Norwich Film Festival 2021 Official Programme by Norwich Film Festival

A FILM BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

GASWAY & TRETT FILMS

ADSMART FROM SKY & NORWICH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

WA R M ★★★★★

★★★★★

“GASWAY ARE DELIGHTED TO BE SUPPORTING NORWICH FILM FESTIVAL WHERE WE WILL BE PREMIERING WARM STORIES 3”

“A QUALITY LEVEL THAT RIVALS ANYTHING I’VE SEEN ON SCREEN BY SOME OF THE LARGER ADVERTISERS”

NICK BARTRAM - GASWAY

ANDY GRANT - ADSMART

STORIES ★★★★★ “FANTASTIC! A SHORT FILM WHICH MAKES US PROUD OF NORFOLK AND CAPTURES THE EMOTION BEHIND THE FESTIVE SEASON”

THREE JAMES HALE - NAKED MARKETING

Starring Edward Halstead and Thomas Hare. Director of Photography Matty Trett. Camera Assistant Tom Stanners. Props Matt Reeve. MUA Ria Yvonne-Lingwood. Thanks Naked Marketing. Produced by David Metcalf and Andy Grant. Directed by Josh Trett.

CONTENTS 05 06 08 12 14 16 20 64 65 66 80 88 94

Welcome Note Our Team How to Watch NFF2021 Festival Stats Our 2021 Jury Official Selection Film Strands EAFA Mash-up Competition Global Audiences Nominated Films Feature Films Industry Panels Thanks

NFF2021 HYBRID FESTIVAL For the first time ever the NFF will be a hybrid event. We’re carefully heading back to our venues in Norwich where we’ll be welcoming smaller crowds than usual - but we are also moving online for another version of our digital festival. Audiences will now have the choice between watching films in the cinema or from the comfort of their own home.

WELCOME BACK Another difficult year has passed, with Covid-19 still affecting virtually every aspect of our lives. But, thanks to the incredible efforts of our health care workers, front line staff, and medical researchers, we are now in a much stronger position than before. NFF2020 was a strange festival to organise. The transition to a digital screening platform, however, was a huge success, and we owe a huge thank you to all those who supported the festival last year by buying tickets - it meant so much to us. The popularity of last year made it clear that we should try to go digital once again, while still trying to offer cinema screenings where possible. Yes, we will have fewer in-person events than normal, with smaller crowds, but the safety of our audience has always been paramount. This hybrid approach to NFF2021 means that we are able to continue supporting filmmakers while also keeping the public as safe as possible. It will be fantastic to be out in the community once again, but for those who can’t make it in person, we will still have plenty to offer. We’d like to offer one final thanks - to all of the incredible filmmakers out there who have continued to create some wonderful films throughout this pandemic. Your work has kept us going all this time, and we have loved spending so many days watching your films. This festival, as always, is for you.

OUR TEAM EXECUTIVE TEAM Kellen Playford Siobhan Ennis Charlie Hunt Michelle Lillie Ewan Tough Brogan O’Grady Zoë Blacklock Sava Radulovic

Founder & Lead Consultant Participation Manager Submissions Co-ordinator Events Co-ordinator Marketing Co-ordinator Lead Designer Marketing & Programming Assistant Events & Participation Assistant

FESTIVAL ASSISTANTS Niamh Brook Martha Crass Richard Vojvoda

Festival Trustees

Festival Patrons

John Gordon-Saker Alex Saunders Matilda Crumpton-Taylor Keith Johnston Lucy Ward Penny Bartram Fiona Ryder

John Collee Olivia Colman Brian Cox Stephen Fry Julian Jarrold Nina Nannar Tim McInnerny Richard Sawdon Smith

Friend of the Festival Hugh Jackman 6

THANK YOU! Thank you so much to all the volunteers listed below who helped us watch and review hundreds (and hundreds) of hours worth of films this year, ultimately helping us to pick our Official Selection. You helped us to shape NFF2021, and we thank you for all your effort. Every person below watched at least 30 films for us this year, with some watching over 200! Justin Abi Assaf, Barry Dennis, Michelle Gonzaba, Craig Higgins, Julia Orege, John Gordon-Saker, Jean Clitheroe, Deborah Carter, Paula Konasionok, April McIntyre, Dean Marriott, Brian Allerton, Dawn Stock, Martha Crass, V Storey, David Auckland, Jacky Liu, Helen Carrick, Diana Meda, Steve Lepper, Jenny Allison, Mariona Foguet Gonzalez, Alan Waters, Fiona Hewlett, Nicholas Hatton, Holly Savage, Susan Garratt, Lizzie Hall, George Chrysostomou, Dom Woodhouse, Giulia Addario, William Schofield, Persia Humphreys, Mel Conneely, Jolanta Grodecka, Kirsty Amer, Patricia Xu, Helen Selleck, Frances Redcliffe, Richard Vojvoda, Daniel Frumento, Tabitha Clarke-Scholes, Dean Threadgold, Denise Barrett, Olivia James, Tom Moore, Em Maskell, Jo Hurst, Flora van Trotsenburg, Joanne Hollows, Nathan Smith, Alem Dauletkulov, Reed Chapman, Mark Waters, Mark Allen, Amy Cresswell, Jakub Konaszczuk, William Plummer, Melanie Peter, Ellen Lucas, Rachel Miller, Caroline Hogan, Christie O’Connor, Hilary Kitchin, Elle Guyan, Karen Buchanan, Lisanne van Ingen, and Nataša Cordeaux.

Interested in joining our Online Screening Committee for NFF2022? Visit our website and sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest information and opportunities! 7

WATCH NFF2021 IN PERSON Due to the continuation of the global pandemic we’ve had to adjust our festival programming approach. Last year we went completely online and that was a huge success. This year we want to continue that success by blending our digital festival with a smaller, socially distanced festival in venues across Norwich. Audiences will now have a choice how they watch our films! We’ve curated a fantasic programme of more than 140 short films which can be streamed on you computer, tablet, phone, or smart TV. All films are available to rent in the UK, with some films being available to global audiences as well (see page 62 for details).

You’ll find everything you need to know about our festival, including ticket prices, FAQs, film listings, and film details at:

norwichfilmfestival.co.uk

TICKETS Most shorts screenings: Feature films:

£5.00 £7.00

Under 25? Save £1 on all in-person tickets! 8

FAQs: In-Person Film Festival Q. Where do I purchase film tickets from? A. Tickets can be purchased online via our website. Some tickets will be available on the door but we will be operating a card only policy - no cash sales. Q. Will there be trailers or adverts before the films? A. Not with us, no. If a screening is listed as starting at 20:00, that is what time films will start - please arrive a few minutes before. Q. How do I watch any bonus content that is included with a film? A. Any bonus content provided by filmmakers will only be available online. Q. What Covid restrictions are in place at your venues? A. We are running at a limited capacity (no more than 75%) to ensure people will have space to sit without being crowded. While we will not be checking things such as vaccine status, we would politely request that audience members take a lateral flow test before attending any screenings. Q. Will I have to wear a mask? A. We would request that audience members wear a mask while walking around the venue and while seated in the auditorium. Masks can be removed while eating or drinking. Q. What if government guidelines change? A. We will follow government guidelines as closely and as quickly as possible, so please keep an eye on our website and social media for any updates. If you have bought tickets in advance we will also attempt to email you any updates. A full list of Q&As can be found at watch.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk 9

WATCH NFF2021 ONLINE Our hybrid festival approach means now that audiences can watch films in person with their friends, but also online in the safety and comfort of their own home. We’ve decided that each film strand will go live online the day after they are screened in our venues, and will remain online until the end of the month, meaning if you can’t make it into Norwich this year there is no reason for you to miss out! The online festival will also include (where possible) a few additional little bonuses, such a filmmaker introductions, Q&As, and behind the scenes footage. We have also asked all our filmmakers to provide subtitle tracks (in multiple languages) for those with difficulty hearing. Bonus material and subtitles are provided by filmmakers where available and as such will not be attached to every film we screen. Full details online.

