines himself to be a powerful African warrior.

187

ADVERTISING 1 (CONT.) STORYTELLING & INNOVATION

Available On Demand from 05/11

09 SAFE WATER (NO DIALOGUE) Mario Dahl France, 2020, 00:30 A girl walks right to the edge of the board, breathing deeply, ready to make the biggest jump of her life. But what’s waiting for her down there? Safe water is more important than ever.

ADVERTISING

SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS (NO DIALOGUE) Georgia Tribuiani USA, 2019, 00:30 The art of style is all about the most minute details. Returning to his starring role, Henry Cavill steps in front of the lens for a new film, wearing the latest BOSS eyewear collection.

STUSSY REWIND (NO DIALOGUE)

MADE FOR STRENGTH (SUBTITLED)

Neisha Rendell UK, 2019, 01:16 Stussy Rewind is a fashion film for Stussy, celebrating the history of the brand and focusing on its earthy surf culture roots. Pull up your socks, get the spray paint out. Go for a jaunt into nature.

Benjamin Leichtenstern Germany, 2019, 01:30 As a young Jew in Germany, Levi Strauss is forced to emigrate to America due to racist hostility. But the situation there doesn’t seem better, until he makes in invention that changes everything.

RAISED BY WOLVES | A FERAL CHILD

ARMEGGEDDON

Jonathan Edwards USA, 2019, 00:47 Canadian brand Raised by Wolves introduces its AW19 collection via the visual storytelling of a feral child. She returns to her broken home and abandoned town, situated along Route 66.

Adam Wimpenny UK, 2019, 07:52 It’s New Year’s Eve, and the world is at war. Nobody knows quite where they came from. In order to survive the apocalypse, three friends have chosen to live underground in an industrial bunker.

188

ADVERTISING 1 (CONT.) STORYTELLING & INNOVATION

Available On Demand from 05/11

15 ANTHROPOLOGIE (NO DIALOGUE) Emma Tempest USA, 2019, 01:04 Anthropologie is a destination for the creative, worldly woman. Emma Tempest shoots a fashion film for its latest seasonal campaign. Playful and musical, these clothes are about fun.

ADVERTISING

MERCEDES-BENZ Pete Schilling Germany, 2020, 01:21 Follow a couple on their dreamy journey, from night to day, diner to fairground – and then – off into the sunset. And what’s their getaway car of choice? A Mercedes-Benz, of course.

Pianocide (SUBTITLED)

GEORGETOWN OPTICIAN “EYES SAY MORE THAN WORDS”

Brice Blanloeil France, 2017, 00:30 What’s the point of going to a shop when everything is available on the web? How does a piano shop still exist, and make a profit, in today’s world? It seems like a mammoth struggle, right?

Dean Alexander USA, 2019, 02:39 Featuring the fashion eyewear of Georgetown Optician, viewers are taken into a world of silence, where eyes do the talking and quiet is zealously guarded. Set in the quietest library on Earth.

THE LAST DELIVERY

WHAT IT TAKES

That Jam UK, 2019, 05:03 British Crime Comedy. With their supplies running low and the season nearly over, Baker and her gang go to egg-streme lengths to get their hands on the last Creme Egg delivery.

Kai Axmacher UK, 2019, 01:33 It only takes five minutes to win, or lose. You skate, you sync, they score. It only takes starting at 4am, pushing yourself, and then some more. It only takes your whole life, and your family’s too.

189

ADVERTISING 1 (CONT.) STORYTELLING & INNOVATION

Available On Demand from 05/11

21 WHATEVER YOU CALL IT Moth Studio UK, 2019, 01:13 For many people, death is an uncomfortable topic. Moth Studio teams up with Marie Curie and Saatchi&Saatchi to create a simple campaign that gets the conversation going, elucidating the issue.

ADVERTISING

FISHERMAN’S FRIEND – STAY COOL, NO MATTER HOW HOT IT GETS (NO DIALOGUE)

Constantin Iandolino Germany, 2019, 00:30 The Achili contest is being held by an Asian master, but when an old fisherman competes against him, he begins to fear that his reign may be over. Stay cool, no matter how hot it gets.

WELCOME TO MILAN

LET LOVE LIVE ON (NO DIALOGUE)

Giacomo Boeri, Matteo Grimaldi Italy, 2019, 01:26 Beauty and imagination run wild just a few days before fashion week. Following a group of models, we discover some of the most iconic places of the Italian fashion capital, Milan.

Daniel Stankler UK, 2020, 01:31 A playful animated short for UK-based charity Live Life Give Life. Let’s talk about organ donation so that our loved ones know our choices and can honour them after we’ve gone.

DR MARTEN’S TOUGH AS YOU

WE HAVE SURVIVED NATURE FOR AGES

Taz Tron Delix UK, 2020, 01:00 Dr Marten’s boots are as tough as you. They’re whatever you need them to be. Taz Tron Delix shoots a campaign that celebrates 60 years of ingenuity, fashion and hard-wearing appeal.

Christian Holm-Glad Norway, 2019, 01:56 A film about the grey, rough and unexpected sides of Norway featuring Thorbjørn Harr, from HBO’s hit series Vikings. Exploring the body in relation to identity, gender and the forces of nature.

190

ANIMATION 4 SEPARATION & MEMORIES

Available On Demand from 05/11

D/SH/MH

02 TO THE DUSTY SEA (SUBTITLED) Héloïse Ferlay France, 2020, 12:23 Left alone in the depths of summer, Malo and Zoe are trying their best to catch their mother’s elusive eye. To The Dusty Sea is a beautifully made stop-motion filled with melancholy.

ANIMATION

FRAGMENTS Adekemi Roluga UK, 2020, 10:00 Fragments is a short film which documents a young girl’s journey to understanding her bi-racial identity. This short animation also looks at the effects that a broken home might have on her.

SOMETHING BORROWED

WOMEN UNDER COVER – YOLA (SUBTITLED)

Micky Wozny UK, 2020, 08:00 Pen to paper, a sweet old woman (Jane Horrocks) can’t find the right words. But when she lends her pen to a hopeless young chap (Jason Watkins), a whirlwind of a chase ensues.

Aurélie Pollet France, 2020, 06:15 In the 1970s, Israel offers to welcome Ethiopian Jews who are living in refugee camps. The problem: the Ethiopian government is against it. A commander decides to ex-filtrate them by boat.

CWCH DEILEN (SUBTITLED)

POUR UNE POIGNÉE DE CARAMELS (NO DIALOGUE)

Efa Blosse-mason UK, 2020. 06:32 Learning to love someone can be scary, but it can also lead to the most marvellous adventure. This is the story of Heledd and Celyn, who navigate the murky waters of a new relationship.

ESMA France, 2019, 05:56 Grandma and Grandpa are about to hold up their retirement home for a fistful of toffees. They’re the new Bonnie and Clyde. What comes next will delight with these witty characters.

191

ARTISTS’ FILM 1 IDENTITY

Available On Demand from 05/11

EYELASH Jesse Lewis-Reece UK, 2019, 05:30 The film is an adaptation of spoken word poet Neil Hilborn’s beloved poem OCD. ⁣⁣⁣T he film considers the nuances of mental healths, navigating “him” and “her” though a specific lens.

ARTISTS’ FILM

NOT BLACK ENOUGH Jermaine Manigault USA, 2020, 18:54 A young African-American male struggling to find his identity within the black community meets a persuasive relic of the past. Will he find his true self with this revolutionary discovery?

CALL TO PRAYER (SUBTITLED)

FACTORY TALK (SUBTITLED)

Natalie Lennard UK, 2020, 11:45 Artist Natalie Lennard travels to Harehills in Leeds, drawing inspiration from a Pakistani Muslim community. She recreates a birthing scene, depicting the recital of an Adhan prayer.

Lucie Rachel, Chrissie Hyde UK, 2020, 04:31 Factory Talk is an intergenerational conversation about identity, sexuality and masculinity. Through the clanging of metal they make small talk, but the dialogue turns away from mere nostalgia.

WHAT DOES THE WATER TASTE LIKE? (SUBTITLED)

TO A BROKEN IMAGE (NO DIALOGUE)

Juliana Kasumu Nigeria, UK, USA, 2019, 08:00 Director Juliana Kasumu questions the production of identity as it relates to her personal affiliations with language; moments of tenderness are interwoven with the sensations of ache and desire.

Mikaela Guariniello Spain, 2020, 05:14 Para Una Imagen Rota (To a Broken Image) represents the many pressures that women face in order to meet beauty standards in society today. Unachievable self-expectations are personified.

192

MH/ED

COMEDY 2 LOVERS & HATERS

Available On Demand from 05/11

02 BARBARA (SUBTITLED) Wibout Warnaar Netherlands, 2020, 03:44 A man introduces his new girlfriend to his family, but the evening takes an unexpected turn, and, ultimately, he will have to rethink his relationship with Barbara for the future.

COMEDY

STOCKHOLM SYNDROME (SUBTITLED) Ben Marshall UK, 2020, 03:00 Stockholm Syndrome is a snappy black comedy. A seemingly innocent phone call between a young woman stuck in London’s lockdown, and her Swedish mother, slowly reveals chilling secrets.

WHAT YOU AND I SHARE WITH THE SALMON (SUBTITLED)

TALK RADIO

Raynor Arkenbout Netherlands, 2019, 13:02 During the difficult birth of his son, an anxious soon-to-be father reflects on all the moments of his sexual development that led to this. Also – how these relate to the salmon run.

Ben S. Hyland UK, 2020, 08:37 Pauline and Barry are a seemingly happily married. That is, until Pauline tunes into Relationship Hour on Talk Radio and thinks she recognises the nameless voice relaying a lifetime of regret.

THE BIRTH OF VALERIE VENUS

DAD’S DIVORCE (SUBTITLED)

Sarah Clift UK, 2020, 15:00 A vicar’s wife is possessed by a strange and unexpected force. But it’s not all bad – it unlocks a mischievous (and pleasurable) side she never knew she had. This is The Birth of Valerie Venus.

Jesper Sichlau Denmark, 2019, 07:24 When Oscar and his sister receive the news of their parents’ divorce, they have to do everything in their power to stop it from happening. Dad’s Divorce is, simply not in the cards here.

193

DRAMA 4 TAKE ME HOME

Available On Demand from 05/11

02 GOODBYE GOLOVIN (SUBTITLED) Mathieu Grimard Canada, 2019, 14:00 Following the death of his father, Ian Golovin prepares to bid farewell to his sister. He is forced to face the decision – why he is always blindly moving forward – and what he is leaving behind.

DRAMA

NO MORE WINGS (SUBTITLED) Abraham Adeyemi UK, 2019, 10:35 Two lifelong friends meet up at their favourite fried chicken shop in South London. The meeting comes at a crucial point in their lives as they move away onto a new path, maybe without wings.

REBEL (SUBTITLED)

DAY ONE

Pier-Philippe Chevigny Canada, 2019, 15:00 To Alex, a naive six-year-old boy, the mysterious patrols his father leads with a right-wing militia are just occasions to go play in the woods. One morning, the reality comes into sharp focus.

Mahmut Akay UK, 2019, 04:27 A man attempts to do his laundry – to clean his clothes and engage in an every day domestic act. Easy right? Along the way, he comes across an unexpected obstacle. This is day one.

JUDAS (SUBTITLED)

DESTINO (SUBTITLED)

Adam Palmer UK, 2020, 06:20 Two opposing gangs. Two individuals from either side of the dispute. In Judas, watch as they come together and share a moment during a seemingly innocent game of basketball.

