WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER – CLOSE-UP CINEMA, SHOREDITCH
8:00 pm to 10:30 pm OPENING – “ADVENTURES IN SHORTS 1” Q&A and NETWORKING DRINKS
Q&A with some of the filmmakers followed by networking in the Close-Up Bar.
THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY WITNESSING – by Theo Panagopoulos (United Kingdom)
When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage.
ABU JABAL – by Bisan Owda (State of Palestine)
Tahani and her daughter Sidra return to their devastated home in Gaza after months of living in tents and schools. They are unable to come to terms with the loss of their son and brother who was shot during the opening hours of the current conflict.
LIVING IN MY CAR – by Oisin Byrne (United Kingdom)
When a twist of fate leaves Jon without a home, he’s forced to live in his car, caught between a rent boom and the UK’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
FULL OF SH*T by Clarissa Kumala (United Kingdom)
An international student explores learning to trust yourself, living alone, and who’s being real and who isn’t.
IN THE CLOUDS – by Alexandra Bahíyyih Wain (United Kingdom)
Sara, a six-year-old Iranian refugee, sneaks out to explore their new London estate, but strange encounters blur the line between reality and imagination in a world shaped by loss.
BENJI’S BOUNTY – by Louisa Bablin (United Kingdom)
Two young siblings learn that their beloved dog has been sent to “the happy farm.” Determined to bring him home, they embark on an unexpected adventure.
THE SHELL – by Emil Hamberg (Sweden)
An animation about a man who while relaxing on the couch is startled by something crashing against the living room window. First one, then many more. How will it end?
THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS – by Emerson Adams and Taylor Layne (United Kingdom)
In a society where on your 21st birthday you must make an irreversible choice between Stability or Freedom, one girl’s decision unravels a truth the system was built to hide.
AGAPITO – by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero (Philippines)
Bowlers flock to bowling alley that has seen better days. Mira, the manager, decides to close early because of the arrival of a special visitor.
THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER – CLOSE-UP CINEMA, SHOREDITCH
8 pm – 10:30 pm MUSIC SHORTS, A FEATURE, Q&A and NETWORKING
A short collection of visually stunning music shorts, followed by a feature, concluding with networking in the Close-Up Bar.
BIG LIMPIN’ – by Amber Beaton (New Zealand)
A man’s limp puppet penis runs away to find a cure, and ends up meeting Lady Viagra – with unexpected results.
TULIPOMANIA: I’VE BEEN TOLD – by Cheryl Glover and Tom Murray (United States)
Tulipomania has alternately been categorized as ‘cult synth punks,’ ‘glam-leaning,’ ‘postpunk,’ ‘art-rock’ and ‘muscular chamber pop.’ You decide.
PLORA AQUI – by Pablo Maestres (Spain)
Snif, a monster who lives in the wild, accidentally meets a City family. A story full of contradictions, both tender and violent.
STAIRCASE STOMP BY THE CLAMOR – by Aaron Louis (United States)
Stop-motion music video for the song “Staircase Stomp” by punk/new wave band The Clamor.
It tells the story of a man grappling with the external chaos and his internal struggles.
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
SOLITARY ROAD – by Johan Palmgren (Sweden)
There is a road in the middle of the wilderness, far North of the Swedish mountains. It was supposed to lead to Norway. The work was interrupted in 1955 and now there is only a fragment of a road without connection to the general road system. Along the road there are five villages, where time has stopped. There is no electricity or water. The villagers have transported old cars over the ice of the lake Torneträsk to this unique place. The cars date from the 60 ́s and 70s. The filmmakers filmed aspects of life here over a period of three years.
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER – THE SOHO HOTEL CINEMA
8 pm – 10 pm SHORT FILM COMPETITION CONTINUES “ADVENTURES IN SHORTS 2”
The Best Collection of Short Films available this year. Part of the highly prestigious UK Film Festival Shorts Competition.
MAYBE IN MARCH– by Mikkel Bjørn Kehlert (Denmark)
Somewhere in rural Denmark, the house that has been lived in by the same family for generations awaits its final farewell. The family holds its saddened breath as something slips away, forever.
TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE – by Baz Sells (United Kingdom)
Two Black boys go on a journey of self-acceptance.
Going Down – by Aella Jordan-Edge (United Kingdom)
Two sex workers booked for a threesome meet for the first time in the hotel elevator.
ANNGEERDARDARDOR (THE THIEF) – by Christoffer Rizvanovic Stenbakken (Denmark)
Kaali embarks on an intense search through the town of Tasiilaq in East Greenland, determined to find his missing sled dog.
THE SPECTACLE – by Bálint Kenyeres (Hungary)
A young Roma boy is lifted into the light, only to find it fades in an unexpected way.
LOSS – by Sivan Levy Zakin (Israel)
Shot against the unforgiving landscape of the red desert, the film captures the moment girlhood stops being invisible – and starts being punished.
BEYOND – by Jonas Bloquet (France)
8-year-old Jérémy is ready for a typical evening with his parents and little brother. But his mother’s behavior grows more and more unsettling.
SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER – THE SOHO HOTEL CINEMA
7 to 10 pm – UK and European Premiere of the Feature Film “REBORN IN LOVE” followed by AWARDS CEREMONY and AFTER PARTY
REBORN IN LOVE – by Zhao Shuo (China)
A visual masterpiece depicting a haunting love story which reflects a world in which some choose to reach in search of answers. But after traveling many miles, they realise that many things in the world do not have a definitive answer. Finding oneself is the ultimate goal. Life is unpredictable. When one door closes, hope expects another window to surely open. But will it?
AWARDS CEREMONY
9:15 pm AFTER PARTY – Venue TBA at the screening.
SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER – CLOSE-UP CINEMA, SHOREDITCH
1:45 – 3:15 pm – UK and European PREMIERE of the Feature Film “BILLY KNIGHT” starring Al Pacino.
Al Pacino’s latest unmissable feature film.
BILLY KNIGHT – by Alec Griffen Roth (USA)
Legendary actor and Oscar winner, Al Pacino (“The Godfather”, “Scarface” and many more) brings exclusively to the UK Film Festival – the UK and European Premiere of his latest film “Billy Knight”.
Pacino leads a stellar cast which includes Charlie Heaton and Diana Silvers in this psychological mystery and love story borne on a beautifully cinematic Hollywood dream.