You’ll find everything you need to know about our online festival, including rental prices, FAQs, film listings, and film details at:

watch.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk

TICKETS Full Festival Pass: £15.00 Nominated Films Pass: £7.50 Film Strands: £3.00 Individual Films: £1.00

FAQs: Online Film Festival Where do I purchase film tickets from? All tickets for the online festival can be purchased from watch.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk What’s included in the different type of film passes? Film strands typically consist of between 6 and 9 short films based around a similar theme or style (such as Documentary or Comedy) and are just £3. You can buy a pass of just the 24 nominated films for £7.50 or the full festival pass, which will contain over 130 films for only £10. Is NFF2021 restricted to just the UK? Not completely. Some of our films have been restricted to the UK for licencing reasons, but we have created a special collection called the Global Audience Pass which is available to audiences outside the UK. More details on page 65. Are film screenings on a certain date or time? Film strands will be available to watch online the day after they are screened in physical venues. Do all films have subtitles or closed-captions? The majority of our films are in English and those that are not either have embedded English subtitles in the film, or have English subtitles or closed captions available as an option on the video player. Some English films have subtitles / closed captions available (in English and other languages) though this is not controlled by NFF and is down to the individual filmmakers. A full list of these can be found on our Accessibility page online. A full list of Q&As can be found at watch.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk 11

FESTIVAL STATS With thanks to the hard work of all our incredible staff, the Norwich Film Festival continues to be one of the fastest growing film festivals in the UK.

SUBMISSIONS MAP

Although the last two years have included unprecedented difficulties for everyone, we have continued to show signs of growth throughout. Thank you to all the filmmakers who have been a part of our journey so far.

We always love to see how many submissions we get from around the world. In 2020 we had films sent to us from 55 different countries. In 2021 that number has increased to 62 different countries, including...

USA GERMANY INDIA NEW ZEALAND MALAYSIA SUDAN CHILE

SUBMISSIONS 812 1268 1291

2019 2020 2021

OFFICIAL SELECTION 2019 2020 2021

111 132 133

2021 FEMALE FILMMAKERS 38% 44%

Submitted Selected

2021 FIRST TIME FILMMAKERS 34% 27%

Submitted Selected

INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS 2019 2020 2021

56 Countries 55 Countries 62 Countries

OUR 2021 JURY Every submission to NFF is watched by at least five members of our Online Screening Committee, which has over 200 members. Once those reviews are in our Executive Team rewatches the highest rated films to narrow down the list and to finalise our Official Selection. They also choose which films get nominated and sent to our Jury of industry professionals. They score each film they watch within a category and once collated, the film with the most points is crowned the winner. This year our fantastic jury consists of:

MICHAEL SHEEN

BAFTA nominated and RTS award winning actor working on stage and screen, known for Frost/Nixon, Staged, and Good Omens.

EDITH BOWMAN

Critically acclaimed broadcaster specialising in film and music. Presenter for MTV and BBC, host of Soundtracking podcast.

JESSICA HYNES

BAFTA and British Comedy award winning actor, writer, and director, known for Spaced, Years and Years, and The Fight.

MARYAM MOHAJER

BAFTA winning animater/ director. Her award winning film Grandad Was A Romantic was a part of NFF2019.

GREG SORVIG WILLIAM MCGREGOR

BIFA nominated writer and director, and winner of two Welsh BAFTAs and NFF2020.

Artistic Director of Oscar qualifying Indy Shorts and Heartland International Film Festival. Associate programmer at Tribeca.

BRENDA CHAPMAN TODD WILDERMAN Animator and director whose work at Sony and Dreamworks include Stuart Little, The Croods, and Abominable.

Founder of This is England short film festival and President of the Rouen Norwich club.

Producer and casting director whose work includes In Love With Alma Cogan. Trustee of the Sir John Hurt Film Trust.

Animator and director working for Disney, Dreamworks, and SUZANNE BUIRGY Pixar on films such as The Little Animation producer working Mermaid, The Prince of Egypt, at Dreamworks whose and Brave. films include How To Train Your Dragon, Home, and Abominable.

JUDE LISTER CHRISTOPHE THIERRY

ANWEN, LADY HURT

Head of BFI Network Wales talent initiatives at Ffilm Cymru. Former lead of Creative England’s iFeatures development lab.

7 Bananas (Daisy Moore, UK, 13m) Absolution (Duncan Christie, UK, 14m) Adrift (Samuel de Ceccatty, UK, 6m) Affairs of the Art (Joanna Quinn, UK, 17m) Ajotin (Muhammed Seyyid Yildiz, Turkey, 20m) And After (Marine Follonier, Belgium, 15m) Anita (Sushma Khadepaun, India, 18m) Art Buff (Hannah Ava Dahl, UK, 15m) Barrier (Niels Bourgonje, Netherlands, 9m) Behind (Yili Li, China, 15m) Beyond Borders (Environmental Justice Foundation, UK, 25m) Birthday Boy (Leo Lebeau, UK, 21m) Black Slide (Uri Lotan, Israel, 12m) Blue Bison (Camrus Johnson, Stefano Pennisi, USA, 20m) Blue Bottle (Jenny Wright, UK, 7m) Bound (Joe Carter, UK, 13m) Brunch (Marnik Loysen, UK, 6m) Calving (Louis Bhose, UK, 12m) Choulequec (Benoit Blanc, Matthias Girbig, France, 25m) Chronos (Emmanuel Dubois, France, 1m) Clean (Richard Paris Wilson, UK, 10m) Clown (Shane O’Neill, Ireland, 11m) Cocoon Love (Xiaowen Wang, USA, 15m) Complicated (Isak Kohaly, Israel, 23m) Contraband (Anabel Barnston, UK, 14m)

Creepy Pasta Salad (Lauren Orme, UK, 12m) Cuties (Theo W Scott, UK, 6m) Dalía (Brúsi Ólason, Iceland, 17m) Devek (Uriya Hertz, Israel, 15m) Don vs Lightning (Big Red Button, UK, 13m) Dye Red (Vittoria Campaner, USA, 13m) Edicius (Uzo Oleh, UK, 23m) Enjoy (Saul Abraham, UK, 19m) Faleminderit (Nicolas Neuhold, Luxembourg, 14m) Familiar (David J. Ellison, UK, 10m) First One Away (Zak Harney, UK, 8m) Fjällnäs (Megan Maczko, UK, 23m) Footsteps on the Wind (Gustavo Leal, Faga Melo, Maya Sanbar, UK, 7m) Foresight (David Yorke, UK, 1m) Fourth of July (Major Dorfman, USA, 12m) Guide Me Home (Stefan Georgiou, UK, 15m) Hanging On (Alfie Barker, UK, 10m) Her Majesty (Rebekah Fortune, UK, 16m) Hey, Ma (Laurie Barraclough, UK, 8m) Hiraeth (Ryan Andrews, UK, 11m) Hope (Shaun James Grant, UK, 15m) Ice Cream & Doughnuts (Reece Lipman, UK, 15m) It Feels Personal (Hugh Clegg, UK, 14m) Just Delivered (Rosie Gaunt-Mathieson, UK, 15m)

Just in Case (April Kelley, UK, 14m) Kafkas (Nick Blake, UK, 18m) Knot (Marie Lechevallier, UK, 8m) LARA (George Blagden, UK, 13m) Lasagne (Hannah Hill, UK, 17m) Leylak (Scott Aharoni, Dennis Latos, USA, 17m) Lifelike (Keith Allott, UK, 7m) Liminal (Dan Abramovici, Canada, 12m) Love Is A Hand Grenade (Jessica Benhamou, UK, 13m) Machi (Prashanti Aswani, UK, 4m) Man of the Harvest (Orion Eshel, Luther Clayton, USA, 15m) Maximus (Richard Prendergast, UK, 16m) Meat Market (Will Kenning, UK, 1m) Meow or Never (Neeraja Raj, UK, 10m) Monachopsis (Liesbet van Loon, Belgium, 11m) Monster (Reiff Gaskell, UK, 15m) Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat (William Joyce, UK, 14m) Nice To Meet You All (Guen Murroni, UK, 11m) Night of the Living Dread (Ida Melum, UK, 12m) Nuclear Sea (Joe Starrs, UK, 8m) One for the Road (Eileen Tracey, UK, 16m) Only a Child (Simone Giampaolo, Switzerland, 6m) Other Half (Lina Kalcheva, UK, 14m)

Pas de Deux (Rebekah Fortune, UK, 6m) Pedwar (Sam Johnson, UK, 11m) Peek-A-Boom (Maya Zankoul, Toni Yammine, Lebanon, 6m) Pelo Lacio (Diane Russo, USA, 3m) Perpetual Plastic (Eric Ebner, Indonesia, 10m) Pile (Toby Auberg, UK, 4m) Pipo and Blind Love (Hugo Le Gourrierec, France, 12m) Please Care! (Bertie Gilbert, UK, 14m) Pointe Black (Rebecca Murray, UK, 6m) Portrayed (Nicole Rixon, Ryan Goodman, UK, 8m) Precious Bundle (Kim Angelica Head, UK, 13m) Pussy Boo (Remi Parisse, France, 4m) Reavey Brothers (John Reavey, UK, 20m) Receiver (Cavan Campbell, Canada, 15m) Rekonstruktio (Pia Andell, Finland, 18m) Requiem (Emma Gilbertson, UK, 25m) Rodi (Rekha Garton, UK, 3m) Roots (Ryan Gathorne, UK, 5m) Rough (Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Ireland, 14m) Roy (Tom Berkeley, Ross White , UK, 16m) Rubber Gun Club (Alex Bendo, USA, 10m) Salt Water Town (Dan Thorburn, UK, 15m) Sea Dragon (James Morgan, UK, 17m)