Bonifacio Angius Italy, 2019, 20:00 A day filled with superstition, anguish and fear – a day looking into the abyss. A man sets out looking for answers, for a destination, for the missing puzzle piece on this day.

194

DRAMA 6 BREAKING LIMITS

Available On Demand from 05/11

AB/S

FREYA Camille Hollet-French Canada, 2020, 17:00 A cautionary comedy set in the not-too distant future. Jade is a happy professional who enjoys her friendship with FREYA – her Federally Regulated Enquiry and Yield Assistant.

DRAMA

WHEN IT FALLS (SUBTITLED) Romain Dumont & Antoine Ryan Canada, 2020, 18:00 Élie, an ambitious young teenager, finds himself torn between Enzo, a 60-something individual who he works for, and his own mother, who suspects the man to be linked to organised crime.

THE DROWNING GOAT (SUBTITLED)

DRIFTING

Sebastian Johansson Micci Sweden, 2020, 27:25 Luca arrives by plane to visit his dad and new family in Sweden. He is eager to make a good impression and to be accommodating, but the visit does not go as planned. The situation becomes tense.

Patrick McGivney & Robert Higgins Ireland, 2020, 14:00 Two young men in rural Ireland find themselves at a crossroads as one’s reckless behaviour pushes their friendship towards breaking point. How much can a relationship change overnight?

THE MANCHADOR (SUBTITLED)

SHE WHO WEARS THE RAIN (SUBTITLED)

Kaveh Tehrani Norway, Iran & Germany, 2019, 19:50 Mina and Saeed live a stressful life in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Being a woman in Iran is not particularly easy and Mina sees a future for the family elsewhere. She wants to move abroad.

Marianne Métivier Canada, 2020, 17:00 Immersed in a world that flits between reality and dream, Agnes will have to confront her mourning and see what lies beneath the surface when it all goes quiet and we begin to look inwards.

195

THRILLER 3 LOVE & CHUNDER

Available On Demand from 05/11

ED/MH

A/AB

PROGENCY

Louis Lagayette USA, 2019, 11:54 Sally is young woman grappling with an eating disorder. One day, a hole appears on her body, triggering a set of cataclysmic events that will threaten to make her worst nightmares come true.

Justin Daering USA, 2019, 29:13 This world is exactly like ours, except that the wealthy elites are aliens, living and working amongst us. One more difference: they reproduce by implanting their offspring within a human host.

THRILLER

THE HOLE

SH/V

MILK TEETH

FERINE (NO DIALOGUE)

Felipe Vargas USA, 2019, 13:54 In this subtle horror-fantasy fairytale, an orphanage spirals into mayhem when a boy discovers a shadowy creature who comes to collect more than just the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teeth during the night.

Andrea Corsini Italy, 2019, 17:00 Ferine is a contemporary horror drama about pushing the borders of human nature. How willing we are to compromise and finally accept our inner monsters? Something fierce is on the horizon.

ED/SH/MH/V

HUNGRY JOE Paul Nicholas Holbrook, Sam Dawe UK, 2019, 22:30 A single mother struggles to bond with her apathetic child. It seems that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s born with an insatiable and increasingly inhumane appetite that she can hardly bear to accept.

196

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 1

Available On Demand from 05/11

THE DEATHLESS WOMAN

subtitled Roz Mortimer UK, 2019, 1h 28m 45s

A ghost story for the 21st century, The Deathless Woman is an urgent and mystical hybrid documentary. The film moves fluidly between fantastical re-constructions and real, affecting survivor testimonies of the Roma Holocaust. This metaphysical documentary examines, with sharp introspection, both historic and contemporary crimes against the Roma in Poland and Hungary.

Roz Mortimer is a London-based artist and filmmaker whose work focuses on expanded forms of documentary. She began working with moving image in 1995 and since then her awardwinning films have been exhibited widely around the world in cinemas, galleries, film festivals, online and on television.

NARRATIVE FEATURE 1 PARADISE HOTEL

subtitled Daniel Rehder Normand Peru, 2019, 1h 32m 53s

A coming-of-age story about family, first love and restoring self-esteem. In the middle of the Peruvian desert lies an extravagant hotel filled with endless activities and entertainers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the resort where everyone goes for summer. Amongst them is the introverted Guillermo, who is battling to overcome his lack of confidence and win the heart of the girl of his dreams.

Daniel Rehder Normand is a Peruvian filmmaker who graduated from NYUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tisch School of the Arts in 2015. He has directed, produced and written several short films, written for Nickelodeon, and has recently premiered his first feature film called El Candidato in more than 80 cinemas in Peru.

197

Breaking Down Barriers There are people in the world that seek to divide us. Politics, news cycles and conflict dominate and direct our relationships – our perceptions of others. Obstacles and constructed barriers seek to separate us in the physical world. Outdated ideals of “normality” serve as oppression against identity and expression. This programme welcomes outstanding creative voices as they stand up against compliance. It’s time to break down barriers – literal and metaphorical.

Programmes available: 8am Friday 6 November

Artists’ Film: Memory Comedy: The World Is Strange in Times of Change Dance: Power and Perseverance Documentary: Somewhere Far Away Drama: Fuck the System Drama: Disconnect Fashion: Who I Am Thriller: Needs & Desires Documentary Feature: Women’s Day Narrative Feature: How To Stop a Recurring Dream

198

ARTISTS’ FILM 3 MEMORY

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 PARADISO (SUBTITLED) Jan Vrhovnik Italy, 2020, 03:40 A provincial, reflective Calabrian lets us into his humble world, eager to prove just how rich a modest existence can truly be. He grapples to make sense of life, from the macro to the micro.

ARTIST’ FILM

UNICORNS Filip Fredrik Haglund UK, 2020, 08:15 Unicorns is a performative and sculptural three-channel video installation exploring the restrictions that the psyche places on the physical body, as well as the concept of repetition.

THE WAY WE WAIT (SUBTITLED)

FELIX’ SUMMER BOX (NO DIALOGUE)

Ji-Yoon Park South Korea, UK, 2020 11:05 Desperately building against the clock, a restless young woman is awaiting another loss. Soon after the director moves into her 22nd house, she find out that her grandma is in a critical condition.

Martijn Rijnberg Netherlands, 2020, 03:04 As a creative assignment, a daycare asks a set of parents to collect all the objects that they think are important to their three-yearold son. During the summer holiday, they put them in a shoebox.

ABOVE US ONLY SKY

FOREST (SUBTITLED)

Arthur Kleinjan Czech Republic, 2019, 28:53 A layered visual narrative about both individual and collective memory, as well as personal mythologies. Our narrator leads us into a magical-realist history that is bereft of fabrication.

Sive Hamilton Helle Norway, 2020, 09:25 A white horse wanders alone in the forest. Two sisters set out on a pilgrimage with an urn of ashes. Forest is a living landscape of humans, objects and animals that are irrevocably intertwined.

199

COMEDY 4 THE WORLD IS STRANGE IN TIMES OF CHANGE

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 HOMETOWN HERO

Rikke Gregersen Norway, 2020, 13:00 Minutes before take-off, a situation occurs that prevents an airplane from leaving. A passenger refuses to sit down in order stop the deportation of another man who’s inside the plane.

Max McCabe UK, 2020, 10:51 Traumatic events catch up with a failed war photographer when he has to return home to west London and work for his younger brother, who has taken over the family business.

COMEDY

THE AFFECTED (SUBTITLED)

HEART TO HEART

37 THINGS (SUBTITLED)

Lilah Vandenburgh UK, 2019, 09:51 Liddy wakes up after heart surgery, woozy from anaesthetic. Her doctor is there to deliver the news to her and her over-anxious mum: her heart is even worse condition than first thought.

Zane Roach Australia, 2019, 15:00 Our protagonist suffers from a brain condition that prevents him from ever knowing more than 37 things. Now, he must fight to retain his most precious memory in an information-dense world.

APPETITE (SUBTITLED) Xuemeng Li, Katrin Larissa Kasper UK, 2020, 14:03 Steph is a predatory dater. She always insists on paying. However, when a large bill arrives, she’s nowhere to be seen. Steph is a serial dine-and-dasher, but now, she must pay the price after all.

200

GREASY SPOON Joelle Mae David UK, 2020, 08:03 In the last remaining old school café in London, two friends – Kyle and Ivan – meet to catch up on life. In the background, the café begins to transform, becoming a hipster hot-spot.

DANCE 2 POWER & PERSEVERANCE

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 WITHER (NO DIALOGUE) Antoine Marc UK, 2019, 02:22 Interlacing past and present, a man searches to find out who he really is. Wither explores the complexity of identities – the evolution and fluctuation of the self as the years go by.

DANCE

HONG KONG BALLET: “NEVER STAND STILL” Dean Alexander Hong Kong, 2019, 02:27 Produced for Hong Kong Ballet’s 40 th anniversary. What happens when we break the mould of ballet and open it to everyone? Inspired by the colour palette of Hong Kong architecture.

TOMORROW THE BIRDS WILL SING (NO DIALOGUE)

FILTERFACE – DOUBLE TAP TO LIKE

Arvin Kananian Sweden, 2019, 11:08 A striving artist enters an obscure world where a gate-keeper guards the possibilities of her art coming to life. But the artist’s desire for validation is too strong – she must give up her soul.

Will & Carly UK, 2019, 03:51 A satirical piece that looks at the unhealthy relationship young people have with social media, seeking be something completely different. How far are they willing go to secure one more “like”?

MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE (SUBTITLED)

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME BUS (NO DIALOGUE)

Rain Kencana Germany, 2020, 04:55 Seven dancers share their insights about House. An intimate and profound confession about unconditional love, high expectations, mindfulness and the secret of finding the groove and letting go.

Nuno Serrão Portugal, 2019, 02:00 We are all on the same bus, but some of us are more awake than others. We’re taken on a compelling journey that is about much more than getting from Point A to Point B. When do we wake up?

201

DANCE 2 (CONT.) POWER & PERSEVERANCE

Available On Demand from 06/11

MATERIAL BODIES (SUBTITLED) Dorothy Allen-Pickard UK, 2020, 04:22 A visceral and empathetic exploration of people’s relationships with their prosthetic limbs. Material Bodies is a tapestry of colours, textures and ideas. These are their bodies. These are our bodies.

DANCE

YOU BOY – ARIGATO MASSAÃ (SUBTITLED) Juliette Labrousse, Sonia Guitz France, 2020, 04:04 A disappointed boy walks through his suburban residence. But, alone in his room, he creates another reality in which his dreams, fantasies and fears mingle. Dance is transformative.

IN IT TOGETHER (NO DIALOGUE)

UNDER THE WATERFALL – THE AVENER

Filip Tellander Brazil, Sweden, 2020, 05:00 A tangled depiction of lovers in an unhealthy relationship. How does the violence manifest? They are in it together, but should they be? Tensions come to the surface in this poetic short.

Sebastion Caudron France, 2020, 02:58 Explosive passion between two lovers –punctuated by an elegant choreography in the streets of Paris, where buildings are changing into real waterfalls. A fluid and figurative short.

BE FREE (NO DIALOGUE)

THE EMBRACE OF THE VALKYRIES (NO DIALOGUE)

Anthony Nti Belgium, 2020, 03:00 When a group of enslaved people on the run for freedom get caught by their owners, they decide to dance for their freedom. Be Free is an emotive film where the body is a testimony to liberation.

Alan Lake Canada, 2019, 16:29 Through The Embrace of the Valkyries, Alan Lake continues the epic narrative from Ravages. In a variation of solos, he advances – not on intimate territories – but on those of the interpreters.

202

DOCUMENTARY 4 SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY

01 NOTRE TERRITOIRE Mathieu Volpe Belgium, 2019, 20:00 When Mathieu Volpe arrived in Rignano, the residents told him: “You mustn’t keep any trace of our lives. This despair is not yours to display.” This sense of misery manifests in Notre Territoire.

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 WHEN TWO OR THREE Carmine Grimaldi USA, 2020, 20:00 In the copper mining community of Bagdad, Arizona, Norman and Kay are the very last members of their church. Both alone and together, they seek out a final act of transcendence.

DOCUMENTARY

03 A SIMPLE LIFE

ZEF

Myrto Papadogeorgou, Robert Harding Pittman Greece, 2018, 17:13 Nature is the mother of every creature. You should tread upon the ground lightly. You respect it. Gioula is fighting to preserve her simple way of life with her, dogs, cats, bees, chickens and horses.

Jessica Barclay Lawton Australia, 2020, 14:00 Environmentalist, non-binary skimpy bar worker, and free spirit. Meet Zef – a 21-year-old on a mission to discover the truth in and amongst the noise. A snapshot of humanity’s desire for intimacy.

D/F

BREADLINE

A SONIC PULSE

Carol Salter UK, 2020, 11:00 In a forgotten seaside town in the north of England, 78-yearold Dave hands out food to those in need. After 10 years of austerity, the portrait of a volunteer-run food bank hits home.

Dorothy Allen-Pickard UK, 2019, 07:23 A Sonic Pulse explores deaf people’s experiences of electronic music from a visceral, communal and scientific perspective. Hear the world another way through this immersive and innovative doc.

203

DRAMA 1 FUCK THE SYSTEM

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 CLEARING

Mason Fleming Australia, 2019, 15:00 In the face of an antagonist tribunal, a harried interpreter must go beyond her professional boundaries in deciding the fate of an asylum seeker. This is pushing her to the limits.

Janet Marrett UK, 2019, 15:00 At 18, Kaila knows what she wants but finds herself struggling to stay motivated following a serious incident. Starring the hugely talented Jasmine Jobson from Netflixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Boy.

DRAMA

TRIBUNAL (SUBTITLED)

JOURNEY THROUGH A BODY (SUBTITLED)

CHICKEN (SUBTITLED)

Camille Degeye France, 2019, 32:15 Thomas, a Swiss-German musician, is stuck at home because of a broken foot. He wanders around his tiny flat composing a new piece. At sunrise, an unexpected visitor shows up at the door.

Alana Hicks Australia, 2019, 09:33 All Barbara wants to do is watch The Simpsons, but her recently migrated mum has just been overcharged at the local shops, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to Barbara to sort it out. As usual. No chickens here.

05 I WAS STILL THERE WHEN YOU LEFT ME (SUBTITLED) Marie McCourt Belgium, 2019, 22:59 A little girl is saved from a fire by her young neighbour. They take shelter in an apartment from where they see their tower burning. I Was Still There When You Left Me is a powerful short drama.

204

DRAMA 12 DISCONNECT

Available On Demand from 06/11

THE SHIFT

VERISIMILITUDE (SUBTITLED)

Laura Carreira UK, 2020, 09:00 How far will we go to help someone else? What are we willing to do when push comes to shove? An agency worker is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice after her shift is cancelled.

David Proud UK, 2020, 13:33 Verisimilitude is a short film about an unemployed disabled actress who is frustrated as all the disabled acting jobs go to able bodied actors. She gets a job as an advisor to a spoilt film star.

DRAMA

MORNING SONG

ON MY WAY

Bijan Sheibani UK, 2019, 14:10 Motherhood is completely different from everyone. It is a unique experience that changes an individual forever, for better or worse. This is a short film about what it means to become a mother.

Sonam Larcin Belgium, 2020, 22:10 The unexpected arrival of a Nigerian migrant in the Belgian countryside shakes up the fragile daily life of two men. Their secret is forced out into the open: they’re in a secret relationship.

MH/SH

NED & ME

GRAMERCY

Lorna Nickson Brown UK, 2020, 17:59 An elderly man meets a young woman in a café, and the deal that follows will alter their lives forever, changing everything that they’ve known up to this point. Ned & Me is a transformative tale.

Pat Heywood, Jamil McGinnis USA, 2019, 22:43 A young New Jersey native returns to his hometown, where his ongoing battle with depression becomes a poetic exploration of brotherhood. Gramercy depicts an intimate personal struggle.

205

FASHION 2 WHO I AM

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 IMMATURITY (NO DIALOGUE) Shiny UK, 2020, 04:50 After taking his first breath on earth, a man experiences the plight of maturity. Doomed to live through a constant state of rebirth, he endures infancy, childhood and adolescence in succession.

FASHION

A CLUB CALLED RHONDA (SUBTITLED) Greg Ferro USA, 2019, 05:42 A cultural phenomenon hit LA in 2008 with the opening of an eponymous club. A Club Called Rhonda gives insight into the inclusive spirit of this space, where social norms no longer apply.

MH/V

RESOLVE (SUBTITLED)

PRANA (NO DIALOGUE)

Marta Borowski Canada, 2019, 12:30 Resolve explores the myriad ways we hurt one another and the nature of forgiveness in a world connected by social media. How do we resolve situations across screens?

Chó Austria, 2019, 03:00 Inspired by the infinite beauty of nature, the purity of the snow and the unconditional love of animals, director Chó dedicates this film to all human beings – to remind us to keep connecting.

IN A PAST LIFE (SUBTITLED)

CRYBABY – TOUGH

Carlos Velasco Spain, 2020, 01:00 In a past life I see myself running to a woman up the green grassy hill. I know she is my wife. She looks sad. We live in a little wooden house. In a past life I am back in that home.

Alexander Neil UK, 2020, 07:35 It’s time to stop saying “toughen up” and “stop acting like a girl.” This is a revolution – a fashion film exploring queer identities and masculinity within working-class communities.

206

FASHION 2 (CONT.) WHO I AM

Available On Demand from 06/11

08 PLUM FLOWER FIST (NO DIALOGUE) Emma Tempest UK, 2019, 01:43 Inspired by the techniques of traditional martial arts including Wing Chung, Southern Praying Mantis, Tai Chi Chung and Jeet Kune Do. A blend of hard and soft in eastern philosophies.

FASHION

ELARI’S WAKE Emma Tempest UK, 2018, 01:17 Delicate shimmers of gold. Ripples of water. Bubbles moving fluidly to the surface. An ethereal water series shot alongside model Vivien Solari. Produced exclusively for Vogue Italia.

INAN | ADIDAS ORIGINALS

AMAZONE MON AMOUR (NO DIALOGUE)

Sinan Sevinç & Dominik Ströhle Germany, 2020, 01:30 The life of Inan Batman is a fast one. Berlin, Paris, Istanbul and back again. Often, his schedule takes him across Europe and beyond within a week. His passion for music led him to fashion.

Aurore Michaud France, 2019, 10:51 Four women, in four completely different worlds, will save the lives of their princes. Destroying the cliché of the darling charming, Amazone Mon Amour is an urgent plea for equality.

11 BEHIND THE CURTAIN (NO DIALOGUE) The Blink Fish Italy, 2020, 01:37 Shot to celebrate Milan Fashion Week AW20/21, Behind the Curtain reveals backstage secrets in one long take. Choreography by Laccio takes us through all the preparations of a catwalk.

207

THRILLER 1 NEEDS & DESIRES

Available On Demand from 06/11

02 DO NO HARM Douglas King UK, 2020, 15:07 Leading scientist Dr Beth Anderson breaks into a high security facility in the dead of night. Why is she there? Is she a thief? A terrorist? A threat to national security? None of the above.

THRILLER

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ME Helen Randag UK, 2019, 14:35 Set over the course of an evening, a mother remembers tender moments from a game she played with her son throughout his childhood. Tragedy strikes when he unexpectedly returns.

CRU (SUBTITLED)

GABRIEL (SUBTITLED)

David Oesch Switzerland, 2019, 10:00 To succeed in the world of haute cuisine you need more than mere creativity. A new chef must learn, first-hand, that in this particular kitchen a lot of blood, sweat and tears go into every dish.

Pierfrancesco Artini Spain, 2020, 19:58 Agatha is struck by her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. She feels old and lonely, but brief encounters with her neighbour Gabriel re-awakens her desires. Then, the arrival of a special guest changes everything.

208

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Available On Demand from 06/11

WOMEN’S DAY

subtitled Dolya Gavanski Russia, 2019, 1h 24m 39s

Intimate, surprising, funny, eccentric, painful and contradictory: this is the unknown history of Russian feminism. Women’s Day provides access to rare archive footage and encounters with extraordinary women. Learn how to survive the siege of Leningrad in subzero temperatures; how to smuggle forbidden literature; how to rename a husband; how to perform the perfect Soviet pirouette.

Dolya Gavanski studied acting in Moscow and London, and is a graduate of Cambridge University. She also has a PhD in Russian Theatre. She has extensive experience in film, TV, radio and theatre – having worked with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Sir Trevor Nunn and Susanna White – and has written drama for film and BBC Radio.

NARRATIVE FEATURE HOW TO STOP A RECURRING DREAM

subtitled Edward Morris UK, 2020, 1h 22m 59s Faced with a split custody break up, a family’s older daughter kidnaps her hostile sister in order to embark on a journey and reconnect before they are forced to part. Deeply emotional, this story looks at how children approach early adulthood and answer the questions of life, forgiveness and love. Shot in and around locations pertinent to the director’s childhood.

A/MH

Edward Morris has a long list of esteemed credits for advertisements with the likes of global brands Nike and giffgaff, as well as music videos for Lee Scratch Perry, Ibeyi and Massive Attack. How to Stop a Recurring Dream, written and directed by Morris, is his debut feature.

209

Reclaiming Space: Personal and universal Narratives We are all unique. There is no set formula for being human and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way it should be. However, individuals and communities are still marginalised and discriminated against for who they are and the values that they hold. The history books are lined with examples of misrepresentation. It is imperative that we change perceptions, deepen empathy and reclaim space. These films offer bold, outspoken narratives that encourage us to come together in a divided world. Programmes available: 8am Saturday 7 November

Animation: Choices & Consequences Comedy: Try To Understand Dance: This Is Movement Documentary: The Seen and the Unseen Drama: Blood Water Experimental: Is Boundless Fashion: Relationships Thriller: A Change Is Gonna Come Narrative Feature: Write When You Get Work

210

ANIMATION 2 CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES

Available On Demand from 07/11

A/S

POWERLESS (SUBTITLED)

Boyoung Kim Korea, Republic of, 2019, 09:24 A man accepts a job offer from a stranger on the street, with little knowledge of the details. He is satisfied with the wages for this simple job, until he hears strange sounds behind the curtains.

Shahar Kerub, Nitzan Weiner, Ziva Jacobovici, Sahar Habany, Tamar Chetzroni, Nitzan Paz. Israel, 2019, 09:22 Anonymous testimonies and interviews – mostly from teenagers who were abused. Several were harmed online, other sought out help online. This is the story of being or feeling powerless.

ANIMATION

THE LEVERS (SUBTITLED)

D/V

RAIN

CHA

Piotr Milczarek Poland, 2019, 05:00 Rain is a simple animation about collective consciousness. It explores the idea that accountability for our actions pushes us to thoughtlessly follow the crowd, which may lead to a tragedy.