She Dreams At Sunrise (Camrus Johnson, USA, 11m) Silence Undone (Kristjan Knigge, Netherlands, 17m) Snooze (Adam Collins, Ireland, 5m) Split Sole (Barnaby Boulton, UK, 13m) Squish (Xavier Seron, Belgium, 20m) Stalker (Ginny Jones, UK, 3m) Step Into the River (MA Weijia, China, 15m) Survivers (Carlos Gómez-Trigo, Spain, 7m) Sweatbox (Anna Herrmann, UK, 13m) Taj Mahal presents… A Short Film (David Dearlove, UK, 5m) Tap Boy (Will Kenning, UK, 16m) Thank You So Much (Tomasz Frymorgen, UK, 14m) The Ark (Benjamin South, UK, 15m) The Big Top (Cleo Parker, UK, 1m) The Cost Of Living (Alice Trueman, UK, 13m) The Dinner Party (Simon Neal, UK, 17m) The Exit Plan (Angus Wilkinson, Australia, 14m) The Gnome (Rory Hern, UK, 1m) The Gospel According to Gail (Florence Winter Hill, UK, 9m) The Land of Griffons (Riccardo Soriano, UK, 10m) The Last English Poacher (Emma Crome, Peter Emery, UK, 17m)

The Longest Day of the Year (Lauren Hoover, USA, 11m) The Nicky Nack (Tom Oxenham, UK, 6m) The Octopus Nest (John Michell, UK, 19m) The Phoenix (James Baines, UK, 5m) The Scarecrows (Dan Hodgson, UK, 18m) The Tunnel (Arash Ashtiani, UK, 17m) The Vagina Musical (Abigail Quinlan, UK, 14m) This Uncertain Moment (Toby Wosskow, USA, 16m) Tictoc (Mark Waters, UK, 23m) Timekeeper (Chris Godwin, UK, 25m) To the Last Drop (Simon Schnellmann, Germany, 6m) Treasure (Samantha Moore, UK, 8m) Umbilical (Elpida Stathatou, Greece, 13m) Village Hours (Matthew Reed, UK, 10m) Whore #4 (Florence Winter Hill, UK, 8m) Wide Open Dreams (Paulina Jaskiewicz, USA, 23m) You Haven’t Seen What I’ve Seen (Ewa Lang, Poland, 22m)

We’ve curated twenty one fantastic film strands for you this year - containing almost 150 short films from around the world. Nineteen strands make up our Official Selection, and we have the added bonus of including some brilliant shorts from OSKA Bright Film Festival, as well as the European Film Awards.

OSKA BRIGHT SHORTS THE MIX TAPE VOL. 1 EFA SHORTS FAMILY FRIENDLY SHORTS EAST ANGLIAN COLLECTION

You can view these strands in person at our live festival, but they will also be made available online the very next day.

ANIMATED SHORTS THE MIX TAPE VOL. 2 LGBTQ+ SHORTS WOMEN IN FILM INTERNATIONAL SHORTS VOL. 1 FIRST TIME FILMMAKERS COMEDY SHORTS EMERGING TALENT INTERNATIONAL SHORTS VOL. 2 SCI-FI SHORTS BRITISH SHORTS VOL. 1 LATE NIGHT SHORTS EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS ENVIRONMENTAL SHORTS DOCUMENTARY SHORTS BRITISH SHORTS VOL. 2

OSKA BRIGHT SHORTS Online only from 12/11/21 - FREE

OSKA Bright Film Festival is the world’s leading festival for films made by or featuring people with learning disabilities, autism, or aspergers.

CELESTE

FOUR SOLOS IN THE WILD: Kirsty Griffin, Viv Kernick | UK | 6m A SAFE PLACE TO REST As the social butterfly of Amy Street, the fun-loving Celeste spends her days surrounded by friends. When she needs some alone time, she enjoys watching back episodes of her favourite soaps.

Graham Busby, Arty Party | UK | 5m

JESSICA

JUST ME

Kirsty Griffin, Viv Kernick | UK | 7m

Being on the lookout, ever shifting, awake to danger. Moments of abandon letting go and enjoying the sensations of the forest, finally resting and being held by the forest.

Mattie Kennedy | UK | 11m

A short film/biography on the director Jess is a true creative with a unique style of in which he explores gender identity, her own and the confidence to show her disability and other themes through his own creations to the world . With her penchant narrative. for fashion, a cereal box creation takes Jess to the cat walk. 22

MOVIEGOER

Stuart Quinn | UK | 11m A poignant study on how noise pollution affects us, and how an art space such as cinema can offer respite for everyday urban city life.

LOOK FOR ME

Miriam Fox | UK | 5m An autistic child’s love of drawing helps them discover an unexpected kindred spirit. Inspired after my own diagnosis of Autism in 2017.

THE MASK

Sharif Persaud | UK | 4m Sharif walks along a coastal footpath to the theatre of a neighbouring town. Along the way he talks about himself and what it means to have autism.

THE MIX TAPE VOL. 1

Saturday 13 November, 14:45-16:15, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 14/11/21 Enjoy a curated selection of seven inspiring short films spanning a variety of genres and themes. Featuring tales of love, loss and resilience, as well as famous faces such as Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Fleabag), this is the perfect opportunity to dive into our Official Selection!

BLUE BISON

FALEMINDERIT

A group of vigilantes abduct wrongdoers and coerce them into confessions, forcing them back on the straight and narrow.

In 1921, a Luxembourgish cartographer visited Albania, preparing the border for the newly independent country.

FORESIGHT

PLEASE CARE!

While cleaning out her deceased nan’s house, Tessa discovers a mysterious wooden box, containing an item that will change her life forever.

After losing his wife in a fire, a teacher takes it upon himself to make a spectacle of his suffering by writing and directing a play about his life for his students to perform.

Camrus Johnson, Stefano Pennisi | USA | 20m

Nicolas Neuhold | Luxembourg | 14m

David Yorke| UK | 1m

Bertie Gilbert | UK | 14m

SILENCE UNDONE

Kristjan Knigge | Netherlands | 17m To embrace a loving relationship for the first time, isolated Sophie delves into her mind-maze made of memories and fears.

THE PHOENIX

James Baines | UK | 5m Shaped by the trauma of his childhood, Pete fell into a life of football hooliganism only to find his way out through martial arts.

THE SCARECROWS Dan Hodgson | UK | 18m

The story of a Japanese village’s struggle for survival, as the remaining residents use seemingly peculiar methods to resist social isolation and keep the village alive.

EFA SHORTS

Saturday 13 November, 15:00-16:30, The Garage, £3.00 Online from 14/11/21 EFA Shorts is the European Film Academy’s short film tour, which brings the latest European short film candidates, nominees, and winner to audiences across Europe - and beyond. The programme features a selection from the candidates, each of them selected at a renowned European short film festival.

BELLA

DISPLACED (PA VEND)

Greece 1986-1987, a little before the fall of State Socialism and just at the end of the Cold War. In front of Anthi’s eyes the country is changing.

Driven by the ambition of keeping their beloved sport alive, two local players wander from one obscure location to another carrying with them the only possession of the club: their tables.

EASTER EGGS

IN FLOW OF WORDS

The Chinese restaurant is empty. The exotic bird’s cage stands wide open. Two friends see this as an opportunity to catch and sell them. Catching the birds ain’t as simple as it seems.

Three interpreters from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia interpreted shocking testimonies without allowing their own emotions to be present.

Samir Karahoda | Kosovo | 15m

Thekyia Petraki | Greece | 25m

Nicolas Keppens | Belgium | 15m

Eliane Esther Bots | Netherlands | 22m

MY UNCLE TUDOR (NANU TUDOR) Olga Lucovnicova | Belgium | 20m

After 20 years of silence, the filmmaker travels back to the house of her great-grandparents, where she passed through harmful events that left a deep imprint on her memory forever. The long-awaited family gathering runs counter to her attempts to overcome the past.