Gagandeep Kalirai UK, 2020, 08:22 Bibi is plagued by memories of the past, and her granddaughter Simran is starting to notice. They are pulled into the past – to Bibi’s memories of one fateful day in Delhi, circa 1984.

APART (SUBTITLED)

WADE (NO DIALOGUE)

Diana Cam Van Nguyen Czech Republic, 2018, 10:00 This short film is about life after the loss of a loved one. It deals with this difficult topic using both live-action and animated film. Real experiences are combined with reconstructions.

Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, Kalp Sanghvi India, 2019, 10:38 In a version of Kolkata – India rendered unliveable by sea level rise – things take a dark turn when a family of climate change refugees are ambushed by a tiger on the flooded streets.

211

COMEDY 1 TRY TO UNDERSTAND

Available On Demand from 07/11

MASEL TOV COCKTAIL (SUBTITLED)

MARADONA’S LEGS (SUBTITLED) Firas Khoury Palestinian Territories, 2019, 23:00 During the 1990 World Cup, two Palestinian boys are looking for “Maradona’s legs” – the last missing sticker that they need in order to complete their world cup album and win a free Atari.

COMEDY

Arkadij Khaet, Mickey Paatzsch Germany, 2020, 30:00 Masel Tov Ingredients: 1 Jew, 12 Germans, 50 ml Culture of Remembrance, 30 ml Stereotypes, 2 Teaspoons of Patriotism, 1 Teaspoon of Israel, 1 Falafel, 5 Stumbling Stones, Antisemitism.

END-O

THE BEAST

Alice Seabright UK, 2019, 15:00 Jaq is angry. But she also wants to have sex. This should be straightforward, surely – angry sex is one of the pre-approved genres for copulation. But her body is out to sabotage her coitus.

Luke Howe UK, 2020, 13:00 An off-beat, modern-day fairytale centred on a lonesome beast as he struggles to navigate a shallow dating world. This is a story that we can all relate to given the rise of internet dating.

DAD JOKE

ASMR FOR WHITE LIBERALS (SUBTITLED)

David Abramsky UK, 2019, 16:00 A disabled comedian performs a make-or-break gig on the night his first child is born. Dad Joke teeters on the brink between fame, fatherhood and expectation. What’s to come next?

John Connor Hammond USA, 2019, 02:21 Liberal? White? Guilty as hell? Let ASMR for White Liberals help you get through those tough, tough times! This new technology is taking the world by storm, and this one is for you.

212

DANCE 1 THIS IS MOVEMENT

Available On Demand from 07/11

02 ANATOMY OF A CROOKED SPINE (NO DIALOGUE) Kate Morrison UK, 2019, 03:12 A ballerina illustrates the laborious and intricate process of spinal fusion surgery. A moving film commissioned by New Creatives North and co-funded by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.

DIVIDED WE SCROLL (NO DIALOGUE)

THE CONVERSATION

Klaas Diersmann UK, 2019, 05:00 Technology is rewiring our brains, changing not only our physical movements but the way we process our inner thoughts. Divided We Scroll is an eerie depiction of the way we interact with phones.

Lanre Malaolu UK, 2019, 13:27 Through a dynamic fusion of movement and dialogue, The Conversation explores the challenges black people experience when communicating their racial experience to white partners.

DANCE

CINDERELLA GAMES (NO DIALOGUE) Daniel Alicandro UK, 2019, 06:29 Do you want to live happily ever after? Find the shoe, outplay your opponents, and beat the clock to claim the prize! A group of contestants battles it out in a competitive game show.

ITSY BITSY (NO DIALOGUE)

ODE

JuJu Kusanagi, Lisa Kusanagi USA, 2015, 06:37 Apparently, there are nine types of intelligence: naturalistic, musical, logical-mathematical, existential, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, intra-personal and spatial.

Naomi Waring Ireland, 2020, 03:40 I am sequins and fringing. I am ever-changing. I am burns and blisters. I am proud. I am more than you think I am. A film about pride and identity in Northern Ireland.

213

DANCE 1 (CONT.) THIS IS MOVEMENT

Available On Demand from 07/11

08 LYING TOGETHER (NO DIALOGUE) Corey Baker UK, 2020, 04:42 New dance film collaboration between Hong Kong Ballet and Corey Baker Dance, filmed on the rooftops of Hong Kong. Lying Together takes the city as its stage, moving fluidly across skylines.

DANCE

WE MET BEFORE Thalissa Teixeira UK, 2020, 11:17 We Met Before is a letter to a close friend told though movement, poetry and music. When a friend suffers, it opens the door for people around him to talk, honestly, about their mental health.

PHYSICAL THOUGHTS (SUBTITLED)

VICTORIA WIJERATNE – DEATH NATURE (NO DIALOGUE)

Anne Hollowday USA, 2020, 03:32 A dancer’s body is their whole life. It is the sum total of their history. It’s the medium through which they make a living and their method of expression. What happens when it’s injured?

Max Lincoln UK, 2020, 03:09 Power structures make up society, and we all experience them in our day-to-day lives. But nothing hits home quite like love. Death Nature explores the struggle for power after a breakup.

ALONE TOGETHER (NO DIALOGUE)

SUSPENDED MOTION (SUBTITLED)

Brigitte Fässler, William Bejedi Switzerland, 2020, 06:18 In Alone Together, three performers meet virtually for the first time. One lives in France, one in Germany, and one in Switzerland. But here, they find commonalities through dance.

Sima Gonsai UK, 2020, 02:53 An exchange of movements responding to touch, light and sound. The original music score was created by artist Justin Wiggan and features vocalisations by deaf / blind vocalist Sarah N’Diritu.

214

DOCUMENTARY 3 THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN

Available On Demand from 07/11

BATHROOM PRIVILEGES

Maija Blåfield Finland, 2019, 29:59 Eight former North Koreans tell about illegal foreign movies they watched in their homeland. How did they imagine the reality based on fictional films? The Fantastic isn’t about North Korea.

Rupert Williams & Ellie Land UK, 2019, 05:15 Three stories of denied access and exclusion bring into sharp focus the way that different societies view disability, gender and race. Bathroom Privileges invades the most intimate of spaces.

DOCUMENTARY

THE FANTASTIC

MH/SH

HEART EYES AND A WORLD

USA V SCOTT

Rosie Morris UK, 2019, 17:25 Bringing the the viewer into the bedrooms of four 15-year-old girls, this film raises the question of self-objectification and its normalisation. Featuring powerful observation and conversation.

Ora DeKornfeld , Isabel Castro USA, 2019, 16.33 A geography professor awaits a felony trial and a possible 20-year-sentence for giving food and shelter to migrants in the Sonoran Desert. The verdict defines what’s seen as right or wrong.

05 THINKING ABOUT THE WEATHER Gardar Thor Thorkelsson UK, 2020, 21:02 Desperate to resolve personal anxieties about the climate crisis, the director embarks on a journey to discover the places that will soon be submerged by the ocean. Does it inspire despair or hope?

215

DRAMA 8 BLOOD WATER

Available On Demand from 07/11

D/SH

02 CINDY (SUBTITLED) Shemer Gaon Baraba Isreal, 2019, 16:20 Navit drives with her dad to sell their cow Cindy to an Arab meat dealer. Whilst Navit is convinced that her dad thinks she is a pro dairy farmer, she realises that he uses her in a very different way.

DRAMA

MY BROTHER IS A MERMAID Alfie Dale UK, 2019, 19:30 A social realist fairytale about a trans-feminine teenager, as seen through the eyes of their seven-year-old brother. The film examines a child’s unconditional love as a powerful force.

PRINCESS

ODOL GORRI (SUBTITLED)

Edem Kelman UK, 2020, 09:16 All around the city there are lives crossing and intersecting. One day you might find a balloon on the floor, look at it and begin to wonder: who did it once belong to? Where did it come from?

Favier Charlene France, 2020, 26:00 Eva, 15, runs away from an integration workplace organised by her education centre. Arriving at the port, she hides under the tarpaulin of a fishing boat. Very quickly, the sailors cast off.

THE ICE CUBES (SUBTITLED)

SOUKOON (SUBTITLED)

Sara Dufossé Belgium, 2019, 10:21 The Ice Cubes tells the story of a past relationship and what’s left of it after a few months. This innovative short drama is shot within a single take, marvelling at independent cinematic ingenuity.

Farah Shaer Lebanon, 2019, 13:32 Whilst her marital life decays, Mariam worries she might be pregnant. Soukoon takes viewers on a journey as the road begins to split and a character is pushed between two differing routes.

216

EXPERIMENTAL 1 IS BOUNDLESS

Available On Demand from 07/11

F/S

GOODBYE REBECCA & EILEEN Sarah Hill USA, 2020, 12:48 Goodbye Rebecca & Eileen presents a non-linear narrative exploring the before, during and after of top surgery. The film deconstructs the often alienating nature of the medical industry.

EXPERIMENTAL

NO BODY Haemin Ko UK, 2019, 04:33 A charcoal animation juxtaposed with an autobiographical poem. Nobody explores the connection between city and human through three emotional chapters: excitement, frustration and hope.

FIELD RESISTANCE (NO DIALOGUE)

ACAIACA (SUBTITLED)

Emily Drummer USA, 2019, 15:45 Field Resistance blurs the boundaries between documentary filmmaking and science fiction to investigate environmental devastation in Iowa. Powerful footage of flora and fauna.

Axel Sande Brazil, 2018, 07:24 Acaiaca is based on a legend about a sacred cedar that was chopped down by a Portuguese community. After it was gone, the nearby Puri Indian tribe was destroyed within one night.

SOFTER

ISHTAR (NO DIALOGUE)

Ayanna Dozier USA, 2020, 04:36 Dozier examines the demands that black women’s bodies be made “softer” – be that in their voice, manners, or, critically, their hair. This experimental short plays upon grooming rituals.

Mia Georgis UK, 2019, 06:36 Ishtar is an experimental short film based on the gender fluidity of a Mesopotamian deity. The film looks at the colonialism of gender and the history of polarising individuals into binary.

217

FASHION 3 RELATIONSHIPS

Available On Demand from 07/11

02 PERFECT BODY (SUBTITLED) Jessica Puppo France, 2019, 26:44 Bayta is a famous social media influencer. Once the most popular of all, Bayta is falling from grace as Eva – the world’s first humanoid influencer – pushes forward into the limelight.

ALPHA (NO DIALOGUE)

TRANSIT CRUISE CONTROL (NO DIALOGUE)

Simone Marangi Italy, 2019, 02:31 Desire rules us all, rising to the surface from the depths within. Vice is close to follow, revealing the very parts of us that we hold secret. Alpha is a dark trip through the paths of vice and desire.

Reto Schmid France, 2020, 03:00 Two women are caught in a strange and isolated transit zone, in which time escapes human comprehension. A dangerous game of bluff, deceit and betrayal. Shot exclusively for Vogue Spain.

FASHION

BULLSEYE Agustin Farias Germany, 2020, 01:40 A Kubrickian fashion film with a summer twist. Analogue and moody, Bullseye was shot in Volkspark Hasenheide – an innercity woodland regularly visited by Berlin’s elegant youth.

OUT OF COMFORT – THE HEIST

HOTEL MFW (NO DIALOGUE)

Shannon Thompson New Zealand, 2020, 02:45 When we are made to conform – to sit within borders and define ourselves by a few limited options – we need to cut loose and take back our identities in order to be free from the mould.

Giacomo Boeri, Matteo Grimaldi Italy, 2019, 01:21 Championing inclusion, diversity and uniqueness, Hotel MFW features several rooms of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Milan, brimming with unique guests on the eve of Milan Fashion Week.