THE LONG GOODBYE Aneil Karia | UK | 12m

Riz Ahmed delivers a standout performance in this overwhelming and explosive experience which places us in the frontline as witnesses to the extreme consequences of what hate speech and racism can ultimately lead to. A visually arresting, rhythmically powerful and thoughtprovoking slice of dystopia.

FAMILY FRIENDLY SHORTS Sunday 14 November, 12:00-14:15, The Forum, £3.00 Online from 15/11/21

Treat the whole family to over an hour of vibrant and inspiring short films suitable for all ages. From a madcap musical following a ‘Catsronaut’ journeying through outer-space, to the inspiring story of a young fossil hunter who makes a groundbreaking discovery - the Family Friendly strand is sure to capture the imaginations of the young and the young-at-heart!

BLUE BOTTLE

FOOTSTEPS ON THE WIND

Jenny Wright | UK | 7m

Gustavo Leal, Faga Melo, Maya Sanbar | UK | 7m

A story of independence, about a hot water bottle who learns to embrace the cold

Little Noor and her brother Josef see their lives torn apart when an unexpected event hits home.

MEOW OR NEVER

MR SPAM GETS A NEW HAT

A catstronaut travels the galaxy looking for the meaning of life when she encounters a space pup eager to help - but only gets them into trouble at every turn!

A man with a head full of dreams is beaten down by the foremen in the factory where he works. Then he meets the Woman in the Polka Dot dress...

Neeraja Raj | UK | 10m

William Joyce | UK | 14m

SEA DRAGON

James Morgan | UK | 17m A young fossil hunter makes a groundbreaking discovery, challenging the worldview of 19th century England.

SHE DREAMS AT SUNRISE Camrus Johnson | USA | 11m

An elderly woman escapes her mundane reality through her dreams while her great-nephew helps reconnect her to what she’s really missing.

THE BIG TOP

Cleo Parker | UK | 1m Pongolee ‘Pong’ the Pangolin and her assistant Shelley the snail are back on tour with their circus and will present their newest trick that will blow you away.

EAST ANGLIAN COLLECTION Sunday 14 November, 14:00-15:45, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 15/11/21

The Best East Anglian Film award at Norwich Film Festival 2021 is sponsored by the University of East Anglia. Enjoy an eclectic mix of short films showcasing the incredible filmmaking talent found throughout East Anglia. This strand also features the winning entry from the East Anglian Film Archive’s Mash-Up competition.

ABSOLUTION

GUIDE ME HOME

A young nun leaves her convent for the day to collect Luca from prison. They attempt to re-piece their relationship following a traumatic incident in their past.

David arrives in London with dreams of becoming a somebody, but when things don’t go to plan he starts to slip between the cracks of the city he loves so much.

HIRAETH

ICE CREAM & DOUGHNUTS

Smashing loss and sadness into the limitations of life itself, Hiraeth is a deeply human story of one woman’s grief at the edge of the solar system.

During a trip to the seaside, Robbie and Emily imagine their future lives together. One conversation leads them to realise that they may not be on the same path after all.

Duncan Christie | UK | 14m

Stefan Georgiou | UK | 15m

Ryan Andrews | UK | 11m

Reece Lipman | UK | 19m

MAXIMUS

Richard Prendergast | UK | 16m One young warrior’s fight for his life, told through the eyes of his little sister. Infused with imagination, tragedy and magic, this is a journey seen through the lens of a child.

RODI

Rekha Garton | UK | 3m A brief story of a young, black male naturalist living in Norfolk. Realising his job as a bin man helps him live his wildlife dreams.

VILLAGE HOURS

Matthew Reed | UK | 10m Dotted across the countryside, these timeworn structures are the stages upon which local identities, tensions and rituals are all played out.

ANIMATED SHORTS

Sunday 14 November, 16:30-18:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 15/11/21 The award for Best Animated Film 2021 is sponsored by Meantime Media. Join us for a stunning selection of animated short films. Each of these handcurated animations showcases the immense versatility of the craft, from a stop-motion tale of bedtime anxiety, to a beautiful hand-drawn retelling of 3000-year-old narratives passed down through generations.

AFFAIRS OF THE ART

CREEPY PASTA SALAD

Beryl’s back in Affairs of the Art, which showcases one family’s eccentric yet endearing obsessions with everything from drawing to pet taxidermy.

It’s Halloween and the lives of Elin, Trefor and Cari converge. As a result, things start to get better for them.

CUTIES

Theo W Scott | UK | 6m

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DREAD

Human history in all its horror and glory, culminating in our next evolutionary leap; moving forward despite our proclivity for destruction.

When a power cut ruins Ruby’s bedtime routine, she finds herself haunted by some unwanted guests.

Joanna Quinn | UK | 17m

Lauren Orme | UK | 12m

Ida Melum | UK | 12m

PEEK-A-BOOM

STALKER

Surrounded by her loving family on her birthday, an event occurs that shapes Mira’s life forever.

A man follows deer prints through the snowy landscape of the Lake District, but the situation might not be as clear cut as it seems.

STEP INTO THE RIVER

TO THE LAST DROP

Two young girls live by the banks of a river. They both have a special relationship with this river, which looks like a cradle of tragic stories.

In the rhythm of the dripping chemo, an IV pole fights for the life of a cancer patient.

Maya Zankoul, Toni Yammine | Lebanon | 6m

Ginny Jones | UK | 3m

MA Weijia | France | 15m

Simon Schnellmann | Germany | 6m

TREASURE

Samantha Moore | UK | 8m Layers of colour, light, and texture bring to life the atmospheric 3,000 year old narratives that have shaped the landscape of Shropshire.

THE MIX TAPE VOL. 2 Sunday 14 November, 18:45-20:15, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 15/11/21

Be transported by an exciting range of short films from across our Official Selection, spanning a vast range of genres, themes & languages. From a breathtaking historical thriller, to an absurd detective story in an isolated French village - join us for a little bit of everything!

BARRIER

CHOULEQUEC

find a boy washed up on the Dutch beach. Where did he come from and can he be trusted?

A father in search of his daughter arrives in Choulequec. An absurd detective story, dealing humorously with our relationship to reality.

FIRST ONE AWAY

JUST DELIVERED

In order to escape a lads night out, Paul tells the group a morbid story of an abandoned grave and the unexpected journey it took him on.

After becoming a takeaway rider to pay his rent, Daniel struggles to connect with people until he catches the eye of chip shop worker Kelly.

Niels Bourgonje | Netherlands | 9m Benoit Blanc, Matthias Girbig | France | 25m September 1944. Two Canadian soldiers

Zak Harney | UK | 8m

Rosie Gaunt-Mathieson | UK | 15m

JUST IN CASE

April Kelley | UK | 14m Within the ambiguous safety of a service station, a concerned father and his scared daughter take refuge.

TAP BOY

Will Kenning | UK | 16m Trapped within a county lines drug gang, a vulnerable teenager finds escape by practicing tap dance in and around the concrete jungle of Milton Keynes.

LGBTQ+ SHORTS

Tuesday 16 November, 19:30-21:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 17/11/21 Join us for a selection of LGBTQ+ short films from our Official Selection, exploring identity, sexuality, relationships and more.

BIRTHDAY BOY

COCOON LOVE

A transgender boy celebrates his birthday in online games, away from the bullying he faces at an all girls school.

A teenager is sent back to stay with her grandparents in her hometown village. As she begins a budding friendship with a classmate, she is forced to confront her past.

COMPLICATED

LOVE IS A HAND GRENADE

Itamar returns to his childhood home following a breakdown. Tensions about his sexuality resurface, especially when he meets handsome lifeguard Ronen.

Besties, Gabby and Alexis hook up after a messy night out, forcing them to question the nature of their relationship, sexuality and limits of love.

Leo Lebeau | UK | 21m

Xiaowen Wang | USA | 15m

Jessica Benhamou | UK | 13m

Isak Kohaly | Israel | 23m

PAS DE DEUX

Rebekah Fortune | UK | 6m A heartbreaking tale told entirely through shoes, as smart and uptight Brogues falls in love with colourful fun and playful Sparkly Toes.

SPLIT SOLE

Barnaby Boulton | UK | 13m Against a backdrop of toxic masculinity and homophobia, two young men secretly express their feelings for each other through their love of dancing.

WOMEN IN FILM

Wednesday 17 November, 19:30-21:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 18/11/21 Representing a diverse range of genres, styles & themes, join us for a selection of nine short films directed by women.

7 BANANAS

CONTRABAND

A once close friendship now sustained by likes, memes and ever-delayed meet-ups. When one dies, the other is forced to look beneath the surface.

Flailing millennial, Ruby, endeavours to get her life together after an overdue gap year, but is hindered by a pesky, overcomplicated abortion.

DYE RED

MACHI

Celeste and Aurora have lived together for some time. Dye Red is a dark but graceful slice-of-life look at their relationship.

Growing up with her four siblings in Indonesia back in the 70’s, my mother tells me of the years she spent being cared for by Machi, her caretaker at the time.

Daisy Moore | UK | 13m

Anabel Barnston | UK | 14m

Vittoria Campaner | USA | 13m

Prashanti Aswani | UK | 4m

NICE TO MEET YOU ALL

POINTE BLACK

A celebration of a woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder who has survived human trafficking rings in the US.

Mence narrates her uncomfortable journey from adolescent to ballerina and her struggles in an industry that fails to see past her skin colour.

PRECIOUS BUNDLE

SWEATBOX

Stop motion, real memories and interviews are used in this personal reflection on racial identity, rejection and the nature of forgiveness.

Created with and performed by women with lived experience of the criminal justice system, Sweatbox tells a story of motherhood, friendship and loss.

Rebecca Murray | UK | 6m

Guen Murroni | UK | 11m

Anna Herrmann | UK | 13m

Kim Angelica Head | UK | 13m

WHORE #4

Florence Winter Hill | UK | 8m A Russian actress living and working in London struggles as she auditions for stereotyped and repetitive roles.

INTERNATIONAL MIX VOL. 1 Thursday 18 November, 19:30-21:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 19/11/21 The Best International Film is sponsored by VisitNorwich. Enjoy a selection of European short films from our Official Selection, spanning a mixture of genres & languages, from a breathtaking thriller following a Kurdish refugee’s dreams of a joyride around London, to a father struggling to care for his son in the absence of his husband.

AJOTIN

DALÍA

An illegal Kurdish refugee borrows his dream car for a joyride around London. Freedom starts to get blurry when a series of misfortunes comes his way.

A distant father and his six year old son connect as they put a horse out of its misery.

ONLY A CHILD

SNOOZE

Muhammed Seyyid | Turkey | 20m

Simone Giampaolo | Switzerland | 6m On the last night before their evacuation due to rising sea levels, a mother and daughter come to terms with the loss of their home and community.

Brúsi Ólason | Iceland | 17m

Adam Collins | Ireland | 5m One more snooze... A couple struggle to get out of their comfy bed.

SQUISH

Xavier Seron | Belgium | 20m With his husband away on a business trip, a struggling father’s attempts to run errands and care for his son quickly run terribly awry…

YOU HAVEN’T SEEN WHAT I’VE SEEN Ewa Lang | Poland | 22m In a secluded lake house, Misia struggles to save herself from abusive father. Realism blends with fantasy as she starts to lose her faith in adults.

FIRST TIME FILMMAKERS Friday 19 November, 18:30-20:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 20/11/21

Including documentaries, musicals, powerful stories of resilience and so much in between, join us for a selection of six short films, each directed by filmmakers making their directorial debut.

NUCLEAR SEA

REAVEY BROTHERS

A young girl wanders through a postapocalyptic Britain. Navigating the overgrown wasteland to her home, not everything is quite as she expected.

In a trouble-ridden 1976 Northern Ireland, football and writing prospect Anthony’s relationship with his brothers comes under danger...

RUBBER GUN CLUB

THE VAGINA MUSICAL

In the wake of an unsettling discovery, a New York City police officer is forced to openly confront his most personal secret.

A young woman is looking for love when suddenly her vagina comes to life and forces her to re-examine a night from her past.

Joe Starrs | UK | 8m

John Reavey | UK | 20m

Alex Bendo | USA | 10m

Abigail Quinlan | UK | 14m

UMBILICAL

Elpida Stathatou | Greece | 13m The story of a young woman’s struggle to battle her traumatic past and separate from her religious and superstitious upbringing.

WIDE OPEN DREAMS

Paulina Jaskiewicz | USA | 23m An inspiring look at the Greyston Bakery, which promotes inclusion, battles against systemic inequities, and advocates for a level playing field.

COMEDY SHORTS

Friday 19 November, 20:30-22:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 20/11/21 Back for 2021 by popular demand, join us for an evening of hilarious comedy shorts! Featuring famous faces and something to appeal to all senses of humour, this screening has something for all to enjoy. From a 17 year-old’s driving lesson which runs terribly awry, to a deeply relatable look at the Thursday night clap during lockdown - get ready for an evening of laughter!

BOUND

BRUNCH

After a night out, two strangers wake up to find themselves handcuffed together in bed, stuck in each other’s lives until they figure a way out.

In an artsy urban cafe, the generational disputes between millennials and baby boomers quickly erupt into confrontation.

DON VS LIGHTNING

PUSSY BOO

All Don wants is a quiet life in the Scottish Highlands. Unfortunately the universe has other plans.

Struggling to find the perfect gift for their granddaughter, Paulette & Roger listen to her favourite rapper...

Joe Carter | UK | 13m

Marnik Loysen | UK | 6m

Big Red Button | UK | 13m

Remi Parisse | France | 4m

ROUGH

Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson | Ireland | 14m

TAJ MAHAL PRESENTS... A SHORT FILM David Dearlove | UK | 5m

In contemporary Belfast a young man faces retribution for the transgressions of his beloved dog.

An arty wide shot, an unclear metaphor, a cameo from the director’s dad - this is a short film for people who don’t like short films.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

THE DINNER PARTY

During the UK’s Thursday evening clap for healthcare workers, an over-virtuous neighbour is challenged by the nurse next door.

Dreading another predictable evening with his wife’s friends, a self centred, feckless thirty-something plots cruel tricks to send them home early.

THE GNOME

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GAIL

Simon Neal | UK | 17m

Tomasz Frymorgen | UK | 14m

Rory Hern | UK | 1m

Florence Winter Hill | UK | 9m

When a late-night jogger stumbles across a gnome blocking his path, all is not as it seems...

All Mia wants is to live life in the fast lane, but learning to drive with Gail is so much more than a driving lesson. It’s a life lesson.

EMERGING TALENT

Saturday 20 November, 12:15-13:45, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 21/11/21 The NFF2021 award for Best Student Film is sponsored by Norwich University of the Arts. Take a look at the next generation of filmmaking talent with this showcase of 6 stunning short films from student filmmakers.

AND AFTER

FOURTH OF JULY

Mute and almost motionless behind a twoway mirror, a couple in their thirties watch their daughter being interrogated.

A young mother struggles to parent her two rambunctious boys over the course of one hot, summer day.

MAN OF THE HARVEST

MONSTER

Major Dorfman | USA | 12m

Marine Follonier | Belgium | 15m

Orion Eshel, Luther Clayton | USA | 15m A story of purity, fickleness, and violence told through a friendship between two young boys, and how it is brutally affected by a school shooting.

Reiff Gaskell | UK | 15m Struggling to reconcile two opposing images of his dad after a recent discovery, a boy finds himself lost in the unnerving vacuum left behind.

ROOTS

Ryan Gathorne | UK | 5m In a green metropolis lives a plant spirit who feels he has to find a new direction & branch out - before his life becomes pot bound.

REQUIEM

Emma Gilbertson | UK | 25m A dutiful Minister’s daughter rises up against the control of her witch-burning father to avenge the death of her girlfriend.

INTERNATIONAL MIX VOL. 2 Saturday 20 November, 14:30-16:00, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 21/11/21

Enjoy a selection of world cinema shorts from our Official Selection, spanning a mixture of genres & languages. The Best International Film award is sponsored by VisitNorwich.

ANITA

BLACK SLIDE

While attending her sister’s wedding in India, Anita is pushed to question whether her life in America is any better than those in her hometown.

Eviah, a young and timid kid on the brink of puberty and his best friend sneak onto the Black Slide, the most terrifying ride at Aqua Fun.

DEVEK

LEYLAK

Sushma Khadepaun | India | 18m

Uri Lotan | Israel | 12m

Uriya Hertz | Israel | 15m

Scott Aharoni, Dennis Latos | USA | 17m

When a young man takes his sick mother to visit a psychic medium near the Dead Sea, things do not go as planned.

A Turkish gravedigger in New York is unable to face a shattering truth, and risks losing the dearest connection left in his life.

PELO LACIO

Diane Russo| USA | 3m In this visual essay Luz Guzman, a young Dominican woman who lives in the Bronx, bridges who she is today with the roots of her past.

THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR Lauren Hoover | USA | 11m

A comedic look at the lives of three roommates as they navigate the trials, tribulations and loneliness of quarantine.

THIS UNCERTAIN MOMENT Toby Wosskow | USA | 16m

This is a story about two people in love - connected via the power of technology, but divided by the public stigma it helps to spread.