218

FASHION 3 (CONT.) RELATIONSHIPS

Available On Demand from 07/11

08 RUSH HOUR Benjo Arwas USA, 2019, 01:45 Is makeup really worth it? As we twist the lipstick out of its container and spread it across our mouths, what does it say about who we want to be? In the end, where does it take us?

FASHION

COMFORT ZONE (SUBTITLED) Jordan Blady Georgia, 2020, 06:46 A short profile on Matt Shally – an actor, drag performer and activist based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Shally hosts the city’s first live drag competition show and pushes viewers out the Comfort Zone.

LONDON ROLLING (NO DIALOGUE)

PATTERN CUT (NO DIALOGUE)

Mototake Makishima UK, 2019, 02:07 London Rolling portrays the roller skate scene in London – and the tight-knit community Fix8. The film celebrates freedom and individuality. This is a film by the skaters, for skaters. Roll on!

Enrique Arechavala Garay, Sara Moncayo Mexico, 2020, 03:14 In haute couture, there is a pattern to be followed – the pattern designed by human beings. But what happens when we cut a new pattern and follow a new rulebook? We could take any form.

11 BABA Sarah Blok, LIsa Konno Netherlands, 2020, 13:59 A combination of design and documentary, blending elements of truth, fiction and constructed narrative. Baba provides a surreal but nonetheless light-hearted portrait of a Turkish immigrant.

219

THRILLER 4 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

Available On Demand from 07/11

HOME BY 8.30

THE SUIT WEARETH THE MAN (SUBTITLED)

Perry White UK, 2019, 13:20 Within one, tumultuous evening, a teenager is forced to bring together two worlds and a clash of identities: the boy who exists at the dinner table and the one who engages in violent behaviour.

Mitchell Marion UK, 2019, 29:09 The Suit Weareth the Man is a disturbing modern fable that blends the concept of homosexual repression and corporate greed. This is a sexually charged nightmare about what lies beneath the skin.

THRILLER

UNEARTHED

SOMETHING EVIL BECOMES US

Emma Swinton UK, 2019, 16:00 Kelly is a pregnant geologist who works for a fracking firm. After discovering the corpse of her close friend, she reports it to the police, but they tell her they have no record of the murder at all.

T.J. Penton USA, 2020, 08:00 Alex Levi has suffered through life. Loss and grief has caused her to question everything, and she falls victim to vandalism against her Jewish heritage. Things quickly become critical.

AN UNINVITED GUEST (NO DIALOGUE)

OFFICER DOWN

Richard B. Pierre Canada, 2020, 03:22 When a black man is viciously assaulted by police officers right outside their window, all of the guests at a dinner party seem to consider the attack unremarkable except for one.

Simon Pearce UK, 2020, 18:33 A young British police officer, trapped during civil unrest, must overcome his fears and bias to save an enemy. This particular enemy, it seems, might be the only hope for the future.

220

NARRATIVE FEATURE WRITE WHEN YOU GET WORK

Stacy Cochran USA, 2018, 1h 39m

A make-up internet sensation, a cyber security boss, a veteran of Stalingrad, an exiled feminist and a Tractorist Heroine were forged in a culture that had officially proclaimed women equal to men. They were told they could achieve it all, but at what cost – and what was the reality? A thorny romantic comedy set in New York City – within a private school for girls and in the world outside its exclusive walls.

Stacy Cochran is a director, producer and screenwriter. She made her feature debut with Columbia TriStar title My New Gun, starring Diane Lane and James LeGros. Subsequent projects as writer /director include Touchstone / Interscope title Boys starring Winona Ryder, and Richard Lester! which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2021

SUBMIT YOUR

NARRATIVE FEATURES DEADLINE 31 MAY 2021 Find out more: asff.co.uk

221

Keep on the Sunny Side of Life Now is the time for resilience. Now is the time for reinvention. There is so much beauty and kindness to celebrate in this world. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take joy in our surroundings through art, culture and creative expression. We have the power to be optimistic. It has been a challenging time for all, but we can choose to resist division. There is so much to be grateful for. These films, made by the next generation of storytellers, reintroduce us to hope, inspiration and community through exemplary filmmaking.

Programmes available: 8am Sunday 8 November

Comedy: Experts in Misadventure Documentary: Solitude & Solidarity Drama: New Chapters Drama: Stand Tall Drama: Know Yourself Experimental: Even Absence Resonates Family Friendly: Friends & Relationships Family Friendly: Fantastical Tales

222

COMEDY 3 EXPERTS IN MISADVENTURE

Available On Demand from 08/11

02 KELLY Joseph Roberts UK, 2020, 05:53 What constitutes a bad day? Losing a job? Breaking a leg? Having your wallet stolen? Well, Kelly is truly having one of the worst mornings of her life and there’s nothing more to it than that.

COMEDY

POP CORN (SUBTITLED) Paul Paulsen France, 2020, 13:57 Told entirely through voice-over. Jump inside the mind of Tony – a young adult crippled by constant impulsivity. Tony doesn’t know how to resist anything, especially not partying.

NUT MILKING EXPOSED

THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF ALFRED

Nick Saik Canada, 2018, 03:02 A short satirical comedy that takes city folk into the country to educate them about how almond milk is produced. Viewers are introduced to proud third generation nut milker Tyler.

Joe Pearson UK, 2020, 12:12 Alfred, a 10-year-old schoolboy who loves to go on wonderful adventures, has come into possession of a magical magnifying glass. How did he get it? Through mysterious circumstances.

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

BREAKDOWN

Oliver Bernsen USA, 2019, 15:48 A ruthless doctor and his overworked nurse. A callous medical courier and his dispatcher. A well-intentioned addict and her go-for-broke partner. These six are all bound by a severed leg.

Dominic O’Riordan UK, 2020, 14:07 When a man’s car breaks down, salvation doesn’t quite come in the form he was hoping for. This breakdown is like no other, and this will surely be a day to remember for this unfortunate man.

223

DOCUMENTARY 5 SOLITUDE AND SOLIDARITY

Available On Demand from 08/11

02 WELCOME TO A BRIGHT WHITE LIMBO

Maja Novaković Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2019, 27:30 This documentary depicts the lives of two grannies, isolated on the hills of eastern Bosnia. Nature is the entity with which the grannies speak, listen to and respect. This is life: simple and pure.

Cara Holmes Ireland, 2019, 10:44 Oona Doherty is a Belfast-based dancer and choreographer. This is a poetic and visually arresting portrait of Oona and the creative process behind her award-winning show Hope Hunt.

DOCUMENTARY

THEN COMES THE EVENING

TIME AND TIDE

SHADOWS OF YOUR CHILDHOOD

Caleb Yule UK, 2020, 11:45 The beaches of Hartlepool are where seacoalers have worked and prospered for centuries. Steve and Keith are the last two seacoalers working today as the government phases out coal.

Mikhail Gorobchuk Russia, 2019, 21:23 What remains in our memory from early childhood? There are shards of experiences, vague images, flashes of light and shadows. This is a magical matrix world that stays with us forever.

05 INVASION: THE UNIST’OT’EN’S FIGHT FOR SOVEREIGNTY Michael Toledano, Sam Vinal Canada, 2020, 18:19 Indigenous land is still being taken at gunpoint. Invasion is about the Unist’ot’en Camp, Gidimt’en checkpoint and the Wet’suwet’en Nation, who are standing up to the government.

224

DRAMA 2 NEW CHAPTERS

Available On Demand from 08/11

GUTTERWITCH

SAUCE (SUBTITLED)

Harry Baker UK, 2020, 19:00 Libby makes her living selling spells, fortunes and hexes to small-time criminals and drug runners. But when a figure from her past turns up on her doorstep, she finds her power is unstable.

Daniel Daniel UK, 2020, 15:00 At a takeaway drive-thru, a couple discusses what they want – from the menu and from each other. A conversation about food turns into something altogether different. Pass the sauce.

DRAMA

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

SURVIVOR’S GUILT

Alex Deitsch UK, 2020, 07:38 Having just had an argument with her dad, Sam decides to go on a spontaneous night out. Abusing substances and meeting strangers, Sam’s troubles continue to persist.

Caleb Femi UK, 2020, 07:41 A young recluse suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder encounters an unexpected and somewhat magical cure, alleviating his grief and, ultimately, setting his mind free.

AB/MH

22. ANNA MATTHEWS

BUTTERFLIES (SUBTITLED)

Ben Hector UK, 2020, 07:53 During an audition for a TV commercial, the actress in question struggles to keep her emotions in check, letting them pour out of her and fill up the character she’s supposed to be playing.

Yona Rozenkier Isreal, 2019, 08:00 Just another Sunday in April. A Kibbutz community in the North of Israel. A natural phenomenon. A family on an impromptu ride, maybe the last one that they’ll ever embark on together.

225

DRAMA 5 STAND TALL

Available On Demand from 08/11

A/D

02 ALINA (SUBTITLED) Rami Kodeih USA, 2019, 24:51 As Nazis separate children from their parents in the Warsaw Ghetto, a gang of women risks everything to smuggle their friend’s three-month-old baby to safety. Inspired by true events.

DRAMA

BITTER SKY Joseph Ollman UK, 2019, 16:00 Bitter Sky follows the story of a troubled, tough, but incredibly bright 15-year-old girl called Nia, who’s living estranged from her mother with her adopted father Roy in the Welsh landscape.

MICHELLE

SCRUM

Kenya Gillespie USA, 2020, 10:13 A shy 10-year-old Japanese American girl fights off bullies with a little help from her idol: the US figure skater Michelle Kwan. This is about standing up for yourself once and for all.

Kate Graham UK, 2020, 13:30 A single mum struggles to come to terms with her teenage daughter’s love, and commitment, to rugby league. Supported by Film Hub North as part of the National Lottery and BFI NETWORK.

THE DESERT (SUBTITLED)

JULIETIT (SUBTITLED)

Daphski Spain, 2020, 22:36 Jordan is a rebellious 24-year-old. She has nothing to lose, so becomes a mule – a smuggler who for a few thousand Euros. She carries drugs in her stomach in order to fulfil her nihilistic life.

Alejandro de Vega & Álvaro Moriano Spain, 2020, 14:56 Julia wants to be an actress, but there is something that holds her back: fears, complexes and, of course, family. This is a tale about following your dreams and letting go of everything else.

226

DRAMA 7 KNOW YOURSELF

Available On Demand from 08/11

SOMETHING IN THE CLOSET Nosa Eke UK, 2019, 12:10 A queer teenager struggles with her sexuality, as desires begin to manifest. Something in the Closet explores our urges as they make their way out from the depths of secrecy, out into the open.

DRAMA

DRIFTING (SUBTITLED) Hanxiong Bo China, 2019, 16:25 Disguised as a girl growing up during the time of one-child policy in China, Yan is confused about his gender identity and struggles with the conservative world around him.

MOTHER TONGUE (SUBTITLED)

BOY

Jessica Li Australia, 2020, 11:45 17-year-old Jane begins to embrace her background and rekindle her relationship with her mother when she becomes immersed in Chinese culture at her younger sister’s new language school.

Antony Acheampong South Africa, 2020, 13:59 Following a recent loss, Boy struggles to adapt to new family dynamics. After running away, he is met by Young Man – who takes him under his wing. Boy is introduced to a life he once knew.