SCI-FI SHORTS

Saturday 20 November, 16:45-18:15, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 21/11/21 Escape from reality with this collection of seven innovative science-fiction short films, from a breathtaking dystopian romance set in a world where emotions are rationed by a gauge, to the tale of a reclusive enthusiast who develops an unexpected friendship with a customer service representative.

EDICUS

LARA

When things go sour with Jason’s most powerful client, he knows his life is on the line. A man with his exact likeness claims to have the answers.

A man struggles to prepare for an interview, seeking help from his intelligent assistant.

LIFELIKE

PIPO AND BLIND LOVE

A reclusive sci-fi enthusiast develops an unexpected friendship with a customer service representative.

In a dehumanised world where emotions are rationed and measured by a gauge, a factory worker falls in love with a woman sitting on a bench.

Uzo Oleh | UK | 23m

George Blagden | UK | 13m

Keith Allott | UK | 7m

Hugo Le Gourrierec | France | 12m

SURVIVORS

Carlos Gómez-Trigo | Spain | 7m Natural selection says that only those who adapt will survive. What if humans have become stupid?

THE ARK

Benjamin South | UK | 15m Two first-time assassins who believe they’re fighting for a higher cause have a crisis of faith minutes before they pull the trigger.

THE EXIT PLAN

Angus Wilkinson | Australia | 14m In an overpopulated future, an elderly woman is visited by a young government official to check she is complying with the “Exit Plan” policy...

BRITISH SHORTS VOL. 1 Saturday 20 November, 19:00-20:30, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 21/11/21 The Best British Film award is sponsored by Arnolds Keys. From an unlikely friendship formed after an elderly man accidentally calls an adult hotline, to the heart-pounding story of three refugees running the race of their lives through the Channel Tunnel, enjoy a selection of six short films from the greatest British filmmaking talent in our Official Selection.

ENJOY

HER MAJESTY

As Michael seeks novel ways to halt his spiralling depression, a moment of hope arrives via an unexpected source.

The year is 2020. The future Queen of England stands alone in the English countryside, she must find a way to address her subjects.

HEY, MA

HOPE

After seeing a woman she believes to be her lost mother in a car park, Katrina pursues her through the night to her home for a chance to speak to her.

A couple on an ominous journey pull into a diner in the early hours of the morning.

Saul Abraham | UK | 19m

Rebekah Fortune | UK | 16m

Laurie Barraclough | UK | 8m

Shaun James Grant | UK | 15m

ROY

Tom Berkeley, Ross White | UK | 16m Roy passes the days by cold calling strangers from the phone book, but when he accidentally calls an adult hotline, an unlikely friendship is born.

THE TUNNEL

Arash Ashtiani | UK | 17m Three refugees run the race of their lives from Calais to Dover through the Euro Tunnel, trying to beat the trains and overcome their terror in a bid to read their freedom and start new lives in the UK.

LATE NIGHT SHORTS

Saturday 20 November, 21:15-22:45, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 21/11/21 Featuring a grizzly new selection of horror & dark comedy shorts, our long-running Late Night Shorts strand returns for 2021. Featuring tales of obsession, mind control, folk stories and more, this year’s Late Night Shorts screening is not to be missed!

BEHIND

CALVING

When the cleaner of a mysterious underground hotel breaks into a guest room with a “Do Not Clean” sign on the door, he discovers a terrible secret.

In a rural Irish village, a strange calf is born. And it won’t stop screaming.

FAMILIAR

KAFKAS

It is 1942, in the dark woods of Pennsylvania, Richard Mason is the Familiar to a hideous ancient vampiric creature living in the bowels of an isolated mansion.

A college-educated bag of nerves with an unhealthy obsession with Franz Kafka coldcalls men with the surname Kafka in hope of finding her soul mate.

Yili Li | China | 15m

Louis Bhose | UK | 12m

David J. Ellison | UK | 10m

Nick Blake | UK | 18m

MEAT MARKET

PEDWAR

A mysterious burger bar attracts men with an insatiable hunger for women.

Three friends find themselves in a cottage in the middle of the Welsh countryside, where a haunting painting catches their attention...

RECEIVER

THE NICKY NACK

Sriyani, an idealistic and overtaxed social worker of Sri Lankan descent, is a counselor at a telephone help line. She has built her life around helping others, but always at the expense of those closest to her.

A man walking home from his local one night is tormented by a terrifying sound: The Nicky Nack.

Will Kenning | UK | 1m

Sam Johnson | UK | 11m

Cavan Campbell | Canada | 15m

Tom Oxenham | UK | 6m

EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS Sunday 21 November, 12:00-13:30, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 22/11/21

Join us for our experimental strand featuring a range of innovative shorts, all delivered through spectacular experimental techniques to explore themes such as identity, romance and unhinged dystopias.

CHRONOS

CLEAN

A ticking clock and a toothbrush collection showcase the passage of time.

The story of a man who loses his clothes at a laundrette and his journey to get them back.

KNOT

LIMINAL

Balanced carefully on a tightrope, fearful Blue meets Orange, a carefree spirit, and is tempted into a sensual dance confronting his deepest fears.

Steve finds himself in a transition; stuck between a family life built on half measures, and a desire for a more authentic experience.

Emmanuel Dubois | France | 1m

Richard Paris Wilson | UK | 10m

Marie Lechevallier | UK | 8m

Dan Abramovici | Canada | 12m

MONACHOPSIS

OTHER HALF

A young woman struggles with the feeling of being disconnected from the people around her - until she meets Sofie, with whom she bonds (too) strongly.

As an Individual Being in a world comprised of Merged Couples, Ren longs to find his other half and become complete.

PILE

REKONSTRUKTIO

A vertical habitat models material progression from bare survival to the unhinged dystopia of late capitalism.

Two old school friends meet to reminisce about their youth. Their adolescent memories bring up very different recollections of a school party in 1982.

Liesbet van Loon | Belgium | 11m

Lina Kalcheva | UK | 14m

Toby Auberg | UK | 4m

Pia Andell | Finland | 18m

THE COST OF LIVING Alice Trueman | UK | 13m

Death appears to Lily, a disconnected, neurotic fitness-freak, as a femme fatale and Lily finds herself unexpectedly giddy with desire.

ENVIRONMENTAL SHORTS Sunday 21 November, 14:00-15:15, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 22/11/21

From a mother and daughter coming to terms with the loss of their home and community due to rising sea levels, to a stunning documentary following the last native colony of Griffon Vultures on the coast of Sardinia - join us for five inspiring short films exploring environmental themes.

BEYOND BORDERS

Environmental Justice Foundation | UK | 25m Across the planet, climate collapse is altering the world around us. As a result, 1 person every 1.3 seconds leaves their home and their community.

FJÄLLNÄS

Megan Maczko | UK | 23m When an eco-artist embarks on a trip to a symposium in remote Sweden as a keynote speaker, fears of her work being exposed begin to manifest...

ONE FOR THE ROAD Eileen Tracey | UK | 16m

On the last night before their evacuation due to rising sea levels, a mother and daughter come to terms with the loss of their home and community.

PERPETUAL PLASTIC

Eric Ebner | Indonesia | 10m Artist Liina Klauss attempts to visualise the journey of all disgraced single-use plastics through an installation on a beach in Bali, Indonesia.

THE LAND OF GRIFFONS Riccardo Soriano | UK | 10m

An exploration of the dangers facing the last native colony of Griffon Vultures on the North-Western coast of Sardinia.

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Sunday 21 November, 16:00-17:30, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 22/11/21

The award for Best Documentary Film is sponsored by Spire Solicitors. Join us for a handpicked selection of six short documentaries from our Official Selection exploring themes from social issues to the ethics of memes.

ART BUFF

CLOWN

After Banksy strikes in Folkestone, his work is cut out of a wall to be sold in America. This film follows the next six years of its eventful life...

A seasoned professional clown on the eve of retirement reflects on a lifetime of adoration & rejection, humour & heartbreak.

HANGING ON

IT FEELS PERSONAL

A combination of audio interviews and artistic visuals tell the stories of a tight-knit community as their homes face the threat of demolition.

A short desktop documentary about a stolen video, and the online search for the thief.

Hannah Ava Dahl | UK | 15m

Shane O’Neill | Ireland | 11m

Alfie Barker | UK | 10m

Hugh Clegg | UK | 14m

THE LAST ENGLISH POACHER Emma Crome, Peter Emery | UK | 17m Brian Tovey may be the last traditional poacher in England, the closest thing the country might have to an indigenous person living off the land.