CHEN CHEN (SUBTITLED)

CAILÍN ÁLAINN (PRETTY GIRL) (SUBTITLED)

Kargo Chen China, 2019, 21:40 Chen needs to take care of his brother – who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. In the process, Chen discovers that his brother knows many things and has sexual desire like ordinary people.

Megan K Fox Ireland, 2019, 11:13 A tender bilingual drama about a transgender teen who comes out for the first time at a cross-dress disco at the Gaeltacht. This film is about knowing yourself and being proud to share.

227

EXPERIMENTAL 2 EVEN ABSENCE RESONATES

Available On Demand from 08/11

02 HERE / NOT HERE (SUBTITLED) Bim Ajadi UK, 2020, 28:00 A deaf music drama combining elements of hip hop dance, football, sign language and visual vernacular. This is sign like you’ve never seen it – deeply choreographed and poetic.

EXPERIMENTAL

DEAR HEARING WORLD (SUBTITLED) Adam Docker UK, 2019, 04:05 Dear Hearing World is a short film directed by Adam Docker, based on a poem written and spoken by deaf spoken-word artist Raymond Antrobus. Thought-provoking performance.

THE VAHINE (SUBTITLED)

WHAT TIME IS (NO DIALOGUE)

Camille My Giang France, 2020, 15:00 A surprising and unconventional film, The Vahine brings together a deaf boy and a Tahitian dancer, ruminating on their modes of communication and the innermost nature of the encounter.

Niina Suominen Finland, 2020, 07:15 What Time Is places the experience of time at the centre of the conversation. Human figures act as reference points for the viewer to meditate on the conflict-ridden epoch in which we live.

05 TEAR INSIDE (NO DIALOGUE) Veronica Bassetto Indonesia, 2020, 07:21 In this absurd era, everyone breathes in millions of opinions and emotions. Many refrain from letting them out. However, there’s no possible way to hold your breath forever without bursting.

228

FAMILY FRIENDLY 3 (Suitable For All Ages ) FRIENDS & RELATIONSHIPS

Available On Demand from 08/11

02 CHUMS Olivia Perkins USA, 2020, 02:00 Mack only wants to be loved, but is brushed aside by her Mom. Left unsupervised in an aquarium, she begins to follow her only friend, Mega, a tiger shark, to the top of his tank.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BEYOND THE LINE Jinuk Choi USA, 2020, 03:16 A wheelchair dreams of one day being fast like a racing car. One night, the wheelchair decides to do its own race in the hospital hallway. Will the wheelchair be able to fulfil his dream tonight?

FROM ARTISTS TO ARTISTS (NO DIALOGUE)

TOBI AND THE TURBOBUS (SUBTITLED)

Ivan Holiakovv Ukraine, 2019, 02:27 This is a story about young artists who struggle to find their own style and freedom of expression. The film takes us to the small apartment of Meisa, who lives with her beloved dog Spark.

Verena Fels Germany, 2019, 07:30 You fly with no seat! That’s the rule in the Turbobus. To board one is a hard job for a young wolf who’s on a turbo-journey to find real friendship. All aboard and let’s see where it goes!

CRUNCH

MASTER MOLEY BY ROYAL INVITATION

Liukaidi Peng USA, 2019, 09:30 A sci-fi comedy 3D animation. The story starts with a guy named Bob who just starts working in the space agency. When watching the spaceship launching, Bob is hit by mysterious lightning.

Leon Joosen UK, 2019, 30:00 The story of a young mole and his adventure to pick a rose from the Queen’s Garden, not knowing that this simple act will change – not only his personal life – but the life of all Moles.

229

FAMILY FRIENDLY 2 (Suitable For All Ages) FANTASTICAL TALES

Available On Demand from 08/11

TOTO

THE WITCH & THE BABY (NO DIALOGUE)

Marco Baldonado Canada, 2020, 13:00 90-year-old Rosa falls in love with a robot whilst teaching it how to make spaghetti. But her recipe is forgotten after a software update. A bittersweet sci-fi story about love and technology.

Evgenia Golubeva Russia, 2020, 04:45 An ageing witch needs a baby to make her young again. But when the witch brings home an infant princess for the youth spell, things don’t go quite go to plan – for either of them.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

THE SNOW MAZE

DEAR MR. BURTON

Sam Cadman UK, 2018. 10:56 10-year-old Adam is an isolated boy tormented by the school bully every day. One day, the arrival of a new classmate, and the discovery of a mysterious key, changes everything – forever.

Maj Jukic UK, 2020, 09:30 Tim Malloy is a teenager whose life is bleak, misunderstood and full of sighs. He spends most of his life in fantasy worlds full of horrific monsters fuelled by Lovecraftian nightmares.

05 A HOME FOR CURIOSITIES Ben Tobin USA, 2019, 15:00 A young boy discovers a house full to the rafters with forgotten imaginary friends. Along with his friend Alice, Wallace helps bring these curious beings back to the real world, and to humans.

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

FILMMAKER INDEX

360° Cinema

VR Free 95

Milad Tangshir Valentina Noya vale.noya@yahoo.it

Joerg Courtial Maria Courtial mc@faber-courtial.de

Advertising

A Bar at the Folies Bergère 94

A fished up life

Gabrielle Lissot

Hanna Seidel hanna@seidel-sz.de

A Fire at Chernobyl 94

Adidas - World Champs

Ash Khatibi ashkhatibi1@gmail.com

Filmawi www.filmawi.com

Breaking Bread 94

Anthropologie

Cigdem Slankard cslankard@gmail.com

Emma Tempest

care(less) 2 96

Armeggeddon

Lindsay Seers, Keith Sargent hq@3x3x3.tv

Phil Myers phil@craftfilms.co.uk

Conniveo. 1. to blink, turn a blind eye or overlook. 95

Dr Marten’s Tough As You

Georgia Tucker georgiaktucker@btinternet.com

Taz Tron Delix taztrondelix@gmail.com

Cycling Across Barriers 94

Fisherman’s Friend - stay cool, no matter how hot it gets

Elliot Graves elliotagraves@gmail.com

Constantin Iandolino constantin.frederico@gmail.com

DYSPLA _ two women 98

Georgetown Optician “Eyes Say More Than Words”

Lennie Varvarides, Kazimir Bielecki hello@dyspla.com

Dean Alexander dean@deanalexander.com

Ex Anima 98

it works! 187

Pierre Zandrowicz sales@atlasv.io

Mario Dahl marioadahl@gmail.com

Greenham 96

Let Love Live On 190

Ben Turnbull mail@katelane.co.uk

Daniel Stankler stanklerdaniel@gmail.com

Hannya 96

Made for strength 188

Cristina Rosique, Sui-Ki Law mirador.collective@gmail.com

Benjamin Leichtenstern mail@leichtenstern.film

Ms VeRtigo 96

Mercedes-Benz

Rona Soffer asaf@costanza-films.com

Pete Schilling rechnung@neuland-films.com

Paradoxa 94

Pianocide

Jordi Pont info@onionlab.com

Brice Blanloeil brice.blanloeil@gmail.com

Swing 95

Pump it Up

mari jaye blanchard marijayebee@gmail.com

Roni Shao

The Everything Move 97

Raised by Wolves | A Feral Child 188

Leo Metcalf leo.metcalf@network.rca.ac.uk

Jonathan Edwards naive_design@hotmail.com

Thin Air 97

Safe Water 188

Cydney Uffindell-Phillips cydney@nooneswatching.co.uk

Mario Dahl marioadahl@gmail.com

1st Step 94

187

189

188

190

189

187

257

FILMMAKER INDEX Sharpen Your Focus

188

Georgia Tribuiani nico@niccolomontanari.com

Losing Pace 175

Naomi Soneye-Thomas naomi_sthomas@hotmail.co.uk

Stussy Rewind 188

Pour une poignée de Caramels 191

Neisha Rendell 1703252@my.aub.ac.uk

Nghia Bui Trung, Clara Dulaut, Martin Fettuciari, Ugo Masutti Nikita Gavard Noyer, Bãrenger Guilbault, Timothãe Maron

The Dreamer 187

Powerless 211

Robert dos Santos robert@andadvertisingagency.com

Shahar Kerub, Nitzan Weiner, Ziva Jacobovici, Nitzan Paz Sahar Habany, Tamar Chetzroni, lianam@sapir.ac.il

The Last Delivery

189

That Jam phil@craftfilms.co.uk The Other Half

211

Piotr Milczarek festiwale@fumistudio.com 187

Robin Mason phil@craftfilms.co.uk We Have Survived Nature for Ages

Rain

Reason

175

Szymon Ruczyński 190

Sad Beauty 175

Christian Holm-Glad christian@bulldozerfilm.no

Arjan Brentjes info@arjanbrentjes.nl

Welcome to Milan 190

Shopping Trip 175

Giacomo Boeri, Matteo Grimaldi nico@niccolomontanari.com

Barry Wilkinson bazwilkinson85@gmail.com

What It Takes

189

Snow Shelter 175

Kai Axmacher hey@creativejess.co.uk

Robertas Nevecka robertas@akisbado.com

Whatever You Call It 190

Something Borrowed 191

Moth Studio info@moth.studio

Micky Wozny mickywozny@hotmail.co.uk

Animation

Sororal

Apart

163

Frédéric Even, Louise Mercadier contact@papy3d.com 211

The Fabric of You 163

Diana Cam Van Nguyen camvan.diana@gmail.com

Josephine Lohoar Self josephinelohoarself@hotmail.com

Asmahan the Diva 163

THE LAST FLIGHT 175

Chloé Mazlo festival@miyu.fr

Ander Alencar thelastflight@anderalencar.com

Cha

211

Gagandeep Kalirai gagan13@live.co.uk Cwch Deilen

Boyoung Kim bkim1205@gmail.com 191

Efa Blosse-mason efa@windingsnake.com Evangeline

The Passerby 163

Pieter Coudyzer info@soilart.be 163

Nadine Nina evangeline.festivals@gmail.com Fragments

The Levers 211

To the dusty sea 191

Héloïse Ferlay heloise.ferlay@lilo.org 191

Wade 211

Adekemi Roluga aroluga1@outlook.com

Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, Kalp Sanghvi wadethefilm@gmail.com

Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad 163

Women Undercover - Yola 191

Camrus Johnson, Pedro Piccinini cam@moonjellypictures.com

Aurélie Pollet www.miam-animation.com

258

Artists’ Film

WATA 164

Joy Yamusangie and Ronan Mckenzie ronan.mckenzie@yahoo.co.uk

A Room for Living 164

Ana Husman ana.husman@gmail.com Arthur Kleinjan arthurkleinjan@hetnet.nl Call to Prayer 192

Natalie Lennard natalielennardfineart@gmail.com 192

Lucie Rachel, Chrissie Hyde lucierachel.info@gmail.com Martijn Rijnberg martijnrijnberg@me.com Sive Hamilton Helle sivehamilton@gmail.com

BARBARA

193

Breakdown

223

Dominic O’Riordan dominicswork@gmail.com

Heartbeat of Squirrels 164

Stacy Cochran stacycochran99@gmail.com

Connective Tissue

223

Oliver Bernsen oliverbernsen@gmail.com 164

Joanna Mamede joanna.mamede@gmail.com

Dad Joke

212

David Abramsky dabramskyfilm@gmail.com 192

Jermaine Manigault Jermaine@30hoursproductions.com

Dad’s Divorce 193

Jesper Sichlau Jesper.Sichlau@gmail.com 164

Jessica Bishopp jsbishopp@gmail.com

End-O 212

Alice Seabright alice.seabright@gmail.com 199

Jan Vrhovnik jan@janvrhovnik.com SINGULARITY 164

Yiannis Biliris yiannis@visualsuspect.co The Way We Wait 199

Ji-Yoon Park jiyoonie9212@gmail.com To a broken image 192

Mikaela Guariniello mika.gp2@gmail.com UNICORNS Filip 199

Fredrik Haglund haglund.f@gmail.com

ASMR for White Liberals 212

Wibout Warnaar wibout.warnaar@gmail.com

Forest 199

Paradiso

Appetite 200

John Connor Hammond john@johnconnorhammond.com

Felix’ Summer Box 199

PAMPAS

37 Things 200

Xuemeng Li, Katrin Larissa Kasper katrinkasper@gmx.net

Factory Talk 192

Not Black Enough

Comedy Zane Roach zaneroach@gmail.com

Jesse Lewis-Reece j.lewisreece@gmail.com

Maybe Nymph

192

Juliana Kasumu studio@julianakasumu.com

ABOVE US ONLY SKY 199

Eyelash

What Does the Water Taste Like?