TICTOC

Mark Waters | UK | 23m 16 year old Felix contends with the unpredictable and consuming nature of Tourette’s Disorder, all whilst navigating the usual trials of adolescence.

BRITISH SHORTS VOL. 2 Sunday 21 November, 18:00-19:30, The Forum, £5.00 Online from 22/11/21 The Best British Film award is sponsored by Arnolds Keys. From a look at the unattainable double standard faced by a female politician during a photoshoot, to a struggling marriage saved by lasagne, join us for six more amazing short films showcasing the range of British filmmaking talent.

ADRIFT

LASAGNE

After a hook-up at a kooky London mooring, Holly tries sneaking out but roommate Max is eager to get to know her, despite a series of red flags...

Hector and Betty’s marriage is on the rocks. To make matters worse, it’s lasagne for dinner - again.

PORTRAYED

SALT WATER TOWN

Samuel de Ceccatty | UK | 6m

Hannah Hill | UK | 17m

Nicole Rixon, Ryan Goodman | UK | 8m Bombarded with a barrage of conflicting advice, a politician buckles under the unattainable double standard placed on her during a photoshoot.

Dan Thorburn | UK | 15m When a failing caravan park is deemed worthless as a result of rising sea levels, Liam must convince his father to abandon his lifelong home.

THE OCTOPUS NEST John Michell | UK | 19m

When a couple find the same woman in their old holiday photos, the wife’s search for the truth leads her to question the life she’s been living.

TIMEKEEPER

Chris Godwin | UKI | 25m 11-year-old Ben finds salvation from his abusive father in the form of a school learning mentor.

EAFA MASH UP MASH UP COMPETITION

DELIVERED BY THE EAST ANGLIAN FILM ARCHIVE Once again the Norwich Film Festival is proud to be screening the winning films from this year’s EAFA Mash Up competition.

THE COMPETITION BRIEF: • To make a short film between 1 and 5 minutes in duration. • At least 50% of the total duration of your film must consist of archive footage supplied by EAFA as part of the competition package. You can use just one film clip from the package or as many as you wish. • You are free to combine the EAFA archive footage with material you have shot yourself, or add effects and audio-visual material sourced (with the necessary permissions) from elsewhere. • Each year brings a new theme, and this year the theme is ‘Hope’. A theme that was decided upon some months ago, but now seems particularly pertinent. We’re excited to see the ways in which you interpret it. Submissions won’t be judged on production values alone. What we’re looking for is creativity, imagination, and overall how you choose to interact with the archive film.

Follow @EAFA_mashup to hear about next year’s competition! 64

GLOBAL AUDIENCES This is the best way for audiences outside of the UK to participate in the festival, with unlimited access to almost 90 short films from our Official Selection across the festival period - including 16 of our nominated films! Price and availability of this pass may vary depending on your location, but will be approximately $10 USD.

ROY

(Tom Berkeley & Ross White, UK, 16m)

SALT WATER TOWN

(Tom Berkeley & Ross White, UK, 15m)

WIDE OPEN DREAMS

(Tom Berkeley & Ross White, UK, 24m) Some films are not eligible to be screened outside of the UK via an online platform due to restrictions on licensing and premiere access. Unfortunately this is out of the control of NFF. 65

From a record-breaking 1291 submissions to this year’s festival, we’re proud to reveal the short films from our Official Selection which are nominated for one of our six prestigious awards. More than ever, picking out the films to nominate in each category was no easy feat, with our Executive Committee discussing each film at length before settling on the final nominees.

Each winner will receive a £1000 cash prize alongside a commemorative certificate & trophy, as well as a number of additional software prizes. We’d like to thank this year’s Award Sponsors for allowing us to support and reward the filmmakers in each category: Arnolds Keys (British Film) VisitNorwich (International Film) Meantime Media (Animated Film) Spire Solicitors (Documentary Film) University of East Anglia (East Anglian Film) Norwich University of the Arts (Student Film) Winners will be announced on November 19th.

BEST

BRITISH FILM NOMINEES

ROY Tom Berkeley & Ross White UK, 15:55

ENJOY Saul Abraham UK, 18:10

TIMEKEEPER Chris Godwin UK, 24:17

SWEATBOX Anna Herrmann UK, 12:03

Sponsored by UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

SET YOUR CREATIVE CAREER INA D V E R T MOTION u e a Have you been inspired by this year’s Film Festival? UEA Faculty of Arts and Humanities excels at creative, engaging and innovative teaching and research. Discover how you could enhance your knowledge and push boundaries in your career by studying one of the many postgraduate programmes we offer, including: · MA Film Studies* · MA Film, Television & Creative Practice* · MA Broadcast & Digital Journalism** · MA Creative Writing – Scriptwriting*

Visit uea.ac.uk to find out more *Full time and Part time study available. **Full time only

Proud sponsors of the Best East Anglian Film Award

BEST

STUDENT FILM NOMINEES

MONSTER Reiff Gaskell UK, 14:27

BIRTHDAY BOY Leo Lebeau UK, 20:20

YOU HAVEN’T SEEN WHAT I’VE SEEN Ewa Lang Poland, 22:00

ONE FOR THE ROAD Eileen Tracey UK, 15:54

Sponsored by NORWICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Proud sponsors of this year’s Best Student Film award

Our creative courses Acting Animation Animation and Visual Effects Architecture Creative Computing* Creative Technology* Fashion Fashion Communication and Promotion Fashion Marketing and Business Film and Moving Image Production Fine Art Games Art & Design Games Development Design for Publishing, Graphic Communication, Graphic Design & User Experience Design Illustration Interior Design Photography Textile Design *subject to validation

www.nua.ac.uk

Image: Yannis Giannetakis, Patricia Parlade Pickman, Finlay Hanlon, Natasha Coleman, Michael Daniel, Eoin O’Hagan, BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production

SUMMERLAND (UK, 2020, Jessica Swale)

Friday 12 Nov, 19:30 The Forum, £5.00 During World War II, an Englishwoman opens her heart to an evacuee after initially resolving to be rid of him in this moving journey of womanhood, love and friendship. When spirited young Frank, an evacuee from the London Blitz, is dumped into her care, his innocence and wonder unlock deeply buried and painful secrets in Alice’s past, and make her re-evaluate what it really means to free your imagination.

The film will be preceeded by Jessica’s short film, Leading Lady Parts (8m). Jessica will also be joining us for a post-film Q&A.

The film was written and directed by Olivier Award winning Jessica Swale, and stars Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Penelope Wilton, and Tom Courtenay. 81

JESSICA SWALE / Photo: Michael Wharley

SWEETHEART (UK, 2021, Marley Morrison)

Saturday 13 Nov, 17:00 The Forum, £5.00 Winner of the audience award at the Glasgow Film Festival Marley Morrison’s debut SWEETHEART captures the ups and downs of the quintessential British family holiday. This is your holiday too Sweetheart; you’re allowed to enjoy it. For AJ (Nell Barlow) planning a gap year trip to knit jumpers for elephants is much more appealing than spending a week with her family at a British Seaside Holiday Park. Yet, she finds herself on a four-hour car journey to the Dorset coast with her mum Tina (Jo Hartley, THIS IS ENGLAND) and little sister Dayna. 82

Met by sister Lucy (Sophia di Martino, LOKI), and her boyfriend Steve (Samuel Anderson, DR WHO), AJ expects this to be ‘a week of hell’. That is, until she lays her eyes on the resident lifeguard Isla (Ella-Rae Smith) and is instantly infatuated.

RARE BEASTS (UK, 2019, Billie Piper)

Saturday 13 Nov, 19:45 The Forum, £5.00

sense of worth in this current female movement.

An anti rom-com about Mandy, a career-driven single mother, who falls in love with the charming, traditionalist Pete.

Written and directed by Billie Piper, also starring Leo Bill, Toby Woolf, Kerry Fox, and David Thewlis.

“In her directorial debut, Piper announces herself as a truly thrilling film-maker with this bleakly brilliant inversion of the cutesy London love story.” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian) Mandy (Piper) is a modern woman in a crisis. Raising a boy, Larch (Toby Woolf), in a female revolution and professionally writing about a love that no longer exists, she falls upon a troubled man, Pete (Leo Bill), who seeks traditional dynamics and a 83

BILLIE PIPER / Photo: David M Benett

Film East, guest curators at this year’s Norwich Film Festival, are inviting you to dress in your campest sparkles and tallest platform boots to celebrate the fabulous queerness of glam rock! For one night only, Film East, in partnership with Norwich Film Festival, will bring a special double bill screening of Dexter Fletcher’s Rocketman and Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine to this fine city, encouraging you to forget your troubles and sing the night away! Featuring music from Elton John, Brian Eno, Roxy Music and T. Rex, this one-of-a-kind event commiserates the odd-balls, the quirky originals and the nonconforming creatives who challenged social norms and let their individuality shine. With films inspired by the lives of David Bowie and Elton John, this event celebrates queer identity and being confident in who you are, embracing the differences that make us all unique.

A P N I L L I B E L B U FEATURE DO

ROCKETMAN (UK, 2019, Dexter Fletcher)

VELVET GOLDMINE (UK, 1998, Todd Haynes)

T S A E M L I F H T I W ARTNERSHIP Join Film East at The Garage on 14 November at 5:15pm for Rocketman (Singalong) and 7:45pm for Velvet Goldmine. Dress in your best glam-inspired outfits (whether it be from the back of your closet or a charity shop) and celebrate glamorous queer creativity with us! Film East, the Norwich branch of the Young Film Programmer’s network, provides a platform for young audiences to experience and interact with film. Run by a group of young people, Film East aims to educate and inspire the next generation of film enthusiasts by offering unique opportunities to connect through thoughtprovoking cinema. For more information on Film East, visit their website film-east.com.

LIMBO

(UK, 2021, Ben Sharrock)

Saturday 13 Nov, 19:45 The Forum, £5.00 Omar is a promising young musician. Separated from his Syrian family, he is stuck on a remote Scottish island awaiting the fate of his asylum request. Due to the plaster-cast on his arm, he cannot play his oud and instead wanders the epic landscapes searching for answers to a complex past and daunting future. He may be stuck, but he is not alone. Omar and his new flatmates attend outrageously misjudged ‘cultural awareness’ classes, binge the ‘Friends’ boxset, debating whether Ross and Rachel were on a break and Freddie Mercury-obsessed Farhad tries to convince Omar to participate in the local open mic night. 86

“Announcing the arrival of a major homegrown talent in filmmaker Ben Sharrock, Limbo is a deadpan delight bursting with humanity. This wry, poignant, and bracingly funny ode to the kindness of strangers is the British film of the year.” - Mubi.com

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WANT TO JOIN THE NFF TEAM? We’re looking for enthusiastic film lovers to join our ONLINE SCREENING COMMITTEE for NFF2022! We get well over a thousand film submissions each year so we’re looking for people to help us watch these and pick our Official Selection. Each film is watched by at least six people from the Online Screening Committee, and each Committee member will watch anything from 30 to 200 films each - depending on time and preference. These views, ratings, and comments help the festival Exec Team to narrow down the choices for our Official Selection, and even helps pick out which films should get nominated for awards. If you want to watch short films for free, email info@norwichfilmfestival.co.uk for more information.

In a normal year we would bring you a whole host of amazing panel discussions from industry experts, but this is not a normal year. Due to the ongoing Covid crisis, we have decided to limit the amount of physical events we have over the festival period, and that includes minimising our panels.

Over the next twelve months you will see us hold many more events, both online and in person, including panel discussions with industry professionals, Q&As with actors, directors, producers, and more.

We have many more lined up, however, and over the course of the next year we will be holding many more events when it is safer to do so.

This year we have invited a few of the filmmakers who will be attending the festival to join our talks in educate and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. We’ve also teamed up with the wonderful people at Norfolk Screen to hold a panel to discuss all things relevant to filming in the region. We also welcome back Katie and Ian from Festival Formula who will be giving advice to filmmakers on what to do with their films once they’ve finished them.

INDUSTRY DAY PANELS SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER - MILLENNIUM LIBRARY £5 each, or £12 for a full day pass. PART 1: 12:00 - 13:00

MAKING SHORT FILMS We’re pleased to welcome to this panel a great filmmaking partnership of Richard (left) and Rachel Prendergast, along with Max Mason (right). Richard wrote and directed the NFF2021 nominee for Best East Anglian Film, Maximus (East Anglian Collection, 14/11), which was produced by Rachel and Max. Richard and Rachel are also the team behind Sylvia, the winner of the Best East Anglian film at NFF2018. The team will offer insight into all aspects of creating award winning short films. Also joining us on the panel is George Blagden who wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the film LARA (Sci-Fi Shorts, 20/11). George has had a successful career as an actor for the last 10 years and is best known for playing Athelstan in the international hit series Vikings. He also starred in the Academy Award winning movie Les Miserables directed by Tom Hooper, and the BAFTA nominated episode of Black Mirror, Hang the DJ. George will talk about his extensive career on larger productions, as well as creating a short film single-handedly during lockdown. 90

PART 2: 14:00 - 15:00

FILMING IN NORFOLK Norfolk Screen is delighted to be hosting an insight from those who have filmed in Norfolk. The panel features Crispin Buxton who recently location managed the Norfolk shoot of the much talked about Spencer (starring Kristen Stewart); Co-founder / Producer of Genesius Pictures Debbie Gray, who shot the upcoming feature Good Luck to You Leo Grande (starring Emma Thompson); and Co-founder / Producer of Ember Films Jonathan Jones who made the awarding winning Netflix hit Tiny Creatures from their studio in Norfolk. This panel discussion, to be followed by a Q&A, will be chaired by Claire Chapman, Managing Director of Norfolk Screen.

PART 3: 15:30 - 16:30

FILM FESTIVAL STRATEGIES We’ll be joined by the wonderful Festival Formula (Katie and Ian) to tell us all about their consultancy company that helps filmmakers navigate the tricky world of the film festival circuit. The workshop will help you understand the nature of the festival landscape by discussion different types of festivals that are out there, offering advice on managing expectations, and providing useful tips to prepare yourself for the competitive festival circuit.

WARM STO

THE MAKING OF

THE FIRST WARM STORY BEGAN IN WINTER 2019 WHEN SKY’S ANDY GRANT INTRODUCED GASWAY’S MARKETING MANAGER, DAVID METCALF TO AN EMERGING PRODUCTION COMPANY CALLED TRETT FILMS. Gasway were looking to find a video production agency that could help deliver on their ambitious plans to create an annual emotive Christmas advert whilst also promoting their partnership with Norwich City Football Club. Three winter campaigns later Trett films have delivered more than a dozen projects for Gasway culminating in the premiere of Warm Stories 3 at Norwich Film Festival.

David Metcalf, Marketing Manager of Gasway Services and Warm Stories Producer quotes; “Warm Stories from Gasway has been an amazing journey and we’re very proud of its success. It all started as part of our partnership with Norwich City Football club. We wanted to take a look at the emotional relationship between the players and the fans and how important they were to each other. There’s so much power in warmth and video is a great platform for us to tell these stories.” Josh Trett, Commercial Director of Trett Films and Warm Stories Director says; “The plan was to really take elements we had explored in previous Gasway TV ads and weave them into a strong plot whilst still delivering a bold but effective TV campaign for 2021.”

RIES THREE “We were lucky to assemble a great cast for this. I had extended conversations with Edward Halsted, who plays the Grandfather, about the emotional state and journey of his character throughout the ad and this really helped elevate his performance. Thomas Hare who plays the grandson also demonstrated some real natural instincts he possesses as a young actor.” “I wanted to explore some real-life themes for this TV ad. Loneliness for the elderly is, unfortunately, part of reality, especially at Christmas. This ad demonstrates that in some way”. Matty Trett, Creative Director of Trett Films and Warm Stories Cinematographer quotes; “These ads have always had a strong sense of visual style and we have only elevated it this year. For me, the

camera is a tool to help tell the story, not to simply capture it. As the cinematographer, there are lots of subtle techniques I used to help sell that ‘warm feeling’ we achieved so well in previous instalments. We are so excited to screen it at Norwich Film Festival, it is the perfect setting for this ad to premiere’. Andy Grant, Adsmart Sales Manager East of England and Warm Stories Producer says; “Gasway and Trett films have excelled themselves this year with the latest Warm stories. It’s on a quality level that rivals anything I’ve seen on screen by some of the larger advertisers and to have a full version playing at Norwich Film Festival is truly something very special. Gasway’s marketing is at such a high level now and I can’t wait to see how they can top this next year!”

A film by Gasway & Trett Films in Partnership with Adsmart from Sky & Norwich City Football Club

THANKS! We would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us pull together our festival this year - it has probably been the most difficult one to organise yet! It takes a huge amount of time, energy, and money to ensure that the film festival continues to run each year, so we are incredibly indebted to all our supporters and sponsors who have been with us over the last year. We also have a huge group of volunteers who commit large amounts of time to making sure we are in a position to put on a festival each year, and we really would be nothing with you all. Thank you all so much.

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