Greasy Spoon 200

Joelle Mae David joelle@bluebirdpictures.org Green Cobra 165

Sigurd Culhane sigurdculhane@gmail.com Heart To Heart 200

Lilah Vandenburgh lvandenburgh@hotmail.com Hometown Hero 200

Max McCabe stephanie@compulsoryviewing.co.uk Kelly

223

Joseph Roberts yes@iamjoeroberts.com

259

FILMMAKER INDEX

Andrew Rutter andrewrutterfilms@hotmail.com

Dance

Maradona’s Legs 212

Cinderella Games 213

Knock Door Run 165

Firas Khoury lightson@lightsonfilm.org

Daniel Alicandro

Masel Tov Cocktail 212

Alone Together 214

Arkadij Khaet, Mickey Paatzsch arkadijkhaet@gmail.com

Brigitte Fässler, William Bejedi William Bejedi william@cubique.ch

Nut Milking Exposed 223

Anatomy of a Crooked Spine 213

Nick Saik nicksaikproductions@gmail.com

Kate Morrison katemorrison95@gmail.com

Pop Corn 223

Be free 202

Paul Paulsen paulnicolas.paulsen@gmail.com

Anthony Nti

Shuttlecock 165

Divided We Scroll 213

Tommy Gillard tommygillard@live.co.uk

Klaas Diersmann info@stachemou.com

STOCKHOLM SYNDROME 193

FILTERFACE - Double Tap To Like 201

Ben Marshall Ben@acronymproductions.co.uk

Will & Carly willandcarlyfilm@gmail.com

System Error 165

Hong Kong Ballet: “Never Stand Still” 201

Matt Vesely matt@mattvesely.com

Dean Alexander dean@deanalexander.com

Talk Radio 193

In It Together 202

Ben S. Hyland ben.s.hyland@gmail.com

Filip Tellander filip@indio.se

The Affected 200

itsy bitsy 213

Rikke Gregersen rikke.gregers@gmail.com

JuJu Kusanagi, Lisa Kusanagi kusanagi.sisters@gmail.com

The Astonishing Adventures of Alfred 223

Lying Together 214

Joe Pearson joearthurpearson@gmail.com

Corey Baker corey_ography@live.co.uk

The Beast 212

Material Bodies 202

Luke Howe luke.howe@lfs.org.uk

Dorothy Allen-Pickard dorothypickard@gmail.com

The Birth Of Valerie Venus 193

My House Is Your House 201

Sarah Clift info@redbreastproductions.com

Rain Kencana rainydays7@googlemail.com

THE COCAINE FAMINE 165

Ode 213

Sam McMullen sam.j.mcmullen@gmail.com

Naomi Waring naomiwaringfilms@gmail.com

Werewolf 165

Physical Thoughts 214

Markus Meedt markusmeedt@gmail.com

Anne Hollowday bk@100yearfilms.com

What You and I Share With the Salmon 193

Suspended Motion 214

Raynor Arkenbout raynorarkenbout@hotmail.com

Sima Gonsai info@simagonsai.co.uk The Conversation 213

Lanre Malaolu Alistair Payne-James alistair@140films.co.uk

260

The Embrace of the Valkyries 202

Faces 166

Alan Lake developpement@spira.quebec

Patrick Taylor pat-tay@hotmail.co.uk

Tomorrow the Birds Will Sing 201

Heart eyes and a world

Arvin Kananian Christian Kielberg christian@makerietfilm.se

Rosie Morris rosesmorris@gmail.com

Under the Waterfall - The Avener 202

Invasion: The Unist’ot’en’s Fight for Sovereignty 224

Sebastion Caudron production@soldats.tv

Michael Toledano, Sam Vinal samv@mykolab.com

Victoria Wijeratne - Death Nature 214

Lola 176

Max Lincoln maxrlincoln@gmail.com

Miranda Carter-Watson Jamie MacDonald jamiemacdonald126@gmail.com

We are all on the same bus 201

Notre territoire 203

Nuno Serrão hello@nunoserrao.com

Mathieu Volpe mavo@rtbf.be

We Met Before 214

S.E.N? 176

Thalissa Teixeira A.K. McCallum ak.mccallumt@gmail.com

Alfie Barker itsalfiebarker@gmail.com

Wither

201

215

Saudade 166

Antoine Marc antoinemarc@mail.com

Denize Galiao Michael Kalb michael@kalb-mail.de

You Boy - Arigato MassaÃ 202

Shadows of Your Childhood 224

Juliette Labrousse, Sonia Guitz production@soldats.tv

Mikhail Gorobchuk migo.migo@yandex.ru

Documentary

Somalinimo 176

2025: The Long Hot Winter 166

The Fantastic 215

Jake Lancaster jakobtlancaster@gmail.com

Maija Blåfield programme@av-arkki.fi

A simple life 203

The Seven Villages 166

Myrto Papadogeorgou, Robert Harding Pittman Robert@RobertHardingPittman.com, myrto@cityoferrors.com

Farah Abou Kharroub farahakphotography@gmail.com

A Sonic Pulse 203

Then comes the evening 224

Dorothy Allen-Pickard dorothypickard@gmail.com

Maja Novaković milemicamalimjau@yahoo.com

Alice Aedy aedy.alice@gmail.com

Above The Law 176

Thinking About The Weather 215

Bryony Dunne Patrick Campbell patrick@nakbafilmworks.com

Gardar Thor Thorkelsson gardarcorthu@gmail.com

BATHROOM PRIVILEGES 215

Time and Tide 224

Rupert Williams & Ellie Land iamrupertwilliams@gmail.com

Caleb Yule caleb@storiesofnote.com

Belgian Blue 166

Unspoken 166

Yasmine Versteele yasmineversteele@hotmail.com

Samia Badih Alicia Gonzalez alicia.gonzalez@imagenation.ae

Black Line 176

USA V SCOTT 215

Mark Olexa, Francesca Scalisi production@gmail.com

Ora DeKornfeld , Isabel Castro pdekornfeld@gmail.com

BREADLINE 203

Welcome To A Bright White Limbo 224

Carol Salter rocksaltfilms@gmail.com

Cara Holmes caraholmes@gmail.com

261

FILMMAKER INDEX What About Our Future? 176

Butterflies 225

Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos, Claudio Cruz Jaimeleighg@gmail.com

Yona Rozenkier info@h264distribution.com

when two or three 203

Cailín Álainn (Pretty Girl) 227

Carmine Grimaldi cbgrimaldi@gmail.com

Megan K Fox Hazel Cullen hazelhcullen@gmail.com

ZEF 203

CHEN CHEN 227

Jessica Barclay Lawton hello@jessicalawton.com

Kargo Chen kargochen@gmail.com

Doc. Features

CHICKEN 204

Neighbors 172

Cindy 216

Tomislav Zaja Tomislav Zaja tzaya@gralfilm.com

Shemer Gaon Baraba gaonzooani@gmail.com

The Deathless Woman 197

CLEARING 204

Roz Mortimer roz@wonder-dog.co.uk

Janet Marrett janet@mediathirsty.co.uk

Women’s Day 208

Day One 194

Dolya Gavanski Dolya Gavanski dolyagavanski@aol.co.uk

Mahmut Akay contact@mahmutakay.com

Drama

Destino 194

22. Anna Matthews 225

Drifting 195

Ben Hector ben.hector@hotmail.co.uk

Patrick McGivney & Robert Higgins networkirelandfestivals@gmail.com

ALINA 226

Drifting 227

Rami Kodeih norinha21@gmail.com

Hanxiong Bo bohanxiong23@gmail.com

All the Trimmings 167

Ernie 178

Thomas Edwards thomaseliphilet@gmail.com

Ray Panthaki rp@urbanwayproductions.com

An Everyday Act 177

Flicker 167

Gavin Scott-Whitfield www.penciltrickproductions.com

Nathan Fagan , Luke Daly nathan@boldpuppy.com

Alana Hicks Sleena Wilson sleenawilson@gmail.com

Bonifacio Angius elenfantdistribution@gmail.com

Between a Rock and a Hard Place 168

FREYA 195

Mads Koudal info@distributionwithglasses.com

Camille Hollet-French camille@camillehollett-french.com

Bitter Sky 226

Goodbye Golovin 194

Joseph Ollman ollman.joseph@gmail.com

Mathieu Grimard Maude Matton maude@h264distribution.com

Born Again 168

Gramercy 205

Candice Onyeama genesischildfilms@gmail.com

Pat Heywood, Jamil McGinnis jamilandpat@gmail.com

BOY 227

Gutterwitch 225

Antony Acheampong antony.a@hotmail.com

Harry Baker harry@hbakerfilm.co.uk

Buck 178

Henet Ward 178

Anne Cissé

Morad Mostafa

262

I was still there when you left me 204

Our Sister 168

Marie Mc Court marieluciemccourt@gmail.com

Rosie Westhoff Fiona Hardingham fiona@adaptedpictures.com

Idol 177

PALY 177

Ryushi LIndsay ryushilindsay@gmail.com

Nikhil Ganesh nikhils.eid@gmail.com

Jane 168

princess 216

Kathryn Prescott k.prescott77@gmail.com

Edem Kelman Noah Reich noah@portobelloproductions.com

Joey 178

Rebel 194

Andrew Knott, William Ash Marie-Elena Dyche marie-elena@merakifilms.co.uk

Pier-Philippe Chevigny Maude Matton maude@h264distribution.com

Journey through a body 204

Saba 168

Camille Degeye festivals@societeacephale.com

Mohammad Reza Khavari premierefilmdistribution@gmail.com

JUDAS 194

Sandpaper 167

Adam Palmer contact@adamjpalmer.com

Michael Mante michael57mante@gmail.com

Julietit 226

Sauce 225

Alejandro de Vega & Álvaro Moriano info@distributionwithglasses.com

Daniel Daniel danjdaniel@hotmail.co.uk

Mandem 167

Scrum 226

John Ogunmuyiwa johnogun33@gmail.com

Kate Graham katesarahgraham@gmail.com

May I have this seat? 177

She Who Wears the Rain 195

Tabish Habib rmtabish@gmail.com

Marianne Métivier Maude Matton maude@h264distribution.com

Michelle 226

Something In The Closet 227

Kenya Gillespie kenya.j.gillespie@gmail.com

Nosa Eke

Morning Song 205

Soukoon 216

Bijan Sheibani Camilla Bray camilla@sixteenfilms.co.uk

Farah Shaer farahshaer@hotmail.com

Mother Tongue 227

Survivor’s Guilt 225

Jessica Li Samantha Kwan samkwancy@gmail.com

Caleb Femi caleb.femi@gmail.com

My Brother is a Mermaid 216

The Desert 226

Alfie Dale alfiedale1@gmail.com

Daphski daphski.p@gmail.com

NED & ME 205

The Drowning Goat 195

Lorna Nickson Brown Lornanicksonbrown@gmail.com

Sebastian Johansson Micci sebastian.micci@gmail.com

No More Wings 194

The ice cubes 216

Abraham Adeyemi abe@creativeblueballs.com

Sara Dufossé sara@laravageusesaga.be

ODOL GORRI 216

The Manchador 195

Favier Charlene charlene@charliebus.com

Kaveh Tehrani kaveht@gmail.com

On my way 204

The Present 178

Sonam Larcin sonam.jcw@gmail.com

Farah Nabulsi farah@farahnabulsi.com

263

FILMMAKER INDEX The Shift 204

Goodbye Rebecca & Eileen 217

Laura Carreira lauracarreira@live.com

Sarah Hill sarahhill128@gmail.com

To Sonny 167

Here/Not Here 228

Federico Spiazzi, Maggie Briggs magsbriggs@gmail.com

Bim Ajadi Anne Beresford ab@anneberesford.com

Tribunal 204

ISHTAR

Mason Fleming Hannah Ngo hellohannahngo@gmail.com

Mia Georgis miageorgis@googlemail.com

Uncle Goose Waits For A Phone Call 167

Itinerary of Surfaces 179

Kew Lin Angelina Marilyn Bok angelinamarilynb@gmail.com

Carl Henry Elsaesser elsaesserfilms@gmail.com

Under The Influence 225

No body 217

Alex Deitsch alexdeitsch@yahoo.co.uk

Haemin Ko molly_kokim@hotmail.com

Verisimilitude 205

Softer 217

David Proud Justin Edgar justin@104films.com

Ayanna Dozier dozierayanna@gmail.com

When It Falls 195

Tear Inside 228

Romain Dumont & Antoine Ryan Maude Matton maude@h264distribution.com

Veronica Bassetto veronicabassetto@gmail.com

White Eye 177

The Vahine 228

Tomer Shushan Shira Hochman shira.m.hochman@gmail.com

Camille My Giang camillemygiang@gmail.com

Woman without a child 178

Un/Observed: Inside The Zone 179

Eva Saiz mail@madridencorto.es

Dan Noall

Experimental

What Time Is 228

217

Niina Suominen programme@av-arkki.fi

Lei Lei milk527@gmail.com

Family Friendly

a rock 179

A Home for Curiosities 230

Shing Lee lws_ jerry@hotmail.com

Ben Tobin bztobin0968@gmail.com

Acaiaca 217

Beyond the Line 229

Axel Sande axel@gabinetedeartes.com.br

Jinuk Choi jchoi95@sva.edu

Dear Hearing World 228

Chums 229

Adam Docker info@redearthstudio.com

Olivia Perkins operkins@c.ringling.edu

DONT KNOW WHAT 179

CRUNCH 229

Thomas Renoldner mail@thomasrenoldner.at

Liukaidi Peng groupof5.animation@gmail.com

Field Resistance 217

Dear Mr. Burton 230

Emily Drummer emily.joyce.drummer@gmail.com

Maj Jukic jukich@gmail.com

Forever 179

DELA 180

Mitch McGlocklin mitchmcglocklin@gmail.com

Bernard Attal battal1@mac.com

A Bright Summer Diary 179

264

From artists to artists 229

Amazone mon amour 207

Ivan Holiakovv

Aurore Michaud Gaël Lemagnen gael@vertigofilms.fr

Mall 180

BABA 219

Jerry Hoffmann Petra Barkhausen p.barkhausen@hamburgmediaschool.com

Sarah Blok, LIsa Konno contact@sarahblok.com

Master Moley By Royal Invitation 229

Behind the Curtain 207

Leon Joosen Tony Nottage tony@nottageproductions.com

The Blink Fish Niccolò Montanari nico@niccolomontanari.com

Not a Wallflower 180

Bullseye 218

Lianne Mackessy hello@busstopfilms.com.au

Agustin Farias fariasagu@gmail.com

Talia 180

Comfort Zone 219

Cara Bamford cara.bamford@foxrockproductions.com

Jordan Blady jblady@gmail.com

The Amazing Adventures of Awesome 180

CRYBABY - TOUGH 206

Allison Brownmoore design@al_me.com

Alexander Neil alex.neil98@hotmail.co.uk

The Snow Maze 230

Elari’s Wake 207

Sam Cadman samcadman@mac.com

Emma Tempest

The Witch & the Baby 230

Exhale 181

Evgenia Golubeva jane.golubeva@gmail.com

Igor Stekolenko igor.stekolenko@gmail.com

The World I See 180

Hotel MFW 218

Shawn Lai shawnlai84@gmail.com

Giacomo Boeri, Matteo Grimaldi Niccolò Montanari nico@niccolomontanari.com

Tobi and the Turbobus 229

I, Unfolded 182

Verena Fels post@verenafels.de

Phoebe Guo phoebe3677@gmail.com

TOTO 230

I’ll say it first 181

Marco Baldonado mkbaldonado@gmail.com

Alena Shevchenko alnshevchenko@gmail.com

Fashion

Immaturity 206

Shiny Films info@futuresins.com

2091 182

In a Past Life 206

Carlos J. Matos contact@carlosjmatos.com

Carlos Velasco carlos@carlosvelascoestudio.com

A Beginner’s Guide for ECO WARRIORS 181

In between spaces - chapter two 182

Eliska Sky dreambig@eliskasky.com

Jenny Gand film@jennygand.com

A Club Called Rhonda 206

INAN | adidas Originals 207

Greg Ferro Niccolò Montanari nico@niccolomontanari.com

Sinan Sevinç & Dominik Ströhle mail@sinansevinc.com

A Red Sock´s Tale 182

Julie & I 182

Carlos Velasco Kate Hu kate@carlosvelascoestudio.com

Waley Wang waleyjwang@gmail.com

ALPHA 218

La Mer 181

Simone Marangi simonemarangi@gmail.com

Victor Claramunt victorclaramunt@gmail.com

265

FILMMAKER INDEX London Rolling 219

Buen Viaje : Anni B Sweet 184

Mototake Makishima mototake@makishimafilms.com

Marc Lesperut marclesperut@gmail.com

my love is epiphyllum 181

Care - Beabadoobee 169

Maxett Pribylov bymaxett@gmail.com

Bedroom Stephanie Walton stephanie@compulsoryviewing.co.uk

Out Of Comfort - The Heist 218

Common Questions 170

Shannon Thompson info@outofcomfort.co.nz

Jessica Batson batson.jessica@gmail.com

Pattern Cut 219

Electric Litany - Sealight 169

Enrique Arechavala Garay, Sara Moncayo earephoto@gmail.com

Sakari Lerkkanen Lucie Lerkkanen lucielerkkanen@gmail.com

Perfect Body 218

Fucking Down 183

Jessica Puppo e.yamazaki@femis.fr

Amanda Lago Niccolò Montanari nico@niccolomontanari.com

Plum Flower Fist 207

H.E.N.N.A. 170

Emma Tempest

Mehdi Bahmad contact@mehdibahmad.com

Prana 206

Hand Solo - Marika Hackman 183

Chó cho@earthist.eu

Sam Bailey samueljbailey@gmail.com

Resolve

206

Hard to Know 183

Marta Borowski marta_borowski@yahoo.ca

Alice Halstead alicehalstead98@gmail.com

Rush Hour 219

Kaada - Farewell 170

Benjo Arwas benjo@benjoarwas.com

Christian Holm Glad christian@bulldozerfilm.no

The Descent 181

Learning 170

Brandon Mercer Brandon@Brandon-mercer.com

Olivia J. Middleton olivia.jane.middleton@gmail.com

Transit Cruise Control 218

LORENS - Just Because 183

Reto Schmid reto@retoschmid.name

Hani Domazet hani.domazet@gmail.com

Violent and Tender 182

Monster Rally - Adventure 184

Filip Fredrik Haglund haglund.f@gmail.com

Zak Marx zakmarx2@gmail.com

Music Video

Papillons Bleus 173

Axel Courtière Fannie Pailloux fannie.pailloux@apaches.fr

Akwasi - Extase 183

Part Twelve 184

Florian Joahn Stephanie Walton stephanie@compulsoryviewing.co.uk

Taisia Deeva yulia@festagent.com

All from Me 169

Pearl Cadillac 169

Outerspace Leo, Wang Shou Jie leo.filmfest@gmail.com

Clément Oberto clementoberto@gmail.com

anpu - ZOEA 184

Rodney Chrome - Pulpit 184

Powei Su hiorganictv@gmail.com

Zachary Dov Wiesel zw1723@nyu.edu

Black Pumas Colors 170

Shaking - Hazel English 170

Kristian Mercado krismerc@gmail.com

Erin S Murray erinsmurrayfilm@gmail.com

266

Spend My Dayz 184

GABRIEL 208

Agni Raj Singh agnirs@gmail.com

Pierfrancesco Artini artinivisuals@gmail.com

Uninvited 183

Home by 8.30 220

Viktorija Pashuta viktorija@pashutaphotography.com

Perry White me@Perrywhiteart.com

Zebra Katz – Lousy / In In In 169

Hungry Joe 196

Daniel Wirtberg daniel@danielwirtberg.com

Paul Nicholas Holbrook, Sam Dawe info@shunkfilms.co.uk

Narrative Feature

It’s Me 208

Paradise Hotel 197

Milk Teeth 196

Daniel Rehder Normand daniel@rehderfilms.com

Felipe Vargas Jamie McNeill jamiemcneill6@gmail.com

Paradise 172

Night Bus 171

Immanuel Esser mail@immanuelesser.com

Jessica Ashworth, Henrietta Ashworth

NOTHING MORE PERFECT 185

Officer Down 220

Markus Mayr markus@maeksmy.com teresahoerl@gmx.de

Simon Pearce simon_cba4@hotmail.com

How To Stop A Recurring Dream 209

Progeny 196

Edward Morris Morrisism@gmail

Justin Daering Gregory M. Schroeder greg@firstlightprod.com

Write When You Get Work 221

Skarbnik 171

Stacy Cochran stacycochran99@gmail.com

Pawel Piotr Achtelik ppachtelik@gmail.com

Thriller

Something Evil Becomes Us 220

A Void 171

Surprise 171

Dominique van Olm deviiofilms@gmail.com

Bojan Brbora bojan.brbora@gmail.com

An Uninvited Guest 220

The Hole 196

Richard B. Pierre richard@afroflix.ca

Louis Lagayette Molly Evans mje2139@columbia.edu

Awake - Chapter 4 171

The Suit Weareth The Man 220

Alberto Garcia Ballesteros albertogborama@gmail.com

Mitchell Marion Louisa Warren louisa@champdogfilms.com

Helen Randag Lee Magiday lee@sleeperfilms.co.uk

T.J. Penton tpenton21@gmail.com

Breakdown 171

Unearthed 220

Sándor Gál rovarpictures@gmail.com

Emma Swinton hello@pilimilifilms.com

Cru 208

David Oesch david.oesch@gmx.ch Do No Harm 208

Douglas King Alysia Maciejowska office@alysiamaciejowska.co.uk FERINE 196

Andrea Corsini premierefilmdistribution@gmail.com

267

The Destination for Art and Culture

Subscribe & Save 40% 12 months for ÂŁ20.95 (+p&p) aestheticamagazine.com/subscribe